Antibiotics are often a necessary path for some people.

The downfall is the aftermath. People often don’t understand what’s happening with their stomach and complain about constant gas, infrequent bowel movements loose stools and issues with constipation, gas & bloating. After taking antibiotics you’ll usually restore gut health at about the 6 -12 month marker.

The duration really depends on the person’s ability to restore their gut health quickly and diligently. It also depends on how many times antibiotics have been run in the past.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

First, I recommend probiotics and prebiotics during and after a course of antibiotics can help reduce the risk of diarrhea and restore your gut microbiota to a healthy state.

I recommend taking 100 Billion Probiotics at the same time or immediately after a cycle of antibiotics for those who have run antibiotics quite frequently.. The best probiotic to take with antibiotics is one with a high number of colony-forming units (CFUs) to ensure you can rebuild that.

Consume prebiotics:

The second thing to do when taking antibiotics is to take prebiotics to help restore the microflora in your gut.

Prebiotics are a type of fiber that act as a “food source” for probiotics. There are many foods that contain prebiotics, and you can also buy prebiotic supplements.

What’s more, eating high-fiber foods, fermented foods and prebiotic foods after taking antibiotics may also help reestablish a healthy gut microbiota.

Avoid processed sugar!!

The third thing to do is to avoid processed sugar that can feed the growth of bad bacteria. At the same time, you should consume foods that are easy on your digestion and contain probiotics to prevent the side effects of taking antibiotics.

To sum it up, after taking antibiotics, make sure you eat right, and avoid being naughty.

Load up on greens and vegetables, skip processed sugars, and eat fermented foods. In this way you’ll repopulate your gut with good bacteria and restore your immune function.

For a couple weeks after and during antibiotic use, you should be careful about the foods that you are consuming.

What If you have very little food availability? Try to go with minimally processed and packaged if any processed food needs to be consumed. Try to stick with high-quality nutrient dense food. Watch the added sugars and just be mindful!!

Foods like plain yogurt w berries, bananas, and whole-grain cereals help to boost the number of good bacteria to restore your gut flora.

Get plenty of sunlight, sleep, take your vitamin D m3 supplements and vitamin C 1000 mg daily

Antibiotics are a powerful line of defense against bacterial infections.

However, they can sometimes cause side effects, such as diarrhea and liver damage. Some foods can reduce these side effects, while others may make them worse.

We recommend taking probiotics before surgery but not at the same time as the antibiotics and directly after surgery or antibiotic use to keep from getting yeast infections, C diff, Diarrhea and upset stomach. I personally recommend taking them for at least 8 to 10 weeks post antibiotic use.

Great foods you can incorporate into your diet to restore your gut fast and furiously: 

Cocoa contains antioxidants and it is a prebiotic food. One study found that consuming cocoa products improved the microflora of the human gut and has prebiotic benefits.

Jerusalem artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke has prebiotics that help to increase the number of healthy bacteria in your intestines. One study found that dried Jerusalem artichoke helps to increase Bifidobacterium strains in the colon.

You can eat raw yogurt when taking antibiotics because it contains strains of healthy bacteria. One study found that people who consume yogurt have more Bifidobacterium (a type of good gut bacteria) in their gut.

Other studies have shown that raw yogurt containing Lactobacillus casei can positively influence gastrointestinal health.

Yogurt is also one of the best foods for treating yeast infection.

Some studies seem to indicate that calcium-enriched foods may inhibit the absorption of certain medications.

However, this has not been proven with calcium-rich dairy products when taking moxifloxacin.

Kefir is amazing!

This is a fermented milk drink that contains many types of good gut bacteria. Several studies have shown that kefir has antimicrobial, antitumor and anticarcinogenic activity. Consuming kefir can also boost your immune system and improve lactose digestion.

Kimchi

Another probiotic food you can take after antibiotics is kimchi. Kimchi is made by fermenting vegetables (most commonly cabbage) with probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Studies have shown that kimchi contains probiotic properties that have a positive effect on your gut health and immune system.

Consume prebiotic foods to help restore gut flora after taking antibiotics

Many foods naturally have prebiotics that can help to promote good gastrointestinal health. Here are just a few prebiotic foods you can consume while taking antibiotics:

Garlic has many health benefits inducing antibacterial properties. Studies have shown that garlic also benefits the gut’s microflora because of its prebiotic content. Garlic can help increase the number of bifidobacteria and can help prevent some gastrointestinal disorders.

Did you know that garlic has many uses to keep you healthy because of its medicinal properties?

Eating bananas while you are taking antibiotics is good because they are easy to digest and contain prebiotics. The journal Anaerobe reported that bananas contain fiber with prebiotic characteristics.

Eating a banana or two a day can help to increase beneficial bacteria levels in your gut.

I hope you stay healthy and happy this year!

Kelli Michelle

M.S. Nutrition Science