Antibiotics are both crucially important and at the same time, a threat to our individual and collective morbidity, mortality and future. The drugs that we just throw down our throats like candy, have severe repercussions. Sure, they are lifesaving at times. But our virtual neurotic use of them is leading us down a couple of very bad paths.
One you´ve already heard of, that of antibiotic resistance. Although serious, at this time it effects only a tiny fraction of us. The other danger, is the purpose of this presentation. That of the destruction of our microbiome, more specifically the gastrointestinal microbiome. What is the microbiome? If you need some background information which you´ll find nowhere else, watch my presentation entitled, “What is the Microbiome?”.
As the former director of medical education for a microbiome firm, I´ve conducted thousands of hours of research. I´ve identified over these many years, which bacteria are the true health-promotors in the gut. Hint – Lactobacillus is NOT included. I´ve also identified a number of other things such as which bacteria are bad-actors, opportunistic pathogens.
I can tell you that all my research into the effects of antibiotics on the microbiome, shows me that in the long term, they are absolutely terrible for you. Yes, I know, you need them for various reasons. I´m not here to contradict your doctor´s advice. However, studies show that at least 30% of all antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. That´s a lot of prescriptions.
You have to understand that antibiotics are not a smart weapon. They kill all bacteria, both good and bad. The after effects are that the landscape in your body has been changed. Fungi like Candida, are able to occupy more real estate, because any competition and regulation by the bacteria has been diminished in the process. In fact, a number of years ago, I helped a young girl who had taken an estimated 100 rounds of antibiotics, and as a consequence had terrible GI symptoms and chronic yeast infections. Like I said, antibiotics kill all bacteria, and in this case, both in her gut and her vagina.
And although antibiotics generally do a good job of eradicating the intended bacterium, they also make extinct others in the process. There are a number of health-promoting bacteria in the gut, but as they are gradually killed off, their collective ability to maintain the checks and balances significantly diminishes. There are also a number of opportunistic pathogens omnipresent in the gut. Whereas before, their activity was kept in check by the good guys, but post multiple rounds of antibiotics, they go on to do bad things. These are not the bacteria that you typically think of, like the deadly E coli in ground beef. They are other species from various genera, to include Escherichia (which is where E coli comes from), who are normal inhabitants of the gut, but become unruly after the good guys have been diminished.
Antibiotic use is a common trigger for a number of conditions. If you suffer from something, think back. Did you take one or more rounds of antibiotics in the months leading up to your first symptoms? The best example of the destructive nature of antibiotics is in what´s called a C-diff infection. It’s an extreme case of dysbiosis, and a mountain of research shows that the number one cause for this potentially deadly “infection” is antibiotic use. I put infection in quotes, because C-diff can be a natural inhabitant of the gut as well, and in the healthy, it does not harm. But in those who have had multiple rounds of antibiotics, not to mention PPIs as well, it can be deadly. This is all do to a shift in the environment in your gut.
I´ll bet for many, this is new information. But that´s the idea. In our world as it is, we all now have to be our own health advocates. With a broken government, food and medical system, you need to take charge of your healthcare. So, educate yourself, as best you can. This is why I’ve launched my platform. You can find my presentation entitled, “Antibiotics and the Microbiome” in my Microbiome University tab, and also on my YouTube channel. If you have a condition or disease that you think would be well served by addressing your microbiome, you can visit the Protocols tab on my website, and for the mere price of a cup of coffee, you can find a science-based protocol which may dramatically improve your quality of life.
