Antibiotics are a double-edged sword when it comes to our health and well-being. On one hand, they play a vital role in fighting infections and killing harmful bacteria. On the other hand, they also kill good bacteria that we need to stay healthy. While a lot of people are beginning to understand that antibiotic abuse can lead to bacterial resistance and superbugs, it’s important to realize that these infections may be the least of our problems compared with what antibiotics do to our digestive system.
Bacteria Killers
Antibiotics have one job, to kill bacteria, but they don’t discriminate between the good and the bad. Bacteria is important to our overall health and well-being, and they play a vital role in preventing pathogens from entering the bloodstream. We have more than 400 species of bacteria in our gut, and the total amount of individual spores can exceed a trillion at a time. That’s a lot of bacteria, and it’s there for a reason. Consequently, if we abuse antibiotics, we’re actually removing this vital layer of defense that keeps bad things out of our blood, organs, lymphatic system and brain.
Good vs Bad
Good bacteria helps to break down foods into compounds that can be absorbed in the intestinal wall. During the process, they feed off of bad things, and this frees up space for the intestines to absorb the good stuff. Bacteria also help to convert items into solid waste and move that process along as well. In short, this bacteria serves as a vital digestive aid and cleanser that our bodies can’t do without.
When we take too many antibiotics, this layer of defense gets destroyed. While it does regenerate, the intervening time makes us vulnerable to all kinds of infections that can make us sick. If we use antibiotics regularly, this protective layer is removed until we stop, and this is when things can get very dangerous.
Leaky Gut
Leaky gut is a condition where the lining of the intestinal wall becomes destroyed, and this can lead to a variety of infections that can cause chronic disease. Left unchecked, these can be life-changing or even fatal. Another problem is that once toxins enter the bloodstream, they begin to overwhelm the immune system as it tries to fight-off these intruders. After a while, this stress takes its toll, and this can also lead to a range of diseases, ailments and infections that can wreak havoc in various places throughout the body.
This is just a brief, superficial overview of how antibiotics can actually cause illness if they are not used properly. Remember that antibiotics are only useful for targeting bacterial infections that the body can’t fight on its own. Use them sparingly, judiciously, and as directed. If infections persist, seek medical attention instead of taking antibiotics for a prolonged period of time.
Additionally, try to avoid falling into the temptation of thinking that antibiotics can be taken proactively. They are not nutritional supplements. Rather, they are killers that can do more harm than good if we are not responsible with how we take them.
Don’t think twice about taking antibiotics if you have an infection, and don’t let this news deter you from keeping an emergency supply on hand in your stockpile or survival kit. However, use them judiciously, and try to save them for when they’re really needed instead of as a first line of defense.