overuse of antibiotics Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Hidden Dangers of Antibiotic Use: Did Your Doctor Tell You This?

The AHA! Team — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:48:38 +0000

Dena Schmidt via NaturalHealth365 – While antibiotics can help fight off unhealthy bacteria, they can also suppress the growth of the bacteria that contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and a robust immune system. Not only are bacteria developing antibiotic resistance at an alarming rate, but research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has found that antibiotic use can also make the gut microbiome and the immune system more prone to dis-ease. The researchers believe that gut problems are due to the reduced levels of ‘good’ gut bacteria that help fight disease. While antibiotics can help fight off unhealthy bacteria, they can also suppress the growth of the bacteria that contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and a robust immune system. Additionally, a 2023 study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that prior antibiotic use can negatively impact immune responses by diminishing gut microbiome diversity and altering systemic immune function. The study demonstrated that patients with advanced gastric cancer who had taken antibiotics experienced poorer outcomes when treated with PD-1 inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy. Immune system ‘first responder cells’ impaired by antibiotic use The researchers specifically found that neutrophils, an important immune system white blood cell, were dramatically suppressed. This weakened the intestinal barrier against invading bugs and made the entire immune system less effective at fighting off infections. Neutrophils are in a sense the immune system’s “first responders” against invading foreign pathogens. Antibiotics were found to disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome to the extent that natural microbes could not properly do their job. This in turn left the gut and the entire body more susceptible to infection. Researchers are still seeking more insights into the role of the gut microbiome in health. Although the microorganisms that live inside us are still somewhat mysterious, they undoubtedly play a key role in digestion and overall health. The entire gut microbiome and immune system are compromised by the overuse of antibiotics For the study, the University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers focused on amebic colitis, a deadly parasitic infection commonly found in developing countries. Antibiotic use is widespread in many third-world or developing countries. The researchers collected and analyzed stool samples from children living in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. They found those with the most severe infections had far less gut microbiome diversity. This correlated with high antibiotic use in this area, where children often receive two dozen or more antibiotic treatments by the age of two. Use vitamin C, vitamin D, and a healthy diet to bolster the immune system naturally This research adds to the mounting evidence that antibiotics should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Not only does antibiotic overuse lead to multi-drug-resistant bacteria, but it also raises the risk of infection due to impaired immune system functioning. Let this serve as a reminder to avoid antibiotics whenever possible. Instead, strive to keep your immune system strong through a healthy diet, sufficient vitamin C, and adequate vitamin D intake through sunshine exposure and/or supplementation. We at NaturalHealth365 can only hope that government health officials – especially within developing countries – will read this article and take action to help save lives. Editor’s note: For the finest quality probiotics, vitamins C and D, I suggest you look at the LuvByNature brand. Sources for this article include: NIH.govNews-Medical.net To read the original article click here.

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Antibiotics Destroy Memories?

