How Probiotics Help While Taking Antibiotics by Alyssa Sota

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What are Antibiotics?

Tis the season…. of the FLU! If a doctor diagnoses you with the flu this season, chances are you’ll be prescribed an antibiotic. An antibiotic, also called anti-bacterials, are a type of drug used to treat and prevent bacterial infections. They are powerful medicines that either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. They can have some side effects such as diarrhea, cramps, rash and vomiting. Taking a probiotic supplement during your antibiotic treatment can help keep the beneficial bacteria in your gut while reducing the side effects associated with antibiotics.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are the ‘friendly’ bacteria that normally live in the human digestive tract. These beneficial microbes help complete the digestive process and can assist in the production of certain vitamins. When you’re diagnosed with a bacterial infection, a doctor will most likely prescribe an antibiotic to help kill the bacteria that’s making you sick. The truth about antibiotics is that it not only kills the bad bacteria, it also kills your good bacteria. I know, right? Rebuilding your good bacteria is vital to your health and should be taken into consideration when you’re taking an antibiotic. You come to ask yourself though, “Should I even take probiotics while I’m on an antibiotic, since the antibiotic is just going to kill the good bacteria anyway?” Good question…

Taking Antibiotics & Probiotics at the Same Time

I’ve spoken to several doctors and experts regarding this subject. You want to start taking a probiotic the same day you start taking an antibiotic, but not at the same time. A quick rule of thumb is to take your probiotic two hours before or two hours after taking your antibiotic. This will give sufficient time for the antibiotic to work while not killing off the beneficial bacteria. You should take probiotics twice a day and on an empty stomach. Experts recommend that you continue to take probiotics even several weeks after an antibiotic treatment to ensure your digestive track is back to normal. However, I recommend taking probiotics daily because it not only keeps your digestive system regular, but also boosts your immune system and enhances the absorption of certain nutrients.  It’s also been shown that a probiotic-rich diet during an antibiotic treatment can reduce the severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and overproduction of yeast.

Some Probiotic-rich Foods include:

Finding the Right Probiotics

The biggest problem is finding the right probiotic to take because not all are created equal. Many companies produce probiotics with fillers, starches and sweeteners which all feed pathogens in the gut. I would suggest finding a high-grade probiotic that a doctor or medical clinic recommends. Two key probiotic families are Lactobacillus and Bififobacterium. Find a probiotic that contains species from both of these families such as L.acidophilus and B.vifidum. Do your gut a favor and keep it healthy and regular this season!

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