Food is medicine and Happy “Lady Parts” need food and sometimes a little more.

So far in this series, we’ve talked about the importance of eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and broken down which foods to eat and which to avoid when you’re trying to heal your pelvic problems.

But sometimes, it’s really difficult to get everything you need from your diet alone. Many key nutrients are nearly impossible to consume in therapeutic amounts, or they just aren’t practical to consume…ever try finding fresh sea buckthorn berries at the grocery store? 

So we have to turn to supplementation for the best results for our bodies. Which can also be *kinda* scary because many of the supplements out there are full of fillers, preservatives, artificial ingredients…or low quality and of questionable origin.

It’s really frustrating, and you know that any supplement brand I ever recommend I’ve tried myself for at least 3 months. It can be so hard to find high-quality suppliers who actually test and verify ingredients and ratios of the supplements they’re selling. Since I’m in this wellness world, I put it upon myself to test and vet everything so you don’t have to. 

Along these lines, I’ve got a major exciting announcement to make (so keep reading!) but without further adieu, let’s talk supplements for vaginal and bladder health.

Probiotics

Your gut microbiome is responsible for the management of so many bodily functions, from your mood to your heart health. It’s even estimated that over 70% of your immune system is located in your gut microbiome. 

What’s a gut microbiome, you ask?

Well, it’s a colony of trillions of bacteria, yeast, even viruses, that live in your intestine. In most adults, it actually weighs about 4 pounds! When your gut microbiome is functioning properly and healthy, an overwhelming population of good bacteria that reside in it are able to overwhelm and defeat any bad bacteria that show up in your body. 

Probiotics are the live and healthy good bacteria that you want more of working on your behalf down in your gut.

The vagina has a similar microbiome ecosystem that’s also heavily influenced by dietary probiotics. 

A high-quality probiotic taken daily can help bolster both the gut and the vaginal microbiome which can help possibly ward off a myriad of conditions including:

• Yeast infections (1)
• Bladder infections(2)
• Heart disease (3)
• Diabetes (4)
• Depression (5)

Aloe Vera

Aloe is one of those traditional remedies that goes back thousands of years. People have historically used aloe topically for help with burns and it’s even said Cleopatra herself ingested it for its beauty-enhancing benefits. (6)

Aloe is also being studied for its potential role in helping to heal bladder infections. Of note is its potential for alleviating symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC), a condition that causes pelvic pain and bladder pressure. In a small study in 1995, researchers found that 87.5% of participants received relief from their symptoms of IC in six months. (7,8)

Collagen

When you think of supplements that help improve your skin, you probably think of collagen. I know I do.

Collagen is that precious material your body makes that helps skin elasticity. Problem is, production becomes less abundant as you age.  

Enter collagen powders. (Click Here to read more about Isa’s brand new custom collagen formulation, Total Fem Collagen)

As your body starts to make less collagen, you can simply start ingesting more. 

Studies show that collagen supplementation can increase skin elasticity and hydration. Not just the skin on your face, either. The skin of your vagina and vulva can benefit from extra collagen too.  (9,10)

Collagen is important for bone health, too — bones are mostly made up of it. And studies suggest collagen supplementation can help ward of osteoporosis. One showed a 7% increase in bone density in the femurs of study participants after one year of taking collagen. (11)

D-mannose

This supplement is a type of sugar that’s found in fruits and vegetables like cranberries and broccoli. 

When you ingest D-mannose, it’s eliminated through your urinary tract. While it’s passing through, it can help attack the bad bacteria hanging out there and causing your bladder infection…which is why researchers have begun to study its effects on urinary tract infections. (UTIs).    

Preliminary studies suggest that D-mannose could help women who are struggling with UTIs, especially those recurring ones that are so frustrating. (12,13,14) 

Sea Buckthorn Oil 

Ever seen advice to get more Omegas? If you haven’t, now is the time to start. Omegas are crucial for reducing inflammation, which is the primary driver of non-communicable disease.

And sea buckthorn oil is loaded with Omegas — 3,6,7, and 9. Plus, it’s got a ton of vital nutrients, from vitamin C to magnesium. It’s a powerful antioxidant that’s shown to have anti-cancer properties. And it’s also amazing for your skin. (15,16,17)

What’s more, in a study of post-menopausal women, three grams of sea buckthorn oil daily improved their vaginal dryness. (18)

Be sure that you buy only the highest-quality sea buckthorn, as there can be a wide range in quality of the finalized product depending on the type of berries and how their oil is extracted.

Vitamin E

Another great option for improving vaginal dryness and thinning is good old vitamin E. Preliminary studies have shown that topical treatment and suppositories of vitamin E can help improve vaginal atrophy in post-menopausal women. (19,20)

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of those nutrients most of us just don’t get enough of. Especially in the wintertime. Proper levels of vitamin D are crucial to your health — particularly your immune system. 

But one of the lesser-known relationships is between vitamin D and vaginal tissues. Studies indicate that like vitamin E, when vitamin D is administered via suppository, it can help reverse vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. (21,22)

One study even showed vitamin D applied topically was effective in treating bacterial vaginosis (BV). (23)

Adaptogens

If you’ve ever felt a little stressed or maybe even found yourself in the depths of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction (commonly referred to as adrenal fatigue) then you may be familiar with the class of herbs known as adaptogens.

