Experiencing feminine dryness may be common, but that doesn’t make it fun. Dryness can be caused by a number of things—stress, diet, and even genetics can change up what the body is doing. It can become near impossible to ignore and may even affect someone’s ability to function physically and sexually. Thankfully, there are various home remedies for dryness that are known to improve vaginal health and also bodily wellness. Keep reading for methods that actually work.
Healthy Eating
The foods people consume become the building blocks for how their bodies function. This is why an unhealthy diet is likely to worsen dryness—the body is not getting what it needs to properly carry on, even when it comes to vaginal health. Eating a balanced diet does the opposite by equipping the body with the proper nutrition. With this, there are specific foods that are known for combating vaginal dryness. Fermented foods high in probiotics include selections such as yogurt, kimchi, and pickles, best known for addressing overall vaginal wellness. Other foods that are often used to combat dryness include avocados, sweet potatoes, hot chilies, and soybeans. There are also drinks that assist with improved vaginal health as well, most notably cranberry juice and kombucha.
Hydrating (with Water)
Drinking more water might sound like a cliché way to approach dryness, but it’s only considered a cliché because it’s true. Because human beings are made of 60% water, proper hydration is responsible for ensuring the overall health and function of our bodies. Making sure to drink enough water is crucial to ensuring the vagina is able to lubricate itself and in turn combats vaginal dryness. What’s more, drinking an adequate amount of water versus consuming sodas, juices, and coffees is what the body needs to truly hydrate itself. Not sure how much water to drink? Start by drinking half of your weight in ounces. Depending on the events in your day-to-day life, this amount may need adjusting, but it’s a great place to start.
Vitamins
Addressing dryness with vitamins is a natural approach that can also reap benefits in other areas of wellness. The entire body needs and uses vitamins in varying degrees, so it is logical that taking certain vitamins can help improve vaginal dryness. For example, Omega-3 is a vitamin that is known for combating vaginal dryness and improving lubrication. Along with this, essentials like Vitamin D are known to decrease dryness when taken as an oral supplement or a vaginal suppository. Though there are options in how one chooses to take vitamins, Vitamin E is notably most effective when taken in the form of a vaginal suppository, as it can be applied directly to the area and deliver more impactful results. If you’re not sure where to begin, taking a trusted daily multivitamin is a good way to cover your bases.
Sufficient Sleep
Yes, even lack of sleep can impact the body’s ability to combat vaginal dryness. Sleep gives the body time to rebuild, recharge, and protect itself from oncoming illness. When rest is interrupted or foregone, it can affect how well the body is able to keep up, and that includes its ability to combat vaginal dryness. With adequate rest, the body has a better chance of not only bouncing back from dryness, but also being able to lubricate itself efficiently.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
When a muscle becomes tight, people engage in exercise or physical therapy to regain normal function and mobility. The same can be applied to the pelvic floor. Muscles in this area can become tight due to inactivity, dehydration, and even stress. Tight pelvic floor muscles can make it harder for the pelvic floor to support vital reproductive organs, which can then lead to vaginal dryness. While there are physicians who address this in the office, there are still effective at-home exercises that can be done without seeing a pelvic floor therapist. Pelvic floor exercises work to strengthen the pelvic floor, which subsequently leads to better processing for pelvic organs, making it easier for the vagina to lubricate itself. Kegel exercises involve strengthening by repeatedly flexing and softening the pelvic muscles, while deep breathing exercises focus on the continued relaxation of the pelvic floor. Both build better control of the pelvic floor muscles, allowing them to relax rather than tense, while also remaining strong to support the body.
It’s uncomfortable and annoying, but vaginal dryness doesn’t have to last forever. There are plenty of things people can do to combat dryness while experiencing improved wellness as a whole. These are all great approaches to getting rid of dryness, but not everything works for everybody. Whether at-home exercises or vitamins from the drug store, choose the method that suits you and your body best. With remedies like these, there’s still hope for a better, hydrated tomorrow!
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