Why Does My Vagina Smell?

The supermarket shelves are lined with products encouraging us to keep our lady parts clean and pleasant-smelling . Many of us still remember the line “Do you ever get that not-so-fresh feeling?” from a douche commercial years ago that made many a woman begin doubting their vaginal cleanliness at a very young age. The truth is that most women’s natural scent is normal. Your vagina doesn’t need to smell like that field of flowers on the box of feminine deodorant spray.

Why does the vagina smell?

The vagina is a carefully balanced ecosystem of fluid (discharge) and bacteria meant to keep the vaginal PH at a healthy 4.5. This combination of fluid and bacteria that make up the vaginal discharge that can, at times, emit certain odors. Most of these odors are natural and normal, but there are times when excess odor can signal a problem.

So what is a “normal” amount of odor? After performing a very unscientific poll of all the gynecologist I know, we determined that one can smell a normal vagina from 1 foot away. More pungent odor or any associated with pain, burning or itching should prompt a visit to your provider.

Some common causes of vaginal odor include:

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) – The vagina is normally colonized with healthy bacteria, but if something disturbs the ecosystem, then unhealthy bacteria like BV can take over. BV is most commonly caused by an overgrowth of the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis.  Symptoms include a thin grey, runny discharge and a strong fishy odor. The odor is more pungent when in contact with semen, so often women will first notice this as a strong odor after sex. BV is annoying and can increase your risk of other infections, but is easily treated with antibiotics.

Your Diet – The old adage “You are what eat” is true, all the way down to your lady bits. Garlic, onion, asparagus, and curry are few of the more odoriferous foods known to affect body odor.

Medications/ Supplements - Medications such as antibiotics can affect the bacterial balance of your vagina leading to changes in odor and discharge. Antihistamines can lead to vaginal dryness and decreased vaginal secretions, which can also have an effect.  Additionally, herbal therapies and the newly popular essential oils can lead to changes in vaginal odor.

Sweat - Much like your underarms, the skin around your genitals is prone to excessive sweating. Sweat when combined with discharge can escalate the natural musk to a whole new level of stank. This is a natural odor, though sometimes slightly unpleasant. To minimize the smell, change clothes after exercising and wear breathable fabrics.

Hormonal Changes – The amount of discharge varies throughout menstrual cycles. Hormonal therapies, birth control pills and vaginal creams can have an effect the vaginal PH and odor as well. Menopause also leads to major changes as the decreasing estrogen levels can lead to increasing incidence of yeast infection and BV.

A Forgotten Tampon – There is one odor that is so foul, it is unlike anything you have every smelled in your entire life. It’s the one smell that makes even the gynecologist gag: the forgotten tampon. The patients on many occasions have described the odors as ”it smells like something crawled up in there and died.”  I would have to agree that this is an honest statement. While the odor is particularly offensive, it does resolve quickly after the tampon is removed. Rarely, the retained tampon can also lead to serious infection, so it is important to see your doctor should this occur (symptoms include a brown discharge and odor).

Douching is never indicated for vaginal odor or any other reason. It only further changes the bacterial content and can spread infection. You do not need to insert anything inside your vagina to clean it: no douche, no essential oils, no soap, no Listerine (yes, these are all things I’ve had patients use to ‘clean themselves’). Simply think of the vagina as a “self-cleaning oven.”

If you’re concerned about your odor, but have no other symptoms, you may first try increasing your water intake and cutting out any odorous foods. You might also take a probiotics to help restore normal bacterial balance. For proper hygiene, clean the external area of your vagina (vulva and labia) with a mild soap. If odor persists despite these measures, then follow up with your provider.

Culled: webmed

Kayode Fahm, Dakore Akande, Zainab Balogun present Nutrition - “Clean Eating”

At the end of our last video The Gym Work Out Kayode promised to discuss tips on “Nutrition” and in this segment, Kayode, Zainab and Dakore share tips on clean eating.

They say abs are made in the Kitchen and not just at the gym.

With the fast paced lifestyle we all lead, we end up grabbing fast food on the go, and snacking too often between meals with the wrong type of foods.

The concept of clean eating is pretty simple, and what Kayode and the ladies demonstrate here is that we must all be more mindful of the food we put on our plate.