The AHA! Team — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:09:34 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – A study by epidemiologists at Harvard Medical School reveals a crucial link between your gut’s reaction to antibiotics – especially when taken during midlife and older – and a dramatic decline in cognitive ability as you age. Even in my earliest days of practicing medicine, I was never a big fan of prescribing antibiotics – except, of course, in cases of extreme or life-threatening infections. Because even back then, I was concerned about the damage these drugs could cause to your gut. That’s because trillions of microscopic bacteria – some that protect against certain diseases and some that can cause disease – live in your microbiome and exist in a delicate balance with each other. The problem is that antibiotics can’t distinguish between so-called “good” bacteria and the “bad” ones causing the infection. These drugs kill everything they touch. You see, this microbiome of bacteria and other microbes is essential to almost every aspect of your health – from your immune system and how much energy you have to the absorption of nutrients and even your vulnerability to depression. Now a study by epidemiologists at Harvard Medical School reveals a crucial link between your gut’s reaction to antibiotics – especially when taken during midlife and older – and a dramatic decline in cognitive ability as you age. This makes sense because your gut microflora acts like a biochemical telegraph system that sends messages along your vagus nerve directly to your brain. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against antibiotics, per se. Since the rollout of penicillin in the 1940s, and the other antibiotics that followed, these drugs have saved hundreds of millions of lives in the fight against diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diphtheria. I am against their overuse. And now there’s one more reason to stop overusing these drugs… Studying the data of more than 14,000 women from the Nurses’ Health Study project, Harvard scientists found that taking antibiotics for two months or more during midlife was “significantly” linked to poorer cognition, learning, and memory scores , as well as reduced psychomotor speed and attention.1 The researchers noted that the decline in brain power was the equivalent of losing about three or four years of normal aging. The message of the study is loud and clear – keep your antibiotic use to a bare minimum. There are still too many doctors who hand these dangerous drugs out like candies whenever a patient appears with a sore throat, cough, or a urinary tract infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.2 But the problem isn’t just confined to prescription antibiotics. Antibiotics are pumped into industrialized cattle and poultry to fight bacterial infections that spread through cramped feedlots and battery chicken farms. They are also sprayed onto fruit trees and industrial vegetable farms to prevent and treat infection. During spraying, the wind can carry them further afield into the water supply. 3 Simple Steps To Protect Yourself From Antibiotics Protecting yourself from the damage of antibiotics requires a three-pronged strategy… Avoid Cheap Meats: Cattle and poultry pumped full of antibiotics are now awash in our food supply. Make sure the meat you purchase is always grass-fed, pastured, and antibiotic free. Unless you know the source of the meat and the practices of the ranch or farm, the safest foods are USDA-certified organic foods. If your grocer doesn’t carry them, let them know you’ll shop elsewhere. Bulk up Your Immune System: A strong immune system is essential, not just for fighting infections – but also for fighting the effects of antibiotic use. Two of my favorite immune system boosters are: Anamu. Studies show this South American herb contains a powerful compound called dibenzyl trisulphide, which is a potent stimulator of your body’s “T helper cells.” Their job is to give other immune cells an extra boost.3 Anamu capsules are available at most health food stores. I suggest taking 500 to 1,000 mg per day in divided doses. Astragalus. This herb has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for millennia to strengthen the body’s immune defenses. Astragalus is called an “adaptogen,” meaning it helps protect the body against physical and mental stresses. I recommend 500 mg of the concentrated extract three times a day. Replace Big Pharma Meds with Natural Antibiotics: Nature has given us hundreds, if not thousands, of herbal alternatives. A few good ones are: Garlic. Research has found that garlic can be an effective treatment against many forms of bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli. Garlic has also been shown to be effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. Honey. Multiple studies reveal honey to be a powerhouse natural antibiotic, with the ability to inhibit more than 60 kinds of bad bacteria.4 The best is raw honey and always avoid pasteurized honey products. Curcumin. This is the main ingredient in the spice turmeric, and it’s one of the cornerstones of ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Thousands of studies prove curcumin beats a long list of modern drugs, including antibiotics. A recent study found curcumin killed 100% of the MRSA superbug within 2 hours.5 To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Mehta RS, et al. “Association of midlife antibiotic use with subsequent cognitive function in women.” March 2022. Plos One. 17(3):e0264649. 2. “1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions unnecessary: New CDC data show large percentage of antibiotics misused in outpatient settings.” CDC. May 3, 2016. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0503-unnecessary-prescriptions.html 3. Williams LA, et al. “A critical review of the therapeutic potential of dibenzyl trisulphide isolated from Petiveria alliacea L (guinea hen weed, anamu).” West Indian Med J. 2007 Jan;56(1):17-21. 4. Mandal MD, Mandal S. “Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity.” Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Apr;1(2):154-60. 5. Poonam Tyagi, et al. Bactericidal Activity of Curcumin I Is Associated with Damaging of Bacterial Membrane. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0121313. To read the original article click here.

