Your Guide to Recovering from Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics were a groundbreaking discovery in the field of Western medicine, and have saved countless lives due to their ability to wipe out deadly infections.
However, more and more we are realizing that antibiotics are often over-prescribed, and can leave you with lasting problems if you don’t take the steps to properly recover.
You see, the human body is host to trillions of bacteria that are beneficial to our health and essential body processes and unfortunately, antibiotics are not able to distinguish between “good” and “bad” bacteria when being used to treat an infection. This means that they can have a devastating effect on our microbiome, causing what is called ‘Dysbiosis.’ or an imbalance of your microbiome flora.
Symptoms of Dysbiosis
After a course of antibiotics, sometimes even long after, it’s very common for people to experience some of these symptoms.
Difficulty thinking or ‘brain fog’
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
Bad breath
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Skin rashes
Yeast infections
Vaginal or rectal itching
Nausea
Upset stomach
Recurring infections such as Urinary tract infections or sinus infections
Joint pain
Are You Saying I Should Never Take Antibiotics?
Not at all. While antibiotics have been overprescribed over the last few decades and many doctors are now taking this into consideration, there is a time and a place where antibiotics are crucial. Sometimes there is a better option to help your body fight a mild infection while maintaining your microbiome health, and other times antibiotics may be a necessary choice. I always encourage you to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider in order to weigh the pros and cons of your unique situation.
Can I Recover my Microbiome After Antibiotics?
The good news is, yes! There is a lot you can do to rebuild healthy gut flora. That being said, it can take some time, effort, and dedication, but it is well worth it to help your body function optimally.
How to Rebuild Healthy Gut Flora
1. Probiotics
Probiotics go a long way in rebuilding your healthy bacteria levels. You can find probiotics in foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, miso, yogurt, and kimchi. You can also take probiotics in a supplement form. I recommend strains such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum as they are the least likely to cause inflammation.
2. Prebiotics
Prebiotics are basically the ‘food’ for the good bacteria you’re introducing to feed off of. Some excellent food sources for these prebiotics can be found in things like bananas, chicory root, dandelion greens, garlic, artichokes, leeks, and asparagus. You can also find supplements to support prebiotics.
3. Clean Up Your Diet
Eating foods high in sugar, low in essential nutrients and filled with additives can help the ‘bad’ bacteria or yeast thrive in your microbiome. While rebuilding your flora, remove sugars, white flour, alcohol, and processed foods from your diet.
4. Gut Supporting Foods
In addition to some of the foods I’ve already noted, these will help give an extra boost to your journey.
Fresh Vegetables- Good bacteria LOVE vegetables. This is because they take what we wouldn’t be able to break down without them and turn it into other essential nutrients.
Bone Broth- Bone broth is an excellent source of collagen, which helps strengthen your gut lining. You can also find collagen in supplement form if you prefer.
Ginger- Ginger helps to produce more stomach acid and stimulates food to move through the digestive tract.
5. Gut Supporting Supplements
Zinc, L- Glutamine, Marshmallow Root, and Licorice Root are some additional supplements that can support you on your journey to good gut health. As always, consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new supplements to make sure they are a fit for you.
Happy Healing!