The Truth about Yeast in Your Body | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

As an OB-GYN who specializes in vulvovaginal disorders,

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Yi-Ping Cho (Marssi)

身為專長是外陰道疾病的婦產科醫生，

I hear a lot of myths about vaginal yeast infections,

我聽過很多關於陰道 酵母菌感染的迷思，

and the one that just won't go away is that they're linked to too much sugar

其中一直反覆出現的迷思，

就是這種感染和飲食中太多糖有關。

in your diet.

[Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter]

〔關於人體——珍‧甘特醫生主持〕

On the surface, the idea sounds plausible.

表面上，這個想法貌似有理。

After all, sugar is a food source --

畢竟，糖不僅是我們的食物來源，

not just for us, but also for yeast and bacteria.

也是酵母菌和細菌的。

So if we eat more sugar, we're feeding the yeast.

如果我們多吃糖， 就等於在餵食酵母菌。

And there are studies

且有些研究

that show yeast infections are more common in people with diabetes,

顯示酵母菌感染在糖尿病 患者身上比較常見，

who can have higher levels of sugar in their blood.

這些患者的血液中有較多糖。

But the truth is,

但，事實是，

the sugar consumption-yeast connection is a myth for most,

吃糖和酵母菌有所連結 是大部分人的迷思，

perpetuated both by well-meaning but ill-informed health care professionals

會一直傳下去是因為

立意良善但孤陋寡聞的 健康照護從業人員

as well as purveyors of snake oil --

以及黑心推銷員——

you know, the ones who want to sell you cleanses,

你知道的，這些人 老想賣你排毒飲食、

diets and books designed to help you get rid of all the yeast.

特種飲食，以及書籍， 來協助你擺脫所有酵母菌。

The first thing you need to know

你需要知道的第一件事 是陰道中通常都有酵母菌。

is that yeast is normally found in the vagina.

At some point in a given year,

一項研究估計， 在一年中的某個時間點，

one study estimates that 70 percent of people

七成的人陰道中都有酵母菌，

will have yeast in their vagina,

just hanging out in the microbiome and causing no symptoms.

只是在微生物群裡面晃晃， 不會造成任何症狀。

And secondly, sugar is normally found in the vagina.

第二，陰道中通常都有糖。

After all, that's what also feeds the good bacteria.

畢竟，好菌也要以糖為食。

It's the overgrowth of this yeast that's already there

是當本來就在那裡的 酵母菌過度成長時，

that produces symptoms

才會造成症狀並導致 我們所謂的酵母菌感染。

and results in what we call a yeast infection.

One theory for the sugar-yeast connection

關於糖與酵母菌的連結， 有一個理論是

is that the source of the yeast is actually in the gut,

酵母菌的來源其實是在腸道中，

and that a high-sugar diet feeds this yeast,

而高糖飲食會餵食這些酵母菌，

which makes it overgrow, and then it gets into the vagina.

造成它們過度成長， 接著便跑到陰道去了。

But there's no credible data to support this.

但並沒有可信的資料 可以支持這個理論。

Another theory is that eating more sugar

另一個理論是，多吃糖

causes sugar levels in the vagina to rise,

會讓陰道中的糖量變多，

thus feeding the yeast.

因而餵食酵母菌。

But it doesn't.

但，不是這樣的。

And yes, someone actually studied this.

是的，有人真的為此做了研究。

Researchers gave people,

研究者找來一群人，

some with a history of vaginal yeast infections

有些曾經有過陰道酵母菌感染，

and others without,

有些則沒有。

a drink containing a lot of sugar or glucose.

研究者給他們含有 大量糖或葡萄糖的飲料。

Their blood and vaginal sugar levels were measured before and after the drink.

在喝飲料之前和之後都會測量 他們血液中和陰道中的糖濃度。

They found that the sugar levels in the vaginal secretions didn't change

他們發現兩組受試者在陰道 分泌物中的糖濃度都沒有改變。

for either group.

But what about diabetes?

那糖尿病呢？

Now we know diabetes is associated

現在我們知道糖尿病

和陰道酵母菌感染風險增加有關。

with an increased risk of vaginal yeast infections,

but the actual reason why isn't known.

但實際的原因仍然未知。

While very elevated glucose levels might be part of it,

雖然葡萄糖濃度升高 有可能是部分原因，

it seems the immune system and other factors

但免疫系統及其他因子 似乎也有影響。

may also be playing a role.

There is a newer class of diabetes medications

有一種比較新的糖尿病藥物

that causes people to dump a lot of sugar into their urine

會讓用藥者從尿液把大量的糖 排出，以這種方式降低血糖。

as a way to lower blood sugar.

The massive amounts of sugar in the urine

尿液中大量的糖

can cause yeast infections on the vulva

可能會造成外陰部的酵母菌感染，

as the vulva is being bathed

因為外陰部還沒有演化到可以

in levels of sugar it didn't evolve to handle.

處理這麼大量的糖。

But unless you have diabetes,

但除非你患有糖尿病，

there is no link between eating sugar and yeast infections.

吃糖和酵母菌感染 之間是沒有關聯的。

So ignore the so-called influencers.

所以，別理會所謂的網紅，

It’s fine to enjoy a slice of cake now and then.

偶爾享受一片蛋糕是沒問題的。

And definitely skip the cleanses.

至於排毒飲食則千萬別碰。