It's that time of year.....

 ...when doctors and pharmacists everywhere start pushing the flu shot and antibiotics down everyone's throats {or backsides}.  Here's my take on antibiotics:

Antibiotics: 

Dictionary definition: any of a large group of chemical substances, as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by various microorganisms and fungi having the capacity in dilute solutions to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms, used chiefly in the treatment of infectious diseases.

{I took it upon myself to highlight all the parts of that I didn't like about antibiotics.}

{Photo Credit}

1. CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES...is this not something we need to stay away from?  Should we be putting foreign, synthetic chemical into our bodies?  No.  If it's not found in our bodies, or naturally in nature, we should not ingest them.  {I would certainly be for it if it were a matter of life and death and time was of the essence!} 
   I do have a list of NATURAL ANTIBIOTICS that I will share with you tomorrow.  They work better than the chemical substances that we are all so familiar with, because they kill only the bad bacteria without interfering with the good bacteria..  
2. DESTROYING BACTERIA:  Could be a good thing IF it only killed bad bacteria.  But the problem is, it kills GOOD bacteria.  A healthy adult had 3-4 pounds {and over 400 types} of GOOD bacteria living in his/her intestine.  This bacteria helps digest your food, prevent diseases like cancer, produce vitamin K,  and make your intestine an unpleasant place for the bad bacteria to live. 
3. Did I mention that antibiotics are known to cause yeast infections, kill the immune season {for a while} and diarrhea?  All due to the fact that the good bacteria has been killed and can not do it job.   

Probiotics

The good bacteria in the gut will eventually replenish themselves after being killed off by antibiotics.  The problem is you are without these good, healthy bacteria during a time when you need them most, so some doctors recommend probiotic supplements to increase the number of good bacteria while on antibiotics.  {It's a vicious cycle!}  These supplements have been known to have side affects like nausea.

Have you ever heard people tell you to eat yogurt while you're on antibiotics?  That's because it has probiotics in it that are supposed to help the good bacteria to stay healthy.  

I suggest we stay away from antibiotics and eat plenty of prebiotics so there's no need for probiotics.   

Prebiotics

Dictionary Definition:  Natural substances in some foods that encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.  {Basically, these foods feed the good bacteria in your gut.}  These prebiotics also help your colon absorb certain minerals like calcuim, iron and magnesium; alleviate constipation and blood cholesterol levels; improve colitis, travelers diarrhea and IBS.

SO...why not fill up on things that will increase the amount and growth of these healthy bacteria, that will, in turn, keep you healthy by destroying the bad bacteria and diseases?  Sounds easy to me! 

Here's a list of prebiotics:

{Photo Credit}

• Artichokes
• Chicory Root
• Oats
• Barley
• Legumes {Beans}
• Greens 
• Garlic
• Bananas
• Berries
• Flax seed
• Onions 
• Yogurt

Eat up {and check out my list of natural antibiotics coming tomorrow}!

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