Antibiotics, Prebiotics and Probiotics:June 2020 Newsletter:By Dr Jerry J. Masarira, (Naturopath D. CBIS)

Many of us are not very familiar with these three words. May be the first one, Antibiotics because of their overuse. That lack of familiarity alone means, many health issues starts here. The WebMD is replete with this information. Lets look at the following:-

Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by killing the bacteria or by keeping them from copying themselves or reproducing.

The word antibiotic means “against life.” Any drug that kills germs in your body is technically an antibiotic. But most people use the term when talking about medicine that is meant to kill bacteria.

Before scientists first discovered antibiotics in the 1920s, many people died from minor bacterial infections, like strep throat. Surgery was riskier, too. But after antibiotics became available in the 1940s, life expectancy increased, surgeries got safer, and people could survive what used to be deadly infections.

What are Antibiotics limits?

Most bacteria that live in your body are harmless. Some are even helpful. Still, bacteria can infect almost any organ. Fortunately, antibiotics can usually help.

These are some types of infections that can be treated with antibiotics:

1.Some ear and sinus infections

Dental infections

Skin infections

Meningitis (swelling of the brain and spinal cord)

Strep throat

Bladder and kidney infections

Bacterial pneumonias

Whooping cough

Only bacterial infections can be killed with antibiotics. But, the common cold, flu, most coughs, some bronchitis infections, most sore throats, and the stomach flu are all caused by viruses. Antibiotics are not able to treat them. Your doctor will tell you either to wait these illnesses out or prescribe antiviral drugs to help you get rid of them.

Some antibiotics work on many kinds of bacteria. They are called “broad-spectrum.” Others target specific bacteria only. They are known as “narrow-spectrum.”

Prebiotics are non-digestive food ingredient that benefit the host (You are the host). They selectively stimulates the growth and /or activity of one or more type of bacteria in the colon and that improves your health.

Prebiotics are products contain what is called Inulin, a natural fiber from various vegetables and fruits.

Your digestive system is home to trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. Prebiotics are special plant fibers that help healthy bacteria grow in your gut. This makes your digestive system work better.

You will find prebiotics in many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains like:

1.Artichokes

Asparagus

Bananas

Barley

Berries

Garlic

Green vegetables

Legumes (peas and beans)

Oats

Onions

Tomatoes

When you are shopping for health products, you probably will not see the word prebiotic on the label. Instead, look for terms like:

1. Galactooligosaccharides

Fructooligosaccharides

Oligofructose

Chicory fiber

Inulin

You can also find prebiotics in dietary supplement form. Babies can get them from their mother’s milk.

Prebiotics are carbs your body can not digest. They go to your lower digestive tract, where they act like fertilizers to help the healthy bacteria grow. Without prebiotics, good bacteria in your gut suffer.

In addition to feeding your good gut bacteria, prebiotics can:

1.      Help you absorb calcium

Change the rate at which foods cause spikes in blood sugar (the glycemic index)

Ferment foods faster, so they spend less time in your digestive system and you stay regular

Keep the cells that line your gut healthy

New studies are looking into whether prebiotics can help manage gut diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, and how they might play a role in controlling obesity.

Try to get prebiotics from whole foods since they also have healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Some experts say you should get at least 5 grams of prebiotics in your diet every day. Too much can lead to gas or bloating. Start with small amounts so your gut can get used to them.

Probiotics, are friendly bacteria in your gut. “Pro” means, to add.  When you add probiotic to your body, you are introducing good bacteria to assist the friendly population in your body.

Among other things, probiotics help send food through your gut by affecting nerves that control gut movement. Researchers are still trying to figure out which are best for certain health problems. Some common conditions they treat are as follows:

1.Irritable bowel syndrome

Inflammatory bowel disease 

Infectious diarrhea (caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites)

Diarrhea caused by antibiotics

There are some examples of probiotic help such as the following,

Skin conditions, like eczema

Urinary and vaginal health

Preventing allergies and colds

Oral health

I would like you to pay much attention to the following as far as Anti, Pre, and Pro, biotics. When you visit your doctor for any health issues and you are prescribed Antibiotics, they will be for a specific reason, to kill bad bacteria in your body.  What you might not know is that Antibiotics have “no eyes” when killing bad bacteria. In other words, they kill “All the bacteria” including the good one.

The more of good bacteria killed by the Antibiotics the weaker your immune system become.  

When you are done with your antibiotic prescriptions, please get Probiotics and replenish your gut with it in order to strengthen your system. Otherwise you will be sick again with the same health problem you were trying to fix, because you do not have enough good bacteria in you gut to keep your health again.  That is the reason many of us get antibiotic several times in a short period. Not that they do not work, but because you are being attacked again and again because your antibiotic killed all the good bacteria and you have non left to defend you.

Website:www.enprohealthinstitute.com

If you have any questions, please contact me at:

enproinstitutenews@aol.com

Dr Jerry J. Masarira,

Naturopath Doctor. CBIS.

Enpro Consultant and Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

City of Tulsa, Oklahoma State, USA.

Alt. drmasarirajj@aol.com.