Antibiotics are the #1 most commonly prescribed drug.
They’re used to treat several bacterial infections such as acne, pinkeye, ear infections, bronchitis, strep throat, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections, etc.
They work by killing off the bacteria that cause the infections, but there are two main problems with these drugs:
- They are overprescribed, and leading to a worldwide epidemic of antibiotic resistance.
- They can lead to gut microbiotia dysbiosis, which means your gut bacteria have become imbalanced.
What’s important to understand is that your human cells are outnumbered by bacteria 10:1 – at a difference of ten trillion human cells versus one hundred trillion bacteria.
That’s why it’s so critical that you support your bacterial balance and heal your gut after any required use of antibiotics. Here’s what I recommend after using antibiotics:
BALANCE GUT BACTERIA
Probiotics should be taken during antibiotic use to help counter some of the side effects, I always recommended a good double dose to make it effective.
After antibiotics, a multi-strain probiotic will help to repopulate the gut and help prevent the overgrowth of new bacteria.
Investing in a good quality probiotic is really important to get the desired effect – don’t go buying a cheap one from the drugstore and complain that it didn’t work … the right one will work!
As a side note, you can get probiotics from fermented foods, but due to the potency of antibiotics, a more therapeutic dose is needed after antibiotics.
EAT MORE GUT-HEALING FOODS
While healing the gut is a comprehensive and individual process, there are foods you can eat to heal and protect your gut after antibiotic use. These are the foods that should be added into your diet:
- Fermented foods help re-introduce good bacteria back into the gut. Sources include: miso, kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi
- Dietary fibre contains prebiotics which help feed the good bacteria and helps to repopulates the gut. Sources include:
garlic, onions, leeks, apples, asparagus, jicama, bananas, chicory root, oats, flaxseeds, wheat bran, and seaweed - Bone Broth contains glutamine which helps to repair the epithelial lining of the gut
- Dandelion greens are a prebiotic and help to support your body’s natural detoxification pathways to eliminate the toxins accumulated from antibiotics. For more information on dandelion greens read this.
- Ginger is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that can help heal the gut after antibiotics
TAKE SUPPORTIVE SUPPLEMENTS
While food is always the first choice for health and healing, after a round of antibiotics or sickness, your body is in need of some therapeutic doses of nutrients – and supplements are the most effective way to do that.
- Probiotics (as mentioned above) are probably the most critical supplement for repairing the gut post-antibiotics
- L-glutamine reduces intestinal permeability
- N-Acetylcysteine supports healthy levels of glutathione which is an antioxidant that helps relieve oxidative stress on cells due to antibiotics
- Vitamin D helps repair tissue barriers and enhance tight junctions in your gut
- Zinc also enhances and repairs the barrier and junctions of the gut
Just remember that if you build a strong immune system and work to heal your gut you should not get sick enough to need antibiotics, but if you do then make sure to follow the above guidelines to help your body bounce back faster.