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A Biological Alternative to Antibiotics for Dairy Cows

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:00:53 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Unless you’re a dairy farmer, bovine mastitis is the killer disease you’ve probably never heard of. This infection around the udder is now the most frequent disease of dairy cows. It’s costing the industry between $20 billion and $30 billion a year and contributing to an increasing number of deaths among humans that result from a proliferation of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The scourge of the superbugs comes from the fact that antibiotics are the main therapy used in treating bovine mastitis. The overuse of antibiotics in cows allows antimicrobial-resistant pathogens to make their way to people via the milk they drink. Resistant superbugs cause an estimated 700,000 deaths a year around the world, with the total predicted to rise to 10 million by 2050. Costs associated with death and loss in productivity could run $100 trillion globally, according to a UK government report. Israeli biopharmaceutical startup Mileutis has developed its first product, Imilac, an injectable product that stimulates the cow’s immune system to fight mastitis. It’s similar to immunotherapy medications that are transforming cancer treatment in humans. “Mileutis” is a portmanteau of “mil” for milk, “eut” from therapeutics, and “is,” Greek for knowledge. Safe for Humans Because Imilac is based on peptides that already exist in cow’s milk, the formulation is considered safe for human consumption. The European Medicines Agency ruled that Imilac, which contains the protein casein hydrolysate, doesn’t require a “Maximum Residue Limit” evaluation to determine if there is a dangerously high concentration of a pharmacologically active substance from a food of animal origin. Imilac was developed originally at the governmental Volcani Center Agricultural Research Organization in Rishon LeZion. Mileutis CEO David Javier Iscovich tells ISRAEL21c that he and his father were looking for an innovative biological technology they could build into a company. The two, originally from Argentina, weren’t thinking about cows at first. The senior Iscovich – José – is an experienced immunobiologist who focused on the epidemiology of cancer in human health for most of his career. David worked in his father’s lab as a research assistant from a young age. “We reviewed 14 projects in Israel and the US until someone offered us a project on animal health,” David Iscovich recalls. “We saw the results and we said, ‘Wow, this is the one. This is going to change the industry.’” ‘There’s No Solution’ It’s a big industry: an estimated 275 million dairy cows worldwide. A survey by the US Food and Drug Administration found that 95% of dairy cows are treated with antibiotics at least once a year. The problem of antibiotic overuse is a direct result of the growth of industrial farming, Iscovich points out. Fifty years ago, when a cow got infected with mastitis, she would be given time to rest while her immune system did its work. But now, each cow is pumped for so much milk, there’s no flexibility to give the cow a break to get better. Antibiotics were introduced to kill the pathogen so that it does not infect the milk. Today, some 70% of the antibiotics administered in the world today are for animals. The problem arises when pathogens learn to resist antibiotics in animals and then leap to humans. Antibiotic overrun from farms can seep into the surrounding ecosystem, which can also reach humans. “We go to the hospital, the antibiotics don’t work, and we die,” Iscovich says bleakly. “There’s no solution.” Overuse of antibiotics in animals has led some European countries to begin restricting their use. Will Imalic replace antibiotics entirely? “I don’t think it will be 100%,” Iscovich says. “But for mastitis, I think we will be able to reduce antibiotic use by 90% to 95%.” Second Product in Development Imilac is intended to be used once a year as a preventative. A second Mileutis product in development, Milac, attacks the pathogen itself and is used if a cow gets infected during the lactation period. Imilac has passed several clinical trials in Israel. It has received support from the Hachaklait Veterinary Services group, which has supplied it to dairy farmers. Mileutis submitted its application for full approval to the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture in 2019 and is awaiting authorization. It is in advanced stages with regulators in the US and the European Union, as well. In the meantime, the company has built a production line in Israel. “We’re ready to go,” Iscovich says. In October, Mileutis raised $20 million from NovaQuest Capital Management to bring its products to markets beyond Israel. This is NovaQuest’s first investment in the animal healthcare field and its first in an Israeli company. Mileutis previously raised money from private investors. Mileutis, which has a staff of 30 and its office and factory close to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, has been working on its residue-free, biologically based antibiotic alternative since 2004. At the time, there were few competitors. Now there’s “a buzz on antibiotic solutions but [other companies] are at a very early stage” compared with Mileutis, Iscovich explains. “It will take them many years to get to where we are today.” For more information, click here To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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