Tips to Protect Your Gut Health While Using Antibiotics

Did you know that at least 28% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are not needed? In this month’s blog post, we will dive into the topic of antibiotics and how to protect your gut if you need to take them!

Antibiotics are heavily prescribed in the United States. The CDC states that in 2022, nearly 7 out of every 10 people received an antibiotic prescription that year. A significant concern is that many of those prescriptions are unnecessary (i.e., prescribed for viral infections that do not respond to antibiotics). This over-prescription is a huge issue for many reasons, which we will dive into here!

1. Antibiotic Resistance – Overusing or misusing antibiotics (e.g., viral infections like colds or flu) can lead to bacteria developing resistance, making future infections harder or impossible to treat.
2. Gut Microbiome Disruption – Antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, which can disrupt the gut microbiome and lead to issues like diarrhea, yeast infections, or long-term gut health problems.
3. Side Effects – Antibiotics can cause side effects such as nausea, rash, allergic reactions, or even more serious complications like C. Diff.
4. Incomplete Courses can be Dangerous! Even if you feel better, stopping antibiotics early can leave behind stronger bacteria that survive and multiply, leading to recurrence or resistant strains.
5. Drug Interactions – Antibiotics can interact with other medications, including birth control pills or antacids, potentially reducing effectiveness or increasing risk.

Of course, there are situations in which antibiotics are absolutely necessary. In those situations, rebalancing your gut after antibiotics is extremely important!

This process of rebalancing your gut involves restoring microbial diversity and supporting the health of your gut lining.

Here are some things you can do to help:

Probiotics – Continue to take them for 2-4 weeks (or longer) post-antibiotics.

• Use strains like Lactobacilus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii.
• Aim for a broad-spectrum probiotic (10-50 billion CFUs daily)
• Taking on an empty stomach or as directed by your practitioner is best.
• Take your probiotic at least 2-3 hours before your antibiotic dose to reduce the chance of the antibiotic killing the beneficial bacteria in the probiotic.

Eat Prebiotic-Rich Foods Daily – They feed the good bacteria and help them repopulate.

• Think: onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, bananas, apples, oats, and flaxseeds.

Include Fermented Foods– To introduce live beneficial bacteria.

• Think: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickled veggies.
• Start with a small amount here if you are sensitive!

Avoid Gut Disruptors – Minimize alcohol, processed foods, and added sugars, as these can worsen gut inflammation and disrupt the balance of your microbiome even further.

Stay Hydrated– Drink plenty of water to support your digestive system and flush out the toxins.

Antibiotics are medically necessary in some instances, and even in those cases, taking care of your gut is essential so you do not experience unwanted symptoms down the road.

As always, we are here to help you optimize your well-being! If you want to take a deep dive into your health or discuss your current goals, give us a call to schedule a complimentary wellness consultation!