We live in a society where when we sniffle or sneeze, we rush to the family doctor for a Z-Pak.
Antibiotics are solely intended to treat severe bacterial illnesses, despite the fact that it should go without saying that not all infections are caused by bacteria.
That implies antibiotics have no effect on viral infections, which include the majority of colds and flu cases.
Then what? If we use a mild antibacterial agent when we don't have an infection, what harm could it possibly do? Just a tiny bit extra clean from the inside out, right?
Big mistake.
In fact, we avoid using antibiotics at all costs unless we are actually dealing with a painful or severe condition that we are unable to treat naturally or holistically.
Here’s why.
Not all bacteria are bad.
Microbiomes exist throughout our bodies, both the gut and skin microbiota. We unleash hell on ALL the bacteria in our systems, not just the harmful ones, when we take a potent antibacterial medication like an antibiotic. This implies that our stomachs suffer greatly.
We spoke with Dr. Nigma Talib, a naturopathic physician and best-selling author of books like Reverse the Signs of Aging and Younger Skin Starts in the Gut, because she is knowledgeable about gut health.
Antibiotics cause weight gain.
The first thing that she has mentioned was weight gain! It's far more complex than merely unbalanced digestion, which is nothing to laugh at on its own. And it begins at a young age.
“When you take frequent doses of antibiotics—and in some cases, only one dose is all you need—they seem to play a role and have a significant effect on the body’s hunger hormone, called ghrelin,” Dr. Talib starts.
“This hormone is secreted mainly in the lining of the stomach. This hormone that lives in the stomach signals to your brain to make you want to indulge in eating.
So basically, when your ghrelin levels are elevated, the amount of food and how often you eat is also increased, thereby causing weight gain.”
Antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria.
A study from BMC Gastroenterology conclusively shows that the use of antibiotics, specifically H. influenzae, eliminates beneficial microorganisms.
Ghrelin levels in subjects change significantly as a result of H. pylori. In fact, ghrelin levels were six times greater in the patients who did not have the bacteria in their guts than in the subjects who did.
That's a significant sum. Imagine having a six-fold increase in normal hunger. Although the math isn't always directly comparable, it's near.
Antibiotics have damaging effects on children microbiomes development.
While this weight gain undoubtedly has an impact on adults, who often are more concerned with their weight for reasons of looks and health, it also has an impact on children, which has its own set of negative effects.
Our very own, incredibly distinctive microbiome is created when we are born and continues to evolve throughout our formative years. Much of our current health and other characteristics are shaped by the cultivation of these advantageous microorganisms.
When we expose our children to antibiotics at a young age, we influence the development—or lack thereof—of their microbiomes.
In essence, the microbiome we cultivate early in life can influence how healthy and physically attractive we are in later life.
"Every time you give a child antibiotics, it does more than just make them gain weight," says Dr. Talib.
The use of antibiotics has detrimental consequences on the gut microbiota, including a decrease in species diversity, a reduction in metabolic activity, and the development of antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Yeah, the gut is complicated and vital—a big actor in most of our illnesses and our wellness state. Since the majority of the immune system is located in the gut, there are multiple layers of potential problems.
Frequent antibiotic use, in Dr. Talib's opinion, is a tragedy waiting to happen.
The opportunist bacteria and yeast flourish as a result of the antibiotic, which damages the gut lining. This can result in a variety of ailments, including difficult-to-cure yeast infections, Clostridium difficile infections, and fungal overgrowth, with weight gain being the cherry on top.
According to this Harvard study, more than 300,000 infants were examined.
They examined whether they received antacids or antibiotics throughout the first two years of life (antacids allow certain bacteria present in the mouth and nose that usually get killed by stomach acid to move into the intestine, crowding out other beneficial species).
According to this study, babies who received antibiotics at a young age were 26 percent more likely to become obese.
Keep the good gut bugs happy by eating lots of fiber!
Antibiotics are known to save lives, so we don't want to discourage their use in these extreme circumstances.
Simply put, we want to make it clear that they are a powerful tool that should only be used when absolutely required because their side effects can be severe and widespread.
It's okay to use antibiotics if you really must—because, let's face it, we all need them occasionally. Here are some guidelines for calibrating:
Assess your intake of gut biodiversity. This calls for consuming a variety of high-fiber foods.
Pick up some vegetables you've never eaten before or don't often consume the next time you're at the market.
Don't juice them; blend them up in a smoothie shot!
To act as a prebiotic to feed intestinal bacteria, the fiber is necessary. Try cooking starchy items like white rice or potatoes, letting them cool completely, and then reheating and enjoying them once again.
A substance termed resistant starch, which is also a potent prebiotic, is created during this process.
Of course, eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kraut, and kimchi as well as taking probiotics will help to repopulate the gut. We highly recommend you add a solid mix of Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics supplement to your daylight routine
Taking Probiotics for gut health, but forget to take enzymes. Why would you want to do both?
While probiotics assist in maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in your stomach, digestive enzymes aid in the digestion of the food you eat. Adding Nutra Moment Digestive Enzyme Pro Blend to your daily routine can help digestion, bloating, and nutrient absorption.
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