Your body is made up of 10 trillion cells and 1-2 trillion are human. That means that 8-9 trillion are microbial and that most of you isn’t you! These “germs” act symbiotically, they keep our body strong and healthy. With fewer numbers (we’ll NEVER be germ free) bad things begin to happen, particularly to our immune system.

Without beneficial bacteria in our intestines, AKA probiotics, we can have immune system weakness like frequent infections, or immune system excess like allergies and autoimmune conditions. Even “parasites” give us protection from autoimmune conditions.

For example, take a walk through any hospital ward and look at the individual patient doors. Many of them will be marked “C Diff” which stands for Clostridium difficile, an infection with a type of bad bacteria that normally lives in our guts. When we take antibiotics, the good bacteria die off along with the bad, but the strongest and most resistant remain. We know that taking antibiotics can lead to colitis caused by C. diff.

Another example is the autoimmune condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis is associated with Klebsiella infections outside of the colon. Klebsiella is another non-beneficial bacteria in our gut.

The more antibiotics we take, the more we weaken the fragile ecosystem in our gastrointestinal tract. The finely balanced system strengthens our immunity by strengthening our gastrointestinal tissue. (see the post on probiotics for more info) Unfortunately, you aren’t just hurting yourself by taking antibiotics, you are harming others.

There are definitely appropriate uses for antibiotics. But they are over-prescribed and often inappropriately prescribed. Every time a bacteria comes in contact with an antibacterial, the opportunity strengthens for them to mutate and become resistant to the drug. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, 23% of antibiotics are given for respiratory conditions for which they are not indicated.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel! Keeping our bodies healthy by getting regular exercise, exposure to fresh air and sunshine, and eating a whole food diet, especially if it includes fermented foods, will keep our immune systems strong so that no bacteria has a chance to cause damage. If you have a condition that needs more thorough recommendations for your specific condition, call your local Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine for an appointment to get your body back on track.