Clean eating is not a diet; it’s a healthy and happy lifestyle.

“You are what you eat” – Kayode Fahm

Big thank you to So Fresh.

Watch Nutrition segment:

10 Relaxation Techniques That Zap Stress Fast

Relax. You deserve it, it's good for you, and it takes less time than you think.

You don't need a spa weekend or a retreat. Each of these stress-relieving tips can get you from OMG to om in less than 15 minutes.

1. Meditate 

A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. “Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.

It's simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Focus your attention on reciting -- out loud or silently -- a positive mantra such as “I feel at peace” or “I love myself.” Place one hand on your belly to sync the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.

2. Breathe Deeply 

Take a 5-minute break and focus on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth. 

“Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure,” psychologist Judith Tutin, PhD, says. She's a certified life coach in Rome, GA.

3. Be Present

Slow down. 

“Take 5 minutes and focus on only one behavior with awareness,” Tutin says. Notice how the air feels on your face when you’re walking and how your feet feel hitting the ground. Enjoy the texture and taste of each bite of food.

When you spend time in the moment and focus on your senses, you should feel less tense.

4. Reach Out

Your social network is one of your best tools for handling stress. Talk to others -- preferably face to face, or at least on the phone. Share what's going on. You can get a fresh perspective while keeping your connection strong.

5. Tune In to Your Body

Mentally scan your body to get a sense of how stress affects it each day. Lie on your back, or sit with your feet on the floor. Start at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, noticing how your body feels. 

Culled from: webmed.com

5 Habits Of Healthy Families

Ever wonder how families stay healthy, fit and thin? Here are a few tips on how its done:



Automate breakfast and lunch

Without a healthy go-to option for each, you’re far more likely to make bad spur-of-the-moment grabs. Plus, having a staple of one or two healthy usuals makes grocery shopping easier. “You don’t want to reinvent the wheel every day,” says Dr. Oz, who starts his day with a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with flaxseed oil, a few walnuts, and some raisins or agave for sweetness—a morning meal that Randy and Kathleen have adopted and now love.



For lunch, Dr. Oz recommends a vegetable-based soup (like this tomato fennel soup recipe) or a turkey or tuna sandwich on whole-grain bread. For the kids, you can improve upon the PBJ sandwich (it’s not horrible, but the jelly is all sugar) by using less jelly or turning it into a PB sandwich with a piece of fruit.



Exercise 20 minutes a day—at home

Why stay at your place? “If you have to go somewhere to exercise, you’re automatically going to need more than 20 minutes, and it violates the flow of your day,” Dr. Oz says. “An hour is a long time; 20 minutes is nothing.” Keeping your daily workout goal short and convenient works, he explains, because none of us want to admit that our lives are so disorganized that we can’t carve out 20 quick minutes.



“What we find is that if we tell people to do 20 minutes, they enjoy it and end up doing more than 20 minutes,” which is even better for your heart, Dr. Oz stresses. Simple ideas that work: Skip rope in your driveway, and alternate with crunches and push-ups; do 20 minutes of a workout video; walk in your neighborhood.



Be the food decider in your house

“I know this can be tough for parents, but the big decisions about what to eat must be made by you at the supermarket,” Dr. Oz says. Here’s why: If you bring chips and cookies home, your kids (and you) will naturally want to eat them.



And if you try to restrict them, you’ll actually cause your child to crave them more. But if you don’t buy the sweets to begin with, kids won’t even miss them, Dr. Oz promises. Keep good-news snacks on hand (like nuts and pretzels) and fruit and veggies washed and chopped in your fridge. “Kids will eat healthy snacks when they get hungry enough,” Dr. Oz says.



Bond in bed

Having regular sex can add an extra three years to your life expectancy, Dr. Oz reports. His suggestion? Aim for twice a week. “The love that stems from that blissful moment of being in each other’s arms,” he says, “is crucial for strengthening your relationship—and your health.”



Make sure you have a bedtime routine
A good night’s sleep keeps you young. “Half of American adults have lost the ability to sleep, and not getting about seven hours a night can be a contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes,” Dr. Oz says. Keep your bedroom cool and dark, and nix the technology. If you can’t fall asleep after 15 minutes, don’t beat yourself up; get out of bed and meditate or read to help you relax.









Culled from: health.com