Yogurt, a fermented dairy product, has been a staple in human diets for centuries. Beyond its culinary versatility, yogurt is also gaining recognition for its potential health benefits, including its ability to combat infections. This article explores the scientific evidence behind yogurt’s antimicrobial properties, focusing on its effectiveness against various types of infections.
Yogurt and Its Antimicrobial Properties
Yogurt’s infection-fighting capabilities stem from the presence of beneficial bacteria, primarily Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These bacteria produce lactic acid and other antimicrobial substances that can inhibit the growth and proliferation of harmful microorganisms.
Yogurt’s Role in Treating and Preventing Infections
1. Vaginal Yeast Infections:
Yogurt’s antifungal properties make it a potential natural remedy for vaginal yeast infections. The Lactobacillus bacteria in yogurt can help restore the natural balance of vaginal flora, suppressing the growth of Candida, the fungus responsible for yeast infections.
2. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):
Yogurt may also be beneficial in preventing and treating UTIs. The lactic acid produced by yogurt bacteria can create an acidic environment in the urinary tract, making it less hospitable to infection-causing bacteria.
3. Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea:
Yogurt can help restore the balance of gut bacteria disrupted by antibiotic use. By replenishing beneficial bacteria, yogurt can alleviate symptoms of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
4. Acute Diarrhea in Children:
Yogurt’s probiotic properties can also help reduce the severity and duration of acute diarrhea in children. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt can help restore the normal gut flora, improving digestive function.
How to Use Yogurt for Infection Treatment
1. Vaginal Yeast Infections:
- Apply plain, unsweetened yogurt directly to the affected area using a clean finger or tampon applicator.
- Insert a frozen yogurt-filled tampon applicator for cooling relief.
2. Urinary Tract Infections:
- Consume yogurt regularly to maintain a healthy urinary tract environment.
- Increase yogurt intake if experiencing UTI symptoms.
3. Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea:
- Consume yogurt during and after antibiotic treatment to replenish beneficial gut bacteria.
4. Acute Diarrhea in Children:
- Offer yogurt to children with acute diarrhea to help restore gut flora and reduce symptoms.
Yogurt, with its abundance of beneficial bacteria, has demonstrated promising antimicrobial properties. It may be a valuable natural remedy for treating and preventing various infections, including vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and acute diarrhea in children. While further research is needed, incorporating yogurt into a healthy diet may provide additional health benefits beyond its nutritional value.
Influenza In Vivo Experiment
In total, 75 7-week-old C57BL/6 specific-pathogen-free mice were employed in this investigation. The mice were housed in an environmentally controlled room. Temperature was 2023.3% to 2055.5%C2%B1%203%C2%B0C, relative humidity was 2055.5%C2%B1%2015%, ventilation frequency was 2010 to 2020 times per hour, lighting time was 2012 hours per day (0800 to 2000 hours), and illumination was 20150% to 300 lx. Food and water were freely available. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Knotus (Incheon, Korea), certificate number IACUC 21-KE-380, approved this animal study.
The indicated substances, such as yogurt (225 μL/mouse) and distilled water (DW; 225 μL/mouse), were administered once daily to all experimental mice beginning three weeks prior to viral infection and continuing for an additional two weeks.
Furthermore, during the trial, the noninfected group (G1) received only DW. Throughout the experiment, the virus-infected group (G2) received only DW, while the treated group (G3) received yogurt treatment.
For the virus challenge test, a total of 30 mice were used, and for the immune response test, 45 mice.
The mice’s left nasal cavity was given 50 microliters of the prepared H1N1 influenza A virus (A/Puerto Rico/08/1934, H1N1). Throughout the trial, the clinical score and BW were checked once a day. Before being administered, each mouse was individually weighed once using an electronic scale. The mice were euthanized, and the survival curve was obtained.
Based on the mouse’s behavior following an influenza virus infection, the clinical score was calculated using the following scoring system: (1) slight fur ruffling; (2) fur ruffling and reduced mobility; (3) fur ruffling, reduced mobility, and rapid breathing; and (4) fur ruffling, reduced mobility, huddled appearance, rapid or labored breathing indicative of pneumonia (animals displaying evidence of pneumonia or having lost lots of blood).
