To get your pH balance back to normal, focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, veggies, and probiotics (like yogurt, kimchi), stay hydrated with water, manage stress, wear breathable clothing, and practice gentle hygiene (avoid douching/harsh soaps). For vaginal pH, semen (alkaline) can disrupt it, so safe sex is key; for overall body pH, limit refined sugars/fats, increase plant-based proteins, and see a doctor if issues persist, as underlying causes might need treatment like antibiotics or HRT.
The best way to support your body's pH and overall health is through a balanced, nutrient-dense diet. Focus on eating more plants (fruits, vegetables), whole grains, and lean proteins while cutting back on processed, sugary, and salty foods that are so prevalent in the typical American diet.
You can add two cups of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath and soak for about 20 minutes. The vinegar can help neutralize odors and restore the natural pH balance of your vagina.
Start to maintain a more alkaline pH in your body through diet by:
Top 3 Ways To Restore and Support Your Body's pH Balance
Burning sensation when urinating, having intercourse, or using a tampon. Vaginal odor that emanates from the vagina or fishy discharge. Dryness or vaginal itching. Altered discharge colors and textures (often green, gray, or textured like cottage cheese)
WATER WORKS: Drink lots of water and avoid sodas and drinks that are high in sugar and preservatives. GREEK YOGURT: Many people consume yogurt for feminine health support. Yogurt contains active cultures such as probiotics and has been known to help maintain a healthy pH balance for women.
Symptoms of alkalosis can include any of the following:
Your vagina doesn't like artificial fragrances or chemicals, so you should be washing with just water. If you feel the need to wash with soap, stick to something with only natural ingredients, like castile soap.” If you're experiencing irritation or discomfort, Hayes recommends using coconut oil to soothe the area.
How do you do this test? You hold a piece of pH paper against the wall of your vagina for a few seconds, then compare the color of the pH paper to the color on the chart provided with the test kit. The number on the chart for the color that best matches the color on the pH paper is the vaginal pH number.
We get it — it's a common problem, but sometimes it can make you self-conscious (“wait, can other people smell that, too?!”) and affect your confidence. Inner thigh odor is caused by various factors, including excessive sweating, fungal infections, poor hygiene, and hormonal changes.
No, eating pineapple won't change how your vagina smells or taste. There's no solid scientific evidence that any food could alter your natural scent or flavor in a meaningful way. Your vagina cleans itself and has its own unique scent. That's normal and healthy.
A fishy smell is also common. It's usually caused by bacterial vaginosis. In essence, your PH balance is off. For example, sometimes Gardnerella or another bacteria dominates in the vaginal area for a period of time.
Shower regularly and only use mild, unscented soap and warm water to clean your vulva. Bathe and put on a clean outfit shortly after exercising so that you're not sitting for too long in hot, sweaty clothes or a damp swimsuit. Warm and wet environments are ideal places for harmful bacteria growth. Don't douche.
Treatment for a Fishy Vagina Smell Due to a UTI
Drinking plenty of water & unsweetened cranberry juice to flush the bacteria, remembering to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom, and ensuring to wash the intimate areas after sexual intercourse are some excellent preventative methods.
Tips for keeping your pH balance in check
Just use warm water when you shower and let your body do its thing. If you do choose to use soap, make it a mild facial cleanser. Cotton is cool: Wear 100% cotton underwear. Avoid thongs and tight-fitting clothes.
Cranberries are one of the best foods for a better smelling vagina. Compounds in cranberries could balance the vagina's pH level and its acidic properties might help fight bacteria that cause infection. As result, a healthy and infection-free vagina has no reason to smell bad.
Washing
Sweating also can cause a vaginal odor. Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of bacteria typically present in the vagina. It's a common vaginal condition that can cause vaginal odor. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection, also can lead to vaginal odor.
To check your body's pH level at home, you can use pH test strips to measure either saliva or urine. This process helps monitor your body's acid-base balance and can provide insights into your overall health. For testing saliva, it's best to do so in the morning before eating or drinking to ensure accuracy.
When measured on the pH scale, anything above a 7 on the pH scale is considered a base. When the pH levels reach or exceed 12.5 pH, it then becomes hazardous. As with all hazardous wastes, when in contact with human or environmental health, it can be very dangerous.
From stress to diet, what you wear, or even sex—everyday things can disrupt delicate vaginal pH and throw off the balance of good bacteria and yeast in the vagina.
But, urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause an unpleasant and strong smell in the vagina because of a build-up of harmful bacteria which can cause a fishy odour — cranberry juice can be helpful in the prevention and treatment of UTIs.
Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can help balance the pH levels in your stomach and aid digestion. However, it's important to note that eating pineapple alone won't significantly alter the overall pH balance of your body.
Yogurt may be an effective remedy because it contains Lactobacillus bacteria. This healthful bacteria lives in the gut, urinary tract, and vagina without irritating these areas. Using yogurt that contains helpful bacteria may restore a healthy balance of yeast and bacteria in the vagina.