How to Safely Diet when Taking Antibiotics

Antibiotics can be prescribed to you by your doctor for a wide variety of ailments. Anything from bronchitis to pneumonia and many things in between can be cured by the use of antibiotics. However, if you’re taking them under doctor’s orders, you need to remember that your body’s immune system has been compromised and that there are some things regarding diet and nutrition that you need to keep in mind.

Ailments Treated by Antibiotics

Antibiotics are prescribed to help boost your immune system when you have caught a bacterial infection. This means that you shouldn’t be taking them if you have a cold or the flu, since those are viral infections. Strep throat, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia are examples of bacterial infections treated by antibiotics.

Problems Antibiotics Can Cause

If you aren’t sick with a bacterial infection, you shouldn’t be taking antibiotics. Some people think that by taking antibiotics, they’re boosting their immunity to falling victim to a bacterial infection. However, this isn’t really the case. In fact, if you don’t need them and you’re taking them anyway, you may be doing more harm than good. Your body is the host to millions of beneficial bacteria that help with digestion and energy production, among other things. By needlessly taking antibiotics, you’re actually killing these beneficial bacteria, which can cause stomach problems like ulcers and yeast infections.

Supplement the Bodys Natural Bacteria

As mentioned above, your body plays host to millions of beneficial bacteria. Antibiotics don’t discriminate between beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria when killing bacteria colonies. So you need to replenish the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotics are killing by using something like probiotic supplements such as acidophilus and bifidus, like those found in yogurt.

What Not to Eat While Taking Antibiotics

Antibiotics are known to play havoc with your digestive system while you’re taking them. There’s a number of food types that you should avoid during your treatment time. Sugary and starchy foods, which are harder to digest, especially when digestive bacteria are missing, should be avoided.

How to Avoid Discomfort While Taking Antibiotics

If your antibiotics are causing nausea, you should drink tea made from raspberry leaf, lotus or kudzu for relief. To avoid constipation, eat foods high in fiber. Flax seed and psylium are excellent examples of fiber rich foods. Foods such as garlic and onions can help you avoid yeast infections caused by the loss of beneficial bacteria. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and help your body flush out the drug byproducts.

Foods to Stock Up on While Taking Antibiotics

You’re going to need protein and other nutrients in quantity while taking antibiotics. Salmon and tuna are excellent sources, that also have very few calories or fat. Green leafy vegetables are high in vitamins and fiber. Fungi such as shiitake and maitake mushrooms provide great immune system boosts. Apples will help with many of the side effects common with the use of antibiotics.

Adapting your diet to help combat the side effects of antibiotics shouldn’t be too difficult if your diet is already healthy due to a desire to lose weight.


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