The keto diet has been on everyone's radar for a while now. And for food reason, it has been a game-changer for many who wanted to lose weight. But along with the plus, it also comes with a lot of minuses like keto breath, keto flu, and keto diarrhoea. And now, keto followers are complaining about another unpleasant side effect which is the keto crotch. While a variety of factors from yeast infections to STDs can be responsible for vaginal odour, being on ketosis may also make you smell a little displeasing. Here's everything you need to know about  keto crotch.

Vaginal Odour – Can The Ketone Bodies Be Causing It?

The ketogenic diet is high in fat and proteins and low in carbohydrates. As a result, foods such as cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes are out of the scene. Your body produces "ketone bodies" when the cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat.  Acetone is one type of ketone body which when diffused in your mouth can lead to bad breath. This raises the question: can ketones build up in your vaginal area too? While there has been no scientific evidence yet, experts believe that going on the keto diet changes your vaginal pH and that leads to vaginal odour. Keto Diet Is Killing Planet Earth Says Harvard Expert; 4 Reasons Why the Diet is Not Environment-Friendly. 

Is There A Way To Beat Vaginal Odour While Sticking To Keto Diet?

The pH of a healthy vagina should be on the acidic side of the spectrum to prevent the growth of microorganisms. But when you are on the keto diet the foods you eat and the ketones your body generates could be altering the pH of your vagina probably allowing an overgrowth of bacteria. This overgrowth of microorganisms can cause bacterial vaginosis which is characterised by a strong fishy smell. This is probably what is referred to as the keto crotch.

This may sound counterintuitive but consuming alkaline foods can bring your vagina back down to its ideal acidic pH. These alkaline foods include leafy greens and most other nonstarchy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts; plant-based fats such as avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil. You can also include some herbs in your diet. Also, include a lot of probiotic-rich foods in your diet like yoghurt, kimchee, and sauerkraut. These foods support a healthy vaginal pH, gut health, and immune function. Keto Diet: What are The Best and Worst Fats to Eat for Ketosis?

What Are The Other Preventive Measures?

If you notice a gnarly smell in your vagina, make sure that you do not douche. The vagina is self-cleansing and you do not need to help it. Douching can flush out the good bacteria and only make matters worse. A lack of good bacteria can lead to a fishy odour down there. You can also use natural topical products like coconut oil to counter vaginal odour. Coconut oil contains lauric acid that has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, and is everything that your vagina needs. Pros and Cons of Keto Diet: Brief Overview of Low Carb High Fat Ketogenic Food. 

But if the smell persists and you start to notice symptoms like itchiness, burning, and abnormal discharge, you should see your doctor. It’s completely possible that you were just unlucky enough to develop an infection or another gynecological issue at the same time as you went keto.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2019 12:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).