Did you know that your gut health can have a surprising impact on both vaginal health and belly bloat?
As women, we often hear terms like gut microbiome, probiotics, and vaginal health—but what do they really mean for us?
It might not seem obvious, but your gut health and vaginal health are more closely connected than you think. When you care for your gut, you also support your overall well-being in powerful ways.
A healthy gut doesn’t just improve digestion—it also helps maintain better vaginal health, promoting a natural, healthy odour and easing symptoms like bloating. By nurturing your gut microbiome, you can enjoy benefits like a flatter tummy, healthy digestion, and a sense of freshness that goes beyond skin deep.
In this post, we’ll dive into how caring for your gut can transform how you feel—from the inside out.
First, What is Your Gut?
Your gut is your gastrointestinal system, consisting of your stomach, intestines, and colon. It handles essential tasks like digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste. But its influence doesn’t stop there—your gut also plays a vital role in supporting vaginal health by maintaining a balanced microbiome, preventing infections, maintaining a healthy pH, and promoting overall wellness.
How to Keep Your Gut Happy
The health of your gut is largely determined by the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract. The gut microbiome refers to the community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes, that live in the digestive tract, primarily in the large intestine. This ecosystem plays a critical role in digestion, immunity, metabolism, vaginal health and overall health.
A healthy microbiome is all about balance—a mix of good bacteria (like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillii) and “bad” bacteria (like Clostridia and Bacteroides). Bad bacteria in small amounts co-exist with beneficial bacteria in a state of equilibrium. If any one type of bacteria (even the good ones) dominates, it can disrupt the ecosystem. It’s like a little community of workers, all essential to helping your body stay healthy.
For instance, some “bad” bacteria are vital in helping your body with digestion by breaking down nutrients like fibre. Certain strains of E. coli in the gut aren’t harmful but are actually beneficial in preventing more dangerous strains from taking over. However, when E. coli enters the bladder, it becomes harmful and can cause a UTI.
The Gut-Vagina Connection
As we’ve mentioned above, your gut health is closely linked to your vaginal health.
This relationship, called the gut-vagina axis, shows how the gut microbiome and vaginal microbiome are constantly communicating, much like the gut-brain axis. This connection is driven by your immune system and hormones, which play a key role in maintaining balance and overall well-being.
When your gut microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to symptoms like bloating, digestive discomfort, and disruptions in your vaginal microbiome. These imbalances may result in common issues such as unpleasant odours, yeast infections, UTIs, or bacterial vaginosis (BV).
But, How Can We Support Vaginal Health Via The Gut?
Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is essential for preventing these problems and supporting your digestion, vaginal health, and overall wellness. Simple steps like incorporating probiotics or eating gut-friendly foods can help you stay balanced and feeling your best.
Choosing the Right Probiotics for Gut & Vaginal Health
Lactobacilli are the most common bacteria found in a healthy vagina and are scientifically proven to support vaginal health. When choosing a probiotic, look for a product with multiple strains of Lactobacilli and a high CFU count (this just means lots of live, helpful bacteria), such as Novomins Women's Bio Balance Gummies–which contain:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus: It strengthens the gut barrier, supports vaginal health, and maintains a balanced microbiome. It may reduce recurrent BV, boost immune function, and aid in digestive issues like diarrhoea or IBS.
- Lactobacillus reuteri : It supports vaginal and gut health by restoring microbial balance, reducing the risk of recurrent BV, as well as promoting a strong immune system. In addition, it may play a role in reducing inflammation and supporting overall digestive health.
- Lactobacillus paracei can influence the composition and diversity of gut microorganisms, promoting a healthier balance. It may also help improve IBS symptoms and support the prevention of urinary infections.
- Cranberry: It helps prevent E. coli from sticking to the urinary tract, which can help prevent UTIs. It also supports bladder health by promoting urinary tract cleanliness and reducing inflammation.
- Calcium: Calcium supports the normal function of digestive enzymes by acting as a cofactor (meaning it helps these enzymes break down food effectively). It also contributes to maintaining a healthy gut environment by supporting muscle contractions in the digestive tract, ensuring food and waste move along smoothly.
Novomins Women’s Bio-Balance Gummies contain over 4 billion CFU of beneficial bacteria, three strains of lactobacillus, and cranberry extract. They are vegan, gluten-free, and expertly formulated by nutritionists for optimal health.
If You’re Bloated:
Not only do Novomins Women’s Bio-Balance Gummies support your vaginal health, but they also support gut health too, with gut-friendly bacteria that help manage bloating. What’s more, the added calcium supports your digestive system, which may reduce bloating symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar is another excellent addition to your gut health routine. It contains natural acids and probiotics that support digestion and help reduce bloating.
Novomins Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies provide 1000 mg of apple cider vinegar, equivalent to one traditional shot, in a delicious gummy form. The "Mother," the nutrient-rich part of ACV, is packed with acetic acid, proteins, and beneficial bacteria like acetobacter. These bacteria promote a balanced microbiome and may aid digestion by improving the breakdown of food and nutrient absorption.
Acetic acid is believed to lower blood sugar levels after a meal by changing how foods are absorbed from the gut, leading to less bloating and smoother digestion. Apple Cider Vinegar is said to reduce inflammation and help with digestion, which can indirectly support weight loss as well as improve cholesterol levels. And the ongoing studies on it are proving promising.
Taking steps to improve your gut health can make a big difference in your overall health and how you feel day-to-day.
Start your gut health journey today and feel the benefits for yourself!
Need More Health Tips & Recommendations?
Check out the Novomins Health Blog for more tips from our expert nutritionists.
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