Necropsy sampling day was determined using the virus challenge test. After three days post-infection (DPI), five mice per group were put to death. The mice were put to sleep using a %203:1% solution of Zoletil%2050%20(Virbac Laboratories) and 2% Rompun%20(Bayer) administered intraperitoneally at a rate of 1% mL/kg of body weight, as previously reported by Rahman et al. , 2017).
Following anesthesia, the thorax was opened to reveal the tracheal bronchus, and a 3-0 silk suture was used to ligate the right bronchus. We collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by injecting 1 mL of PBS into a catheter-linked syringe that was placed on the left bronchus. After centrifuging the BALF for 10 minutes at 4°C at 1,000 × g, the supernatant was transferred to a cryogenic freezer and kept at -70°C.
The entire lung was gathered and adequately fixed in the NBF in 2010. Following a syringe-assisted blood sample from the inferior vena cava, some blood was added to an EDTA-3K tube and preserved for additional examination. To aid in blood clotting, the remaining blood was transferred to an evacuated tube that contained clot activators. The tube was then left at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
We used a commercially available ELISA kit (Thermo Fisher) to perform TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IgG1 ELISA analyses to confirm the presence of inflammatory cytokines. The ELISA analyses for TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were conducted utilizing serum samples that were separated through centrifugation at 1,000 × g for 10 minutes at 4°C.
Serum samples were obtained at designated intervals, such as three weeks prior to viral infection and the day of infection, for the ELISA analysis of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IgG1.
Using flow cytometry, the BALF was used for differential cell counting, which included neutrophils and monocytes. In summary, BALF cells were isolated for flow cytometry and incubated with the following antibodies: Ly6c (HK1), CD45 (30-F11), and CD11b (M1/70). 4) as well as Ly6G (1A8-Ly6g), which were all acquired from Thermo Fisher. Data were analyzed using NovoExpress 1 and Novocyte3000 (Agilent) was used for the flow cytometry. 4. 1 (Agilent). The following surface markers were used to identify the cell populations in BALF: inflammatory monocytes (CD45 CD11b Ly6ChiLy6G−) and neutrophils (CD45 CD11b Ly6CintLy6G).
In Vitro Results Revealed the Potential Effects of Yogurt Against Respiratory Virus Infection
Yogurt treatment was shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and influenza H1N1 plaque formation. When compared to the influenza H1N1 group that did not receive treatment, the yogurt-treated influenza H1N1 group did not exhibit plaque formation. Plaque formation was observed in the SARS-CoV-2 yogurt-treated group at 10−3 dilution, which was measured as 2 × 105 PFU/mL. The SARS-CoV-2 group that was not treated had results that were measured at 9 × 105 PFU/mL. When compared to the untreated SARS-CoV-2 group, this result indicates a significant reduction in viral infection; the reduction rate was 77. 78%.
How to Treat a Yeast Infection With Yogurt
FAQ
How do you treat an infection with yogurt?
Is yogurt a natural antibiotic?
Can I apply yogurt on my private parts?
How long do I leave yogurt on VAG for?
Can yogurt help a yeast infection?
Several of the studies conducted on yogurt for yeast infections involved mixing the yogurt with bee’s honey. Honey has strong antimicrobial properties, which seem to enhance the effects of the yogurt. Yeast infections often cause diaper rash in small children. Yeast thrives in warm and moist places, like underneath your baby’s diaper.
Is eating yogurt beneficial for Urinary tract infection?
Probiotics are live bacteria present in yogurt like fermented foods. They are beneficial for urinary tract infection. Also, their daily intake reduces your risk of getting the infection. Probiotics have antibacterial effects and they reduce the pH of your urine. Consumption of fermented milk products more than three times a week helps in relieving the UTI symptoms too.
Is Greek yogurt good for vaginal yeast infection?
You should also look for yogurt containing Lactobacillus strains of bacteria. Plain Greek yogurt is also suitable for treating vaginal yeast infection and has the same benefits as regular yogurt. Many scientific studies into the therapeutic use of yogurt for treating and preventing yeast infections have shown positive results.
Is yogurt good for candidiasis?
Many scientific studies into the therapeutic use of yogurt for treating and preventing yeast infections have shown positive results. In fact, one excellent reason to use yogurt for candidiasis is that your body won’t build up resistance to this treatment method.