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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The Prebiotic Fiber Inulin Offers 3 AMAZING Health Benefits

AHA Publisher — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Probiotics and prebiotics – substances that encourage and nourish the presence of beneficial bacteria in the body – have grown in popularity as science reveals their many health benefits. One prebiotic in particular, inulin, is currently enjoying a lot of “buzz” – due to recent research showing that it may improve digestive health and combat obesity. Inulin, a soluble dietary fiber found in plants, can’t be broken down by the body. While this may sound like a drawback, it is actually a huge “plus.” To learn why – and to discover the surprising disease-fighting benefits of inulin – keep reading. Inulin: The “indigestible” fiber that provides great health dividends Inulin is a fructan, meaning it is composed of chains of fructose molecules. These molecules are linked together to strongly that they can’t be broken down in the small intestine. Instead, they proceed to the large intestine, where they provide food for “friendly” bacteria in the community of microbes that live in the intestinal tract. By way of a “thank-you,” the bacteria convert the molecules to short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs. Scientists say that SCFAs provide a range of health benefits, including producing vitamins, helping prevent infection and regulating hormones that control appetite. Another of the many benefits of inulin is that it improves the diversity and balance of intestinal microbes, supporting the presence of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria. By promoting regularity, inulin helps combat a killer disease Studies have shown that inulin promotes more frequent bowel movements and improved stool consistency, causing many integrative doctors to advise it to relieve symptoms of constipation. In one study, older adults who consumed 15 g of inulin a day for 28 days reported more satisfaction with their digestion, along with fewer episodes of constipation. As an added bonus: the researchers also noted that the participants had higher levels of beneficial Bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract. But inulin’s benefits extend far beyond relieving the discomfort of occasional constipation. By speeding the elimination of waste from the body and preventing toxins from lingering in the large intestine, inulin may help discourage the development of colon cancer. Animal studies have shown that inulin-fed rats have fewer precancerous cell changes, fewer precancerous growths in the colon and less inflammation. And, as you know, inflammation is believed to be at the root of many serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. By the way, inulin has yet another cancer-discouraging trick up its sleeve. It ferments into butyrate, a compound which slows the growth of cancer cells. Good news: The benefits of inulin include supporting a healthy body weight Fermentable carbohydrates such as inulin have been shown in studies to reduce food intake and promote weight loss in overweight volunteers. In one randomized controlled study published in Nutrition and Metabolism, researchers examined the ability of 30 grams of inulin supplementation a day to promote weight loss in patients with prediabetes. For the first eight weeks of the study, the participants received standard counseling from a dietitian and consumed calorie-restricted diets. Both the inulin and control groups lost roughly 5 percent of their body weight during the first nine weeks. The control group received cellulose, which is also a fiber – but a nonfermentable one. It was what happened next, however, that really caught the researchers’ attention. During the second nine weeks of the study, participants were told to resume their normal diets. And, the inulin group continued to eat significantly less, and to lose more weight – achieving an average loss of 7 percent of their body weight. They also experienced lower levels of fasting glucose and reduced fat in the liver. Discover how inulin fights diabetes While inulin is not to be confused with insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar), there is evidence that inulin supports insulin’s antidiabetic effects. In addition to discouraging type 2 diabetes by promoting weight loss, inulin may help to lower elevated blood sugar. In addition, its ability to reduce liver fat allows it to help reduce insulin resistance. A type of inulin known as high-performance (HP) inulin may be particularly beneficial. In a study published in Health Promotion Perspectives, female participants with type 2 diabetes were given 10 g of HP inulin a day. Researchers found that fasting blood sugar decreased by a meaningful 8.5 percent, while Ac1 levels (a measure of blood sugar control over time) dropped by an average of 10.4 percent. And, that wasn’t all. Triglycerides (fats in the blood) plummeted by almost 25 percent, while harmful LDL levels decreased and desirable HDL levels improved. What are good sources of inulin? Inulin is found in a limited group of foods, including chicory root (the undisputed heavyweight, with 35 to 47 grams of inulin per 3.5-ounce serving), Jerusalem artichokes, raw asparagus and garlic. It is also sometimes added to certain commercial foods – such as protein bars, cereal bars, baked goods and yogurts – to improve texture or replace fats and sugars. Conveniently, inulin is available in supplementary form – with natural health experts typically recommending amounts of 5 to 10 grams a day. Of course, check first with a knowledgeable integrative doctor before supplementing. As a tip, for maximum benefit: look for high-performance (HP) inulin. The evidence is accumulating: this humble prebiotic fiber not only improves digestive health, but may help protect against a range of serious diseases, including IBS, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. Clearly, the many benefits of inulin are finally coming to light. Sources for this article include: MedicalNewsToday, NIH.gov, NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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

The Prebiotic Fiber Inulin Offers 3 AMAZING Health Benefits