Nowadays, antibiotics are pharmaceutical staples. They can save the day when it comes to both benign and life-threatening infections. But like other things, too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing. And unfortunately, some experts are worried that the over-use of antibiotics is creating a even more threatening situation: antibiotic resistance.
The Word Health Organization (WHO) defines antibiotics as medical treatment for bacterial infections. However, it goes on to explain that bacteria can become antibiotic-resistant.
What does this mean exactly? Dr. Aviva Romm, M.D., midwife and herbalist, explains that “infectious bugs are outwitting our antibiotics to the point that the antibiotics we have are no longer effective against them, and even many previously benign bacteria and viruses have now become pathogenic – or disease causing.”
Some of the illnesses Romm alludes to include pneumonia and tuberculosis, just to name a few.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, the WHO states that “antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today.” This is because antibiotic resistance doesn’t discriminate between age, gender or nationality. In short, everyone and anyone is vulnerable to antibiotic resistance.
One of the ways antibiotics threaten human health is by disrupting the human microbiome – the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut.
However, Romm offers five ways to protect yourself from antibiotic resistant illnesses. Here they are:
Consume less meat and consume only animal products that are grass-fed and antibiotic-free.
Educate yourself by reading Be Antibiotics Aware, an informative document provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Use natural alternatives
Herbal methods and nutritional supplements can go a long way in dealing with and warding off illnesses.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water. It’s a very basic step, but it can make all the difference in keeping you safe from antibiotic resistant bacteria and viruses.
