Are Antibiotics Paleo?
Nope. Not remotely. But that doesn’t mean there is not a time and place for them.
While it’s no surprise that far too many people are given a prescription when it’s probably not necessary, such as when fighting a cold or flu, when I read about situations where parents opt not to give their children amoxicillin for strep throat or women choose not to take a course of Cipro to treat a UTI, it makes me shudder.
Of course, I’m not a doctor, so do not for one second take this post as any sort of advice.
If there is a legitimate infection, it may or may not be appropriate to rely solely on homeopathic remedies as they tend to take longer to take effect than Western Meds, as the last thing we’d want is for the infection to have time to spread and create a dangerous turn of events. It’s one thing if we’re trying to detox from an overgrowth of yeast in the gut or clear up our skin by adapting the principles of Paleo living; it’s another thing when the body is actually being overtaken by harmful bacteria.
Having said that, however, I would recommend that everyone does at least a little research into what they’re being given an antibiotic for, or any prescription drug, for that matter.
After all, we’re talking about drugs.
Just because our doctor hands them out, it doesn’t mean we should swallow them blindly. In addition, it’s of utmost importance to make sure we do what we can to offset the side effects of these potent medications.
Another potential side effect to overdoing antibiotics is weight gain; some studies indicate that prolonged use of certain antibiotics can affect ghrelin and leptin, two hormones that have been recognized to have a major influence on energy balance.
One no-brainer supplement to take in this case is a good probiotic, and it needn’t mean downing dairy products by the cupful. One brand I’ve found that is dairy-free (and soy-free, gluten-free and Paleo friendly) is Ultimate Flora .
Do keep in mind that you should also mind the herbs and seemingly natural supplements you can purchase over the counter as they, too, can be harmful when used inappropriately. Better to consult with a naturopath and learn if there are any natural remedies you can take in conjunction in order to offset the side effects if you do actually need to take antibiotics.
Soothing ginger tea can help to offset nausea often caused by antibiotics, oil of oregano serves as a natural anti microbial and turmeric is indicated as a natural anti inflammatory.
And, of course, following the alkaline Paleo diet and keeping hydrated are keys in supporting the body’s fight against the infection and it’s rebuilding process after the antibiotic assault, too!
