 In the same way fermented pickles, kimchi, and sauerkraut foster the growth of good bacteria like lactobacillus by maintaining an acidic environment, so does the human vagina. The normal pH of one's vagina is that of tomato juice. Once it starts creeping up to that of coffee, though, an overgrowth of bad bacteria can take hold and cause bacterial vaginosis, which affects an astounding 29% of American women. That's nearly one in three women in the United States. That makes it the most frequent cause of vaginal complaints among younger women, affecting tens of millions. It's commonly diagnosed with the so-called WIF test, where the doctor takes a WIF of the vaginal discharge sniffing for the characteristic fishy odor. Traditional risk factors for bacterial vaginosis include douching, which has been associated with a wide range of problems. So with no demonstrable benefits and considerable evidence of harm, women should be encouraged to not douch. Medical professionals need to clearly explain that the vagina is naturally self-cleaning. Recently, poor nutrition has been added to the list of risk factors. You appear more likely to get bacterial vaginosis if you have lower levels circulating in your bloodstream of phytonutrients like vitamin C and beta-carotene, indicating a lower intake of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, though, the field of nutrition has shifted towards examining overall dietary scores as opposed to single nutrients because it's become recognized that nutrients are not consumed in isolation, that individuals consuming one health-producing nutrient also tend to consume many others, and that the specific source of nutrients may be of importance. What a concept! So nutrient-rich food indexes have been devised to enable folks to get the most nutrients out of their calories. And the more nutrient-rich ones diet, the lower ones' apparent risk for bacterial vaginosis. Why, though? Well, it's thought that high fat intake, particularly saturated fat, which comes mostly from dairy, donuts, chicken in this country, may increase vaginal pH, thereby increasing the risk of bacterial vaginosis. So now that we know, the next steps ahead include sharing these findings with gynecologists, obstetricians, general practitioners, as well as increasing the awareness of the general community to the importance of optimal nutrition, to prevent infections of the genital tract, reduce associated disease, and maintain reproductive health.