Antibiotics might be unavoidable at times, especially when you have a severe infection that can’t be treated with natural remedies. Prescribed antibiotics are usually very broad-spectrum. They are aimed at killing all the bacteria in your system. And they ensure that the infection subsides once and for all.
Unfortunately, this means that antibiotics will wipe out the good and bad bacteria in your gut. Because of this, it is important to renew your health after taking antibiotics.
What does your body need?
Your body needs healthy bacteria to make sure everything from your digestion to your immune system are functioning at their best. When you take antibiotics that wipe out the good bacteria, the space they occupied in your gastrointestinal tract is now available for the bad bacteria to settle in and possibly invade. This can lead to further infections in the future, digestive issues, and chronic inflammation.
So what can you do about this?
There are few things you can do before and after taking your antibiotics to minimize the damage done to your gut bacteria. The delicate balance in your gut might still be disrupted while you’re taking the medication. Therefore, the most repair can be done once you finish taking your round. During your course of antibiotics, make sure to have plenty of nutrient-dense meals that are low in simple sugars and rich in fiber. Simple sugars can increase inflammation and worsen your symptoms. But low-glycemic foods will not.
Take steps towards increasing your immunity. Instead of consuming food with simple sugars, choose complex carbohydrates that contain fiber. Fiber is a source for your beneficial gut bacteria. Sweet potatoes, oatmeal, dark leafy vegetables, beans, and seeds contain lots of fiber. Avoid junk food and treats with added sugars.
What do you do after taking antibiotics?
After taking antibiotics, take probiotics. This can be in the form of probiotic supplements or foods and drinks that contain bacterial cultures. Examples of these foods are kefir, yogurt, kimchi, tempeh, and kombucha drinks. Probiotics are strains of good bacteria that are made for you to consume. High-quality probiotic supplements can help restore the balance in your microbiome after antibiotics. Please, don’t take your probiotics right before you take antibiotics. This will be counterproductive because the medication will wipe out all the newly-introduced good bacteria directly after you have consumed them.
Once you have completed your regimen, increase your consumption of both probiotics and prebiotics to most effectively restore gut balance. You can also up your intake of certain gut-healing nutrients, such as vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin A has a protective effect on the intestinal lining. It can help repair any damage done to the intestinal barrier during the course of taking antibiotics. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to increase the population size and diversity of gut bacteria. I hope these tips help you renew your health!
