The gut isn’t just where digestion and metabolism happens. The gut is full of bacteria, yeast and viruses – all of which help to keep you healthy. But it’s a delicate balance, and we can throw it off with a poor diet, too much stress and yes, medications. So, to protect your gut and stay healthy, beware of theses medications that are known to wreck the gut and microbiome.
Why is it so important to keep the gut balanced and healthy? According to Yale-trained physician and midwife, Dr. Aviva Romm, “Disruptions in the microbiome have been associated with diabetes, weight problems, anxiety, depression, autoimmune disease, sugar cravings, fatigue, PCOS, fertility, immune health, adrenal dysregulation, and much more.”
Yikes! Those symptoms are more than enough, aren’t they?
To help you avoid these disruptions, Romm suggests you avoid or reduce these six medications.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be particularly dangerous because they don’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria. Therefore, while they are useful in wiping away bad bacteria, they also clear out good bacteria, leaving your gut vulnerable to illness.
Non-Antibiotic drugs
Research now shows that 25 percent of non-antibiotic drugs stifle the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Prilosec and metformin are two common non-antibiotic drugs that can harm the gut.
Antiviral, antipsychotic and chemotherapy medications
Studies show that commonly used drugs have a damaging impact on gut bacteria and overall gut health. In fact that have “antibiotic-like side-effects and may promote antibiotic resistance.”
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
If you’re not sure what a NSAID is, it’s a common pain medication like ibuprofen or tylenol. But taking ibuprofen for just five consecutive days can lead to digestive problems, including leaky gut, gastritis and stomach ulcers.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take these six medications. However, if it’s possible to avoid them, it might help to keep your gut healthy. And if it is necessary to use them, be sure to take extra good care of your gut to rebalance bacteria and prevent illness and digestive problems.
