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Broad-spectrum oral antibiotics, while treating infections, also harm beneficial bacteria, disrupting the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome, essential for digestion, immune regulation, and overall health, needs a diverse range of bacteria to function properly. This disruption can take months or years to recover and can lead to antibiotic resistance, reducing the effectiveness of future treatments.
There are a growing number of clinical studies that have found that even a short course of antibiotics can significantly alter the overall amount of bacterial species in the gut. These bacterial changes in the gut can be profound to the point of altering the microbiome drastically. The bacteria that survive the antibiotic treatment tend to carry resistance genes, which cause additional problems. The gut microbiome is like an ecosystem and it is disturbed when introduced to antibiotics. Antibiotics will eliminate susceptible bacteria, while contributing to the resistance and growth of other bacteria. This causes the balance to be much different since it now has fewer good bacteria and more antibiotic resistant bacteria. When this occurs, antibiotics become less effective when targeting pathogens which can have severe consequences.
Not all bacteria in or on our bodies are bad. We have very important good bacteria too and we need to take good care of them in order to stay healthy. When taking broad-spectrum oral antibiotics for a bacterial infection, they not only target the bad bacteria, but they also harm the good bacteria that we need. In fact, once the good bacteria are eliminated, it can take months or even years to recover the original species composition. This is a big reason why we should not take oral antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary.
The gut microbiome not only aids in digestion, but it also controls your immune regulation, metabolic activities, and overall health. In order for the gut microbiome to be healthy, a wide range of bacterial diversity should be present. When the microbiome is unhealthy, there are smaller amounts of good bacteria and less diversity of species present. Unfortunately, babies and children can be affected the most during the time in their lives when they are developing their gut microbiome. The development of their microbiome begins at birth through the age of 3. When their microbiome is disturbed by antibiotics, they end up with a predisposition of diseases later in life, resulting in a future of battling multiple acute conditions. This is why clinicians and parents should only consider antibiotics for babies and children when a bacterial infection is undeniably present.
Another very important reason to take good care of your gut microbiome is because of the direct connection it has to your brain. Researchers have referred to the gut as our “second brain” due to gut bacteria having a significant impact on our mental health. There are species of bacteria that create irritants to the immune system, then move through the bloodstream and affect the brain’s immune cells. The bacteria may impair immune functions related to clearing plaque in the brain, which can trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It is actually true that “we are what we eat” since food can also alter our mood by creating anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, memory loss, etc. The gut microbiome regulates emotions through the gut-brain axis (GBA). Eating a diet of processed foods has created many of these unfavorable outcomes. To change your mood, you should change your diet. Start thinking about foods that will positively affect your gut microbiome.The gut houses a world of information, and we are continuing to learn more about its importance to our overall health every day. Let’s start taking more accountability of what we are putting into our bodies by staying informed and alert to the consequences and repercussions that these decisions will have on our health, and the health of our family and friends.
There are multiple ways to take care of your gut microbiome, including eating foods high in fiber, and eating a wide range of healthy foods, especially those with natural probiotic properties (fermented vegetables, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.). If you do become sick with a cold or the flu, do not take antibiotics. Cold and flu are viral infections, not bacterial infections. Only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary and only after the bacterial infection is properly diagnosed with an accurate diagnostic. If an antibiotic is needed, consider opting for a compounded topical anti-infective prescription that will target your specific infection right at the site. This option eliminates oral antibiotics disrupting your gut and possible interactions with medications you may be taking.