Adaptogens are so named because they help your body “adapt” to stress. More specifically, they support your body’s systems that deal with stressors, like your nervous system or your adrenal glands. (24)

You’d be surprised at how quickly some of these herbs can boost your energy levels and help to balance your hormones while they’re at it. While they may not affect your vagina or bladder directly, I think we’d all agree that reduced stress = a happier vagina.

Here are some of my favorites:

Ashwagandha

This herb is a powerhouse. Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and for good reason. Research shows it can help reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and reduce general anxiety. (25,26)

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is another classic herb that’s been used for centuries. Found in high altitudes in cold climates, Rhodiola is plant medicine at its best. Adept at reducing cortisol and supporting the adrenals and thyroid, Rhodiola has shown to possibly help alleviate depression and anxiety. It could even help improve learning and memory. (27,28,29)

Eleuthero Or Siberian Ginseng

Another herb that goes back thousands of years. Eleuthero, or Siberian ginseng, has a great reputation for improving feelings of well-being and memory. Preliminary studies indicate that it can help people perceive an overall improved quality of life. It was also used in a study (combined with a few other things) that showed increased bone density in post-menopausal women. (30,31)

American Ginseng

American ginseng can help improve cognition and possibly even lower blood sugar. One study showed significant improvement in working memory and feeling of calmness after participants took 100g of American ginseng. (32,33,34)

Maca

A root vegetable grown in the Andes, maca is another traditional medicinal that’s been used to improve sexual dysfunction for ages. Modern studies suggest that it could help improve libido, anxiety, and depression in post-menopasual women. (35)

Exciting News For A Happy Vagina

I’ve been trying and testing out supplements for over a decade now, and so many times, I’ve been extremely disappointed in the quality and reliability of the products I’ve tried. I’ve been so frustrated because I *knew* that certain supplements could help women improve vaginal laxity (looseness), dryness, prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and balance out changing hormone levels…but I just couldn’t find quality supplements to recommend. I didn’t have any resources that I could actually trust enough to offer you.

I’ve seen supplements that didn’t even include the nutrient that it claimed to on the bottle. And extra ingredients like magnesium stearate or titanium dioxide? These are chemicals…that the FDA will tell you are safe…but I’d like to know why we should consume sunscreen ingredients if we’re trying to get healthier?

Bottom line, my standards for supplements are really, really high.

And instead of continuing to be disappointed by what I’ve found in the marketplace, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I’m collaborating with a team of doctors and creating my very own supplement line!

I cannot wait to tell you more about these exciting and high-quality products that will be coming your way soon.

For now, just know that I’m fighting to bring you the best and most effective products that have ever been offered for women’s health. 

My supplement line is about to launch and it will contain the best ingredients that actually work and are research-driven. No gimmicks here! 

Stay tuned for more info!

References

1. “Warding Off Recurrent Yeast and Bacterial Vaginal Infections ….” 17 Jan. 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023241/. 
2. “The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract ….” 1 Sep. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6134985/. 
3. “Potential of probiotics in controlling cardiovascular diseases.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3023901/.
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5. “The effects of probiotics on depressive symptoms in humans ….” 20 Feb. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5319175/. 
6. “Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera ….” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/. 
7. “Complementary and Alternative Therapies as Treatment ….” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476005/.
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9. “Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of ….” 1 Jan. 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681787/. 
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11. “Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral … – PubMed.” 16 Jan. 2018, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29337906/. 
12. “D-mannose: a promising support for acute urinary tract ….” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27424995/. 
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14. “D-mannose powder for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract ….” 30 Apr. 2013, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23633128/. 
15.  “(PDF) Hippophae Rhamnoides L. (Sea Buckthorn): a Potential ….” 9 Sep. 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272768513_Hippophae_Rhamnoides_L_Sea_Buckthorn_a_Potential_Source_of_Nutraceuticals. 
16. “Abundance of active ingredients in sea-buckthorn oil.” 19 May. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5438513/. 
17. “The Anticancer Activity of Sea Buckthorn … – Frontiers.” https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00232/full. 
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19. “Effectiveness and safety of vaginal suppositories for the ….” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19146203/. 
20. “A survey of the therapeutic effects of Vitamin E suppositories ….” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5114791/. 
21. “The effect of vitamin D and E vaginal suppositories on ….” 7 Feb. 2019, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-019-04684-6. 
22. “The effect of vitamin D on vaginal atrophy in … – PubMed.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25878698/. 
23. “Treatment of vitamin D deficiency is an effective method in the ….” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4525405/.
24. “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the ….” 19 Jan. 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/.
25. “A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind … – NCBI – NIH.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/. 
26. “An Alternative Treatment for Anxiety: A Systematic Review of ….” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270108/. 
27. “Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola Rosea extract WS ….” 6 Jan. 2012, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22228617/. 
28. “Multicenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola ….” 22 Mar. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370380/. 
29. “Rhodiola Rosea L. Improves Learning and Memory … – Frontiers.” https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/367723. 
30. “Effects of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus ….” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15207399/.
31. “Siberian Ginseng: A Review of the Literature | Natural ….” https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2012-03/siberian-ginseng-review-literature. 
32. “Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on ….” 31 Jul. 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2952762/. 
33. “Review of Ginseng Anti-Diabetic Studies – NCBI – NIH.” 9 Dec. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6943541/. 
34. “American Ginseng: Research Developments … – NCBI – NIH.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3659538/. 
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