WARNING: Antibiotic Use in First Week of Life Harms Baby’s Microbiome

AHA Publisher — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:46:16 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – By now, most people know we should treat antibiotics with caution. In addition to harming your gut – which relies on friendly bacteria to process food, regulate the immune system, and much more – there is also the danger of creating antibiotic-resistant superbugs that could have devastating consequences for the health of the human race. Unfortunately, treating newborns with antibiotics – often as early as the first seven days after birth – is de rigeur in the world of Western medical science. But new studies have linked this practice with lasting decreases in health and digestive function for babies. When Is it Appropriate to Treat Newborns With Antibiotics? The newborn constitution is a delicate one. It is not necessarily an overreaction to treat suspected infections in small babies, as they can become life-threatening in a relatively short period and with little warning. Neither should we assume that any antibiotic application is acceptable simply because it reduces the chances of a pathology for which doctors don’t have proof. Today – explains the study – broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed to between 4 and 10 percent of all newborns for suspected infections. The “broad-spectrum” is key here. That means a battery of the most common antibiotics to be sure to knock it out. Too often, however, antibiotics are prescribed in cases they are not needed. And their overuse comes at a high cost. The study included 147 infants with suspected sepsis and 80 with no suspected infections. The babies with suspected infections were prescribed one of three standard courses of antibiotics. Afterward, researchers collected a rectal or fecal sample from each baby at 1, 4, and 12 months. Here is what the study found. Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Used in Newborns May Cause Unintended Harm The study found several adverse outcomes for babies treated with antibiotics at such an early age. Antibiotics increase the baby’s antimicrobial resistance, meaning that if they were to need antibiotics later for a life-threatening condition, those antibiotics might not work as well. Newborns who received antibiotics demonstrated lower levels of the good bacteria (in this case, Bifidobacterium species) that make up the microbiome. Babies treated with antibiotics in the first week of life were less able to digest breastmilk from their mothers, which reduces the natural microbial protection it offers. This is alarming, considering how important our microbiomes are to us throughout our lives. In fact, the colony of bacteria that makes up our microbiome contains 100 trillion microbes with 200 times as many genes as we have ourselves. Together, the microbiome can weigh up to 5 pounds, more than the brain, the heart, the liver, or a pair of lungs. Protect the Microbiome by Taking a More Cautious Approach This isn’t to say we should abandon antibiotics for newborns. Instead, we need to take a more careful approach than the standard ready-aim-fire used in hospitals today. Experts quoted in the study affirm the wisdom of using fewer and better medicines. The least detrimental treatment protocol from the study was a combination of penicillin and gentamicin and is therefore preferable for future prescription. As adults, we should continue to protect our microbiomes by avoiding antibiotics wherever possible and adopting natural antimicrobial measures. this way, we will maintain healthy bodies and ensure that, where truly needed, antibiotics continue to have lifesaving effects well in the future. Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com To read the original article click here.

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Secret Detox Drink Recipe (A Natural Detox Drink Recipe)

AHA Publisher — Sun, 17 May 2020 07:00:58 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – If you are feeling weighed down and sluggish, it may be time for my secret detox drink, which can help cleanse your body and make you feel rejuvenated. For many years, I’ve added detox drinks to my health regime because as toxins leave my body, I feel clear-headed and energized. Plus, recipes like this one don’t require a blender or juicer, so they are simple and easily accessible. This is a simple beverage recipe that takes only minutes to prepare and includes key ingredients for natural detoxification, including lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. It’s both refreshing and energizing, so give it a try today for the little boost we all need from time to time. Why Drink the Secret Detox Drink? Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the everyday chemicals that threaten your health, especially when they’re hidden in our clothing, furniture, soaps and shampoos. On top of that, we are constantly exposed to environmental pollutants, and dangerous chemicals in our foods like heavy metals, pesticides and preservatives. In order to avoid toxic overload that will leave you feeling fatigued, moody, bloated and achey, it’s a great idea to use detox drinks to help cleanse and purify your body. My secret detox drink contains some of the best ingredients for detoxification. Apple cider vinegar has shown to improve your metabolism and digestive function, while working to cleanse your liver and lymphatic system. Lemon juice has an alkaline effect on your body and helps to regulate your pH levels. Drinking lemon water, or adding it to your drinks and juices, can help to boost your energy levels, detoxify your body, keep skin glowing (thanks to vitamin C) and improve immune function. Cinnamon, cayenne pepper and ginger contain therapeutic compounds that help to reduce inflammation, aid digestionand boost your metabolism, which is a helpful step toward weight loss. That’s why drinking ginger tea, for example, is so popular. It contains valuable compounds that boost your health and promote detoxification. An optional ingredient for your detox drink is raw honey. I like to add raw honey to many of my health drinks and detox smoothie recipes because it’s a nutrient-dense natural sweetener. It adds a little sweetness to this drink while nourishing the body with antioxidants. INGREDIENTS: 1 glass of warm or hot water (12–16 ounces) 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½–1 teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1 dash cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon raw, local honey (optional) DIRECTIONS: Warm the water. Mix all ingredients together. Best served warm but drink at desired temperature. Secret Detox Drink Nutrition Facts One glass of my secret detox drink made using this recipe (with the honey) contains roughly the following: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 48 calories 0.5 grams protein 0.4 grams fat 11 grams carbohydrates 1.2 grams fiber 6 grams sugar 0.8 milligrams manganese (47 percent DV) 753 IUs vitamin A (32 percent DV) 13.3 milligrams vitamin C (18 percent DV) 0.07 milligrams vitamin B6 (6 percent DV) 0.6 milligrams vitamin E (4 percent DV) 0.6 milligrams iron (4 percent DV) 0.3 milligrams vitamin B3 (3 percent DV) 10 milligrams magnesium (3 percent DV) 120 milligrams potassium (3 percent DV) 0.02 milligrams copper (3 percent DV) How to Make the Secret Detox Drink The first step in making my secret detox drink is to warm 12 to 16 ounces of water. Now all you have to do is add your ingredients. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your warm water. Then stir in ½ to 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper. The last two ingredients are 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of raw, local honey, which is optional, but will add a little sweetness to your drink. Stir it all together, and your detox drink is ready to enjoy. I like to have it when it’s still warm, but you can drink it at any temperature. For more intense detoxification, I recommend drinking this detox drink three times daily about 20 minutes before meals for two weeks to flush out toxins. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to cleanse your body and boost your energy, have this drink once a day before breakfast or lunch. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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WARNING: Antibiotic Use in First Week of Life Harms Baby’s Microbiome

Secret Detox Drink Recipe (A Natural Detox Drink Recipe)