Happy Women’s History month!
In honor of Women’s History Month, women’s health remains a recurring topic in the healthcare industry. The female body is intricate, enigmatic, and captivating. Women possess the remarkable ability to nurture new life and bring it into the world. However, even as women strive to maintain outward appearance, underlying health concerns may persist, posing challenges in finding solutions. This month, I aim to share a few simple adjustments you can incorporate into your daily routine to address these issues. While I'm not a medical professional, I've personally experienced healing through small lifestyle changes over the years.
Let’s jump into the benefits of cranberries.
Cranberries are known for their tart flavor and vibrant red hue, they’re often associated with festive occasions like Thanksgiving. In recent years, they have garnered attention for their potential role in supporting women's vaginal health.
Cranberries are renowned for their ability to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to their high levels of compounds known as proanthocyanidins (PACs). These PACs are believed to hinder the attachment of bacteria, particularly E. coli, to the urinary tract walls, thus reducing the risk of infections. However, the advantages of cranberries extend beyond UTI prevention.
Maintaining a balanced vaginal pH is essential for women's reproductive health. An acidic environment (pH below 4.5) helps prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and yeast, such as Candida albicans, which can lead to infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) or yeast infections. Cranberries, with their acidic nature, can aid in maintaining this balance by helping to lower the pH of vaginal secretions, creating a less conducive environment for pathogens.
Incorporating cranberries into your daily routine can be achieved in various ways. Personally, I find drinking cranberry juice to be the simplest method, despite its less-than-ideal taste. I remind myself that this is medicinal and beneficial for my body. Another option is incorporating cranberries into salads; in my "Big Mama Mae’s Vol. 1" cookbook, I included cranberries in the salad topper, and they add a delightful flavor to the “Savory-N-Sweet” recipe. If the taste still poses a challenge, cranberry supplements in capsule or tablet form are available at health food stores.
While cranberries are not a panacea for women's vaginal health concerns, they can certainly contribute to maintaining a balanced and healthy vaginal environment. Whether it's preventing UTIs, supporting pH balance, or reducing inflammation, the potential benefits of cranberries make them worth considering as part of a holistic approach to women's wellness. As always, consulting with a healthcare professional before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes is crucial.
I hope this helps, because this knowledge has helped me. Chat soon!
Champagne Smoke💜✌️
Sources:
- National Institutes of Health: Cranberries and Urinary Tract Infections: How Can the Same Evidence Lead to Conflicting Advice?
- Mayo Clinic: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - Prevention
- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Cranberry juice for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis