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What you may not know about Antibiotics!

Antibiotics have transformed modern medicine and if used properly can save lives!  However, there are some serious side effects to taking antibiotics and it’s commonly over-prescribed.  In fact, In one year the Center for Disease Control reported that out of the 154 million prescribed antibiotics, 30% were unnecessary.  People may feel better off taking antibiotics “in case”, but are we causing our bodies more harm than good?

Now I am definitely no doctor, so please do your own research and consult with your primary physician or other qualified health care professional before making any decisions.  However, before rushing  to the doctor for antibiotics consider these facts.

Antibiotics Only Treat Bacterial Illnesses Not Viruses!

This is a common misconception and can be confusing because both bacterial and viral infections often have the same symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, fever, diarrhea and vomiting.  However, there are huge differences between bacteria and viral infections!

According to Lauri Hicks, DO, medical director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work campaign.  She says ““Most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses. A very small percentage of upper respiratory infections are caused by bacteria, and antibiotics are completely ineffective for treatment of viral infections.”

Some of the most common viral infections that shouldn’t be treated with antibiotics are the common cold, Flu (influenza), cough, bronchitis, some ear infections, and some sinus infections.  Most of these viral infections get better on their own without antibiotics.

bacteria pathogen slide

Serious side effects of Antibiotics!

Since the discovery of antibiotics and the over-prescribing of them, antibiotic resistance has grown.  Taking antibiotics when they are not needed or misusing them, increases the risk that an infection you get later will resist antibiotic treatment.  According to the World Health Organization “The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, more and more governments recognize (it is) one of the greatest threats to health today.”

Among other things, antibiotics kill disease-causing bacteria and our friendly gut bacteria!  In fact only one week of antibiotics can change the makeup of your gut microbiota for up to a year!  Recent studies have also shown that mothers given antibiotics during child-birth, can delay the growth of healthy bacteria in the infant for up to the first 12 weeks of life!

If you choose to take antibiotics

Take a probiotic during and after antibiotic use!  A number of studies have shown that taking a probiotic can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.  However, because probiotics are also bacteria, they can be killed along with the harmful bacteria when you take antibiotics, so it’s important to take the antibiotics and probiotics a few hours apart.

In addition, Probiotics can help restore the microbiota to its original state after taking antibiotics. Choosing a probiotic can get a little tricky, so make sure to choose one that contains a mixture of different beneficial bacteria, rather than just one.  Check out “Everything you ever wanted to know about choosing a good probiotic,” to get detailed information about how to choose a good one!

Personally I use The Garden of Life Raw Probiotic, because It contains 34 probiotic strains with 100 billion CFU, plus it’s only one pill a day which makes it easy for me to remember.

garlic onions natural remedies for infection

Instead of antibiotics

Hippocrates couldn’t have said  it better, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”  Instead of using an antibiotic, why not opt for a much easier and cheaper way that nature provides!  The following is a list of the most powerful antibiotics that nature provides.

  1. Garlic and Onions can be used to treat an earache, pneumonia, the flu, common colds, and MRSA.
  2. Echinacea can strengthen your immune system to fight the flu, colds, and bacterial infections.
  3. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can be used topically or internally to treat bacterial infections.
  4. Oil of Oregano has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties making it great for sinus infections.
  5. Manuka Honey kills bacteria, removes toxins, boosts the immune system, and soothes the digestive tract.  Learn more about this amazing honey here!
  6. Grapefruit Extract  is high in antioxidants that boost immunity and strengthen the beneficial gut bacteria.
  7. Colloidal Silver has been used for centuries as a natural antibiotic, it destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi.  However, be careful not to use it over long periods, because it can be harmful to your body.

Try these natural antibiotics instead of relying on what your doctor prescribes for you, they wont harm your body and they taste great!  As well as natural antibiotics, what we eat is extremely important to our immunity also! Check out Why You Should Eat a Plant Based Diet!

I love to hear your comments below =)

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The Real Reason Your So Tired All The Time!

Do you feel tired all the time?  You just don’t feel so great, your body aches, your minds foggy, and you have low energy?  Trust me I’ve been there!  Many people just accept the fact that not feeling so great is part of life and getting older, but that’s simply not the case!  Yet studies have shown that 15% of women, and 10% of men are regularly exhausted.  If it’s not just aging, whats making us so tired?  Check out these 4 reasons why you could be feeling so drained and what you can do to feel re-energized!

Sedentary Lifestyle 

Studies have shown that exercise acts on your central nervous system to increase energy and reduce fatigue.  However, when your extremely tired, getting up to exercise is the absolute last thing you wanna do, I get it!  But speaking from experience,  when I’m tired and force myself to workout, It’s crazy how much energy it gives me!  I leave my workout feeling so energized, alert and de-stressed!

However, don’t let all this talk of exercise freak you out, because you don’t have to do an intense workout to boost your energy!  Even just moderate exercise for 20 minutes can help fight that fatigue.   Start slowly by taking a short walk, swim, or bike, and feel the difference in your energy levels!

Poor Diet

The absolute best way to prevent fatigue is by eating a healthy balanced diet! We’ve all been there, we eat a big greasy meal, and we finish feeling stuffed, and exhausted right? The saying goes, “eat good, feel good”.  To get adequate nutrition and eliminate fatigue, it’s important to eat a balanced mix of food that includes: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and protein.  Eating a plant-based, whole foods diet is the best way to do this!  For more information on this check out, Why you should eat a plant-based diet! 

You can also make positive changes in your diet my making some of these small changes:

  • Eat regularly.  Don’t go for long periods without eating!  Eat 3 meals a day, and have a healthy snack in between, such as fruits, vegi’s, or a handful of nuts.
  • Drink lots of water.  Dehydration makes you tired, constipated, and moody!  Drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
  • Don’t skip breaky.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (we’ve all heard that before)!  Seriously though, a healthy breaky gives you energy for the day, don’t skip it!
  • Eat less meat.  Instead of having your meal centered around the protein, fill your plate with vegetables and fruits, with a side of protein.
  • Eat less dairy.  There are a ton of dairy-free options out there, try switching the dairy in your morning coffee to coconut/almond milk, and skip the extra cheese!

Extreme Stress

In this world we live in, it seems really difficult to avoid stress!  We encounter stressful situations at work, school, in our relationships, even driving in traffic.  Some stress can actually be healthy and can help us to perform a task, and be more alert.  However, extreme prolonged stress can cause us physical and emotional exhaustion, that can eventually lead to illness.

If you’re experiencing extreme stress, try these tips:

  • Exercise regularly.  Physical activity is a huge stress reliever and gives you those feel good endorphins.
  • Identify the source of your stress.  Find out whats causing you stress so that you can control it.
  • Learn to say no.  This is a big one, often times we bring stress on ourselves by taking on too much.  It’s ok to say no!
  • Avoid association with people who stress you out.  If there is someone in your life that causes you a lot of stress, try to spend less time with them.
  • View stressful situations in a different way.  Look at stressful situations more positively, sometimes its all in our attitude.
  • Accept the things you can’t change.  Some things are unavoidable, we can avoid stress by accepting things the way they are.

If you feel you may have a medical condition causing your fatigue, please consult your healthcare provider.  Has any of these suggestions helped your energy levels?  I love to hear from you, please comment below.

Did you know having a dog also reduces stress?  Check out 5 Reasons Having a Dog is Good for your Health!