Jen Gunter: The truth about yeast in your body

The truth about yeast in your body

Sugar intake gets blamed for a lot of health issues -- but when it comes to yeast infections, it's almost definitely not the culprit. Debunking myths (and strongly suggesting we skip heavily-marketed detox cleanses), Dr. Jen Gunter explains why having some yeast in the body is normal, how to know when it's a problem -- and what to (safely) do about it. For more on how your body works, tune into her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, from the TED Audio Collective.

The belief that eating too much sugar leads to vaginal yeast infections is a widespread myth. While yeast and sugar naturally exist in the vagina, studies show no connection between sugar intake and increased risk of infection in people without diabetes. One study found that even after consuming a large sugar drink, vaginal sugar levels did not change. Only certain diabetes medications or very high glucose levels may increase risk through different biological mechanisms.