What should you eat while taking an antibiotic and after finishing the treatment?

Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial and sometimes fungal infections. They stop the development of the infection and prevent it from spreading. Since 1928, when Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, scientists have created over 100 compounds to help us during the disease caused by these dangerous microorganisms. Although in small doses they destroy hostile bacteria without causing toxic effects, when used too often, they can have a negative impact not only on well-being, but also on health. The strength of their action is of great importance for the side effects they may cause. The wider the spectrum of destruction, the more pathogenic bacteria are eliminated, but at the same time the composition of the bacterial flora inhabiting our body changes significantly. If you want to avoid the negative effects of taking too many antibiotics, you need to take care of your diet. Scientists argue that it is responsible for recovery after the end of antibiotic treatment and reduces undesirable effects during its duration.

Antibiotics can take their toll on your liver, especially if you take them for a long time. Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine have shown that this type of drug was one of the most common causes of acute liver failure among the group of patients participating in their study. Remember that the liver is an organ responsible not only for the processing and detoxification of drugs, but it also has to deal with, for example, additionally circulating lipopolysaccharides, which are formed as a result of increased “death” of bacteria. Therefore, when you are undergoing antibiotic therapy, support it, e.g. milk thistle, eg “fresh” – in ground form, as an ingredient of regenerating tea. Glycine will work in a similar way, e.g. from bone broth or dairy products. Scientists associate it with more effective cleansing of this important organ. While taking the antibiotic and after completing the course of treatment, do not forget about water as well. Drinking at least 8 glasses of it helps the liver to filter the blood and helps flush out toxins.

Even a single course of antibiotics can permanently alter the microbiome inhabiting the human gut. Studies carried out on a group of 66 adults from Sweden and Great Britain showed that the composition of the bacterial flora, even in healthy people, changes even after 12 months after antibiotic therapy. It turns out that the least resistant to drugs may be bacteria producing butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, which is the main source of energy for intestinal epithelial cells. Remember that it increases the absorption of nutrients from food, accelerates the healing process of intestinal inflammations and, importantly, strengthens resistance to pathogenic microorganisms, e.g. bacteria of the genus Escherichia coli or Salmonella. According to scientists, a week of taking an antibiotic is enough to change the composition of the bacterial flora for the next year. Some studies even suggest a link between the use of antibiotics in early childhood and a higher risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes in the following years. Don’t forget that the effects of taking antibiotics can also appear much faster. By affecting the type and amount of bacteria in your gut, they can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea while you are still taking them.

It is an essential element during and after the antibacterial treatment. A review of over 100 studies, conducted both on adults and children, confirms that taking “good bacteria” can reduce the risk of diarrhea while taking antibiotics by an average of 50 percent. Remember that the probiotic treatment will bring the expected results only if you start taking “bacterial supplements” while taking the antibiotic and at least 2 weeks after its completion, and you keep a few hours between the drug and the selected probiotic preparation. This is important because antibiotics destroy all types of bacteria, both pathogenic and those having a positive effect on the body. Be sure to take care of them, because a review of research conducted by scientists from the University of Washington confirms that probiotics can restore the microbiome to the original state that was prior to the use of an antibiotic. Make the best use of a mixture of different bacterial strains to help restore the flora in the intestines, protect against overgrowth of fungi such as Candida or pathogenic bacteria Clostridium difficile, which are the most common causes of post-antibiotic colitis. As shown by numerous studies, various probiotic therapy is the most effective and efficient, although strains of the genus Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium always turn out to be extremely important. Remember about them when choosing a preparation for yourself.

After completing the antibiotic treatment, not only pharmaceutical preparations can help you rebuild your internal microbiota. It turns out that some foods may also be useful to you. Fermented foods such as unpasteurized yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha contain healthy species of bacteria that help restore gut imbalance. Research has shown, for example, that people who eat yogurt or curdled milk have higher amounts of Lactobacillus bacteria in the digestive tract and are characterized by lower abundance of these pathogenic bacteria, including from the genus Enterobacteriaceae or Bilophila wadsworthia. Scientists from the United States and Australia confirm that consuming plain yogurt while taking antibiotics can protect you against diarrhea. Kimchi and fermented soy milk can do the same, while supporting the growth of Bifidobacterium strains that are important in boosting immunity, especially after treatment. According to a study published in Applies and Environmental Microbiology, raw sauerkraut can contain at least 13 different species of probiotic bacteria. By enriching your digestive microbiome with them, you significantly reduce the negative effects of antibiotic therapy.

Dietary fiber is the part of your food that is not digested by your body. Remember, however, that it is needed by the bacteria in your intestines, because it stimulates their growth. Studies have shown that foods containing its soluble fractions are able to increase colonies of healthy strains in the intestines, while reducing the number of harmful strains. This is confirmed, among others, by researchers from the University of Florida or the University of Reading in the UK, suggesting that apples, bananas, garlic and artichokes may be particularly helpful. Therefore, be sure to provide fiber, also after the end of the antibacterial treatment. It will definitely help you rebuild the disturbed balance in the intestines and improve their work. At the same time, don’t forget that fiber can slow down the rate of gastric emptying, which in turn can affect the absorption of medications you are taking. Therefore, when reaching for foods rich in this ingredient, keep a distance and definitely do not combine them with the direct use of antibiotics. Also, remember not to overeat with insoluble fiber, which can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, while taking medications. You will find them, among others in whole grain products, onions or tomatoes. Limit their consumption if they cause you discomfort in the form of flatulence, abdominal pain or diarrhea.

Prebiotics are substances that nourish the bacteria in your gut. These include not only fiber-rich foods, but also products that, thanks to the content of other ingredients, have a beneficial effect on beneficial microorganisms. Several studies have shown, for example, that cocoa polyphenols increase the growth of healthy bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and reduce the pathogenic ones, e.g. of the genus Clostridium. Also noteworthy is resistant starch, which acts similarly to soluble fiber. It feeds friendly bacteria in the digestive tract and increases the production of short chain fatty acids like butyrate. You will find it in cooked and cooled rice, “cold” boiled potatoes, green bananas or oatmeal. You must also remember about it after finishing the antibiotic treatment. Australian or Japanese scientists argue that resistant starch affects not only the quantity, but also the quality of the intestinal microbiome. Finally, support your intestines with inulin. You will find her, among others in chicory root, recently popular Jerusalem artichoke, leek or onion. Not only does it regulate the digestive tract during antibiotic treatment, but after its completion, it strengthens immunity and stimulates the growth of beneficial microbiota.

Longer intake of antibiotics disrupts the intestinal flora and thus reduces the amount of vitamin K produced by bacteria living in the digestive tract. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you may need supplementation or specific inclusion of products containing it in your diet. This is important because when your body does not produce enough vitamin K, e.g. due to medications, you may suffer not only from slower wound healing, but also from frequent diarrhea, for example. Therefore, remember about it during antibiotic treatment and eat its sources every day, incl. beef liver, asparagus, green leafy vegetables or drink green tea. Before you rebuild the bacterial flora, be sure to take care of it.

Even if you consume them with food, their amount in your body can drop during antibiotic treatment because drugs can interfere with their absorption, including through digestive problems. But not only. B vitamins are partially produced by the intestinal bacteria. Therefore, when their balance in the digestive tract is disturbed, the internal production of these vitamins may turn out to be small. Therefore, remember to take care of vitamin B12 or folic acid during the disease. Increase their amount on your plate, also after the treatment, before the intestines start to function properly. Introduce sources of vitamin B12 to the menu in the form of fish, red meat or dairy products. Provide folic acid, among others together with spinach, broccoli, beetroot or turkey liver. Scientists also suggest ensuring the supply of vitamin B1 during and after taking antibacterial drugs. You eat it with sunflower seeds, oatmeal, lentils, red meat or liver. This is an important element of the diet, because its synthesis in the intestines also decreases during antibiotic treatment.

When an antibiotic hits your gut flora, gut lining, and digestive function, it is imperative to silence it. Bone-on broth, boiled for at least a few hours, will come to your aid. It’s a glutamine-rich food that scientists associate with better repair of the gut lining. The broth therefore heals inflammation in the digestive tract and reduces the side effects of antibiotic therapy. Thanks to the content of glycine, it facilitates a good night’s sleep during illness and, after its termination, reduces daytime sleepiness. If you suffer from nausea caused by antibiotic treatment, include ginger in the menu. It will soothe digestion and effectively reduce unpleasant nausea. Research has shown that as little as 1-1,5 grams of this aromatic rhizome can work. Therefore, use it as an addition to dishes or prepare warming infusions. In addition, as scientists from Pakistan, India and Taiwan confirm – fresh ginger can support antibiotic therapy, because it turns out that it can be effective against RSV, a common cause of respiratory infections.

If you want to take full advantage of the healing potential of the antibiotic you are using, you need to avoid certain foods that may have a negative effect, e.g. on its use by the body. Research confirms, among others, that consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking antibiotics can be harmful because it affects the breakdown of drugs, increasing the amount circulating in the blood. Scientists have shown that foods rich in calcium and iron can reduce the absorption of antibacterial drugs, so probiotic yogurt or a portion of beef should be eaten a few hours after the administration of a therapeutic capsule or suspension. Researchers suggest that tomato juice, orange juice, soda, carbonated drinks and alcohol may also be responsible for disturbances in the processing of antibiotics by the body. Be sure to exclude them from your diet for the duration of your drug treatment.