The discovery and development of antibiotics has been a literal lifesaver for both humans and animals. Before antibiotics, many bacterial infections led to death. What started as a minor infection burgeoned until the body could no longer survive it. After antibiotics, millions of lives were saved and surgeries became safer.
Unfortunately, bacteria are highly adaptable. They are able to evolve to become immune to the medications we throw at it. This process is called antibiotic resistance, and it is happening all the time. Our overuse of antibiotics has seriously accelerated this process.
For this reason, it is often better to give your body a little bit of time to try and fight the bacteria without medication. Improve your natural infection-fighting ability by eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds on a regular basis. And when your body needs a boost to fight off a pesky bug, try the following 12 natural antibiotic foods.
One of these is actually among the most famous gifts ever given – can you spot it? But first, find out more about how the overuse of synthetic antibiotics is pushing the population toward a global crisis.
Don’t gamble with your health, but give your body a chance to fight off an infection with the support of the following 12 foods before you ask for an antibiotic.
1. Garlic
Garlic is an all-around superfood. Not only has it been used as a natural antibiotic for hundreds of years, it also has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties.
This is thanks to a compound called allicin (also present in onions). To fight infection, use crushed garlic either lightly cooked or raw.
2. Oil of Oregano
Oregano is another tasty natural antibiotic, a benefit linked to its carvacrol content. This natural antibiotic is good for all sorts of bacterial infections, but is especially lauded for its use in GI tract infections.
For best results, look for oregano oil that contains at least 70% carvacrol. This product is also anti-fungal, so you can use it topically for skin issues as well.
3. Echinacea
Echinacea is one of the best known natural remedies, but many people use it to treat the virus that causes the common cold – a use that research suggests is not effective.
Instead, take Echinacea if you have a bacterial infection, open wound, or blood poisoning. It is also particularly effective on respiratory infections.
4. Cayenne Pepper
This one is a bit counterintuitive, as we are usually advised to keep things bland when we’re sick. But spicy cayenne pepper is actually both antibiotic and anti-fungal in nature, so you might want to feel the burn to shorten the illness.
It’s best to dilute your cayenne with a carrier oil – olive or coconut are good choices – so that you get the benefits without harming delicate tissues
5. Grapefruit Seed Extract
Stop throwing away the seeds from your morning grapefruit! Extract from those seeds has been found to be as powerful as the active ingredients in antibacterial soaps.
Grapefruit seed extract may be used internally for bacterial infections or externally for warts and communicable disease prevention.
6. Ginger
Ginger is an excellent spice to eat every day. Its active component, gingerol, has been proven to reduce your risk of developing cancer and to prevent or soothe digestive issues.
Ginger has also been long used as a natural antibiotic, especially against food borne pathogens. If you eat a little ginger with meals, the likelihood of becoming ill goes down, even if you were exposed to salmonella, listeria, or campylobacter.
7. Cabbage
In many situations, the tendency of cabbage and other veggies in the cruciferous family to blow up your intestines with gas is well, not so good. But when you’re trying to fight bacteria, it’s just what you need.
The sulfur compounds in cabbage do cause gas, but they are also stellar at destroying harmful cells. The antibacterial function of cabbage is strongest when you eat it raw.
8. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has been touted for a few years now as a miracle product that’s good for your body inside and out. And in truth, coconut oil is loaded with antioxidants and has anti-fungal and anti-microbial characteristics.
Modest use may also help strengthen the immune system. But it is quite high in saturated fat, so it’s best to go easy on oil.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar
And while we are talking about health crazes, let’s look at apple cider vinegar. Touted for everything from weight loss to cancer prevention, proponents report that their ACV habit cures all manner of ills.
We do know that ACV has antibiotic and antiseptic capabilities, so whether or not you want to drink some every day, it’s a smart call when you start to feel under the weather.
10. Myrrh Extract
Here is a spice that you probably recognize from the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. That will give you some idea how long people have known that it makes effective medicine.
Much more recently, a 2000 study confirmed that myrrh is able to combat bacteria like E. coli, staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Myrrh oil is available today in pharmacies, natural grocers, and online.
11. Olive Leaf Extract
It’s not just olives and their oil that offer health benefits – the leaf of the olive tree is also handy to have around the house. Olive leaf extract has been used as a natural fever reducer since at least the early 1800s.
It was also found to treat malaria. Researchers have discovered recently that it is the elenolic acid in olive leaves that functions as a broad spectrum antibiotic that can kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
12. Honey
Honey is one the oldest known antibiotics, tracing back to ancient times. Egyptians frequently used honey as a natural antibiotic and skin protectant.
Honey contains hydrogen peroxideTrusted Source, which may account for some of its antibacterial properties. It also has a high sugar content, which can help stop the growth of certain bacteria.
Additionally, honey has a low pH level. This works to pull moisture away from bacteria, causing the bacteria to get dehydrated and die off.
To use honey as an antibiotic, apply it directly to the wound or infected area. The honey can help kill off the bacteria and aid in the healing process. If possible, opt for raw Manuka honey. This form of honey offers the most health benefits. You can purchase raw Manuka honey here.
You can also ingest honey to aid in the treatment of internal infections. Simply swallow a whole tablespoon or stir it into a warm cup of herbal tea for a soothing treat.
Antibiotic resistance is no joke, but you can do your part to slow it down by using natural antibiotic alternatives whenever possible. Incorporating at least one per day of these 12 products into your routine can boost your immune system and stop bacteria from gaining a foothold in your body.
That’s not to say that you will never again need a doctor-prescribed antibiotic medication, but it will make your infection easier to treat when that day comes.
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