Gut Health and Antibiotics
Antibiotics are both good and bad. On the one hand, they’ve helped us cure many bacterial infections that used to prove fatal. On the other hand, they don’t discriminate between bad and good bacteria—and just one course can disrupt your healthy gut flora for up to a year! 😲
Fortunately, certain foods can help you restore your gut and return you to a healthier state of mind. Here are some types of food that will repair your damaged gut microbiome after antibiotic treatments:
Probiotics (e.g. milk kefir, yogurt, water kefir)
Introduces more friendly bacteria into the gut, which aid in digestion and regulate your immune system.
Prebiotics (e.g. garlic, onions)
Helps encourage and “feed” good bacteria growth in the gut.
Fermented food (e.g. kombucha, kimchi, fermented vegetables)
These introduce living probiotic cultures that help repair your gut.
Real, healthy food
A balanced diet will help mend your gut, with a healthy balance of grains, protein, healthy saturated fats, and vegetables.
The bottom line is to listen to your body and use antibiotic treatments only when they’re absolutely necessary. A healthy diet with plenty of pre- and probiotics will make sure that your gut can bounce back, even after a serious infection.
