Top 5 Gut Tips If You Have To Take Antibiotics
I can’t stress enough how important it is to support a healthy gut when taking, and after taking, antibiotics. I see people nearly every day who have developed gut issues and microbiome imbalances after a round of antibiotics, and even see people regularly with serious health conditions as a result of multiple rounds of antibiotics over a number of years.
Gut issues and other health issues that can come up later as a result of gut imbalance, so if your doctor has prescribed an antibiotic, they should be sharing with you the follow-up care for your microbiome to ensure your long-term health as well. More often than not though, they don’t, and their patients end up with undesirable gut symptoms down the line. But not you! Because you found this blog post ;)
This post is not “knocking” antibiotics, nor doctors. There are cases where antibiotics are absolutely necessary. We know though that antibiotics are often prescribed as a first-line of defense. And sometimes a second round of a different antibiotic is needed if the first round wasn’t the right type.
We also know that antibiotics clear out both the bad bacteria as well as the good that are essential for a healthy gut (read: a healthy body, since the gut is important to nearly every function in the body, including the brain). So what can you do to ensure that your gut microbiome is protected and replenished after antibiotics use?
Below are a few of my go-to recommendations for clients who are about to take probiotics. I share them in hopes that you’ll heed the advice and potentially save you from enduring gut issues and any of the various conditions that can come from poor gut health.
1. Take probiotics towards the end of your antibiotics treatment
Ideally, you’d take a probiotic that has more than a handful of strains and is required to be refrigerated. Also ideally, you’d take the probiotic for 6 months to ensure the microbiome is replenished and strengthened so it doesn’t deplete when you stop taking probiotics. Grab my favorite medical-grade probiotic. Ensure you’re taking them at least 2 hours after taking your antibiotic if you start taking them before the end of your treatment.
2. Abstain from alcohol and sugar
Both sugar and alcohol make it very difficult for the good bacteria in your gut to thrive. It creates an environment that the “bad bacteria” and fungus thrive in. When this happens, we tend to see issues with diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating, and indigestion.
3. Take Saccharomyaces Boulardii
A beneficial yeast supplement that can also help prevent post-antibiotic gut imbalances. Grab one here.
4. Eat Prebiotic-rich foods
Prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your gut, promoting their growth and helping to rebalance your microbiome. prebiotic-rich foods such as asparagus, garlic, onions, leeks, and dandelion greens. If you tolerate them, consider resistant starch sources like cooked and cooled potatoes or green bananas.
5. Protect the lining - Antibiotics can disrupt the delicate mucosa that proects the gut lining, leading to increased intestinal permeability (AKA “leaky gut”) which can cause a whole host of health issues down the line. Supplements like L-Glutamine and Zinc Carnosine help repair and strengthen the gut barrier.
And in addition to the tips above, it’s important to remember the general rule that whole foods (without additives, and foods that aren’t processed) are the best for your gut. Additives like: sodium benzoate, calcium propionate, added colors, xantham gum, guar gum, and gum arabic, potassium sorbate, nitrates, and sulfites as well as processed foods can irritate the gut lining and cause inflammation.
All in all, there’s plenty you can do to support a healthy gut if you need to take antibiotics. If you start to experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, gas, constipation, indigestion, intestinal cramping, or food sensitivities after taking antibiotics, it would be wise to work with someone who understands the microbiome so you can ensure it’s in balance and fortified. If you’d like to discuss your gut health, don’t hesitate to reach out below!