4 ways to heal your gut (after antibiotics muck it up)

There’s no doubt antibiotics have saved countless lives since they were invented (by accident!) back in the 1920s.

Unfortunately, most antibiotics don’t discriminate when it comes to killing off bugs. They’ll wipe out a bunch of your good bacteria in the process of getting rid of the bad kinds.

This can leave you with a really unhappy gut (where most of the good guys hang out). Which, ironically, can wreak havoc with your immunity and general wellbeing.

“The gut is incredibly adaptable and resilient,” says gut health expert Dr Kerith Duncanson. “But it does not like prolonged assault by antibiotics as they alter the balance of gut bacteria.”

Antibiotics mucked with your gut? Here’s how to get things back on track.

1. Lay off the sweetness.

Surprise surprise, sugar is at it again. Too much of the sweet stuff basically gives any bad bacteria milling around in your gut an all-you-can-eat buffet to thrive on.

This can hamper the regrowth of the good kinds, leaving you with a nasty bacterial imbalance.

2. Load up on probiotics.

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir are not only super tasty, they’re packed with beneficial probiotic bacteria, helping to repopulate your gut with the good guys if numbers are a little low.

3. Heal and seal with gelatin.

Research suggests that gelatin can help heal the gut by reducing inflammation, sealing the gut lining and encouraging the production healthy gut mucosa (gross, but important!).

A healthy gut environment ensures the good strains can really make themselves at home and keep the bad guys in check.

4. JERF.

The best way to keep your gut happy and healthy after antibiotics? Just eat real food (and avoid the processed crap).

You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting plenty of prebiotic foods (basically fertilizer for the good guys). Veggies like sweet potato, raw onions, garlic, asparagus and Brussels sprouts are full of the stuff.

Note: While it’s important to use them discerningly, some conditions are best treated with antibiotics and you should always take the full course if they been prescribed. Always talk to your healthcare provider If you’re looking at treating a condition without antibiotics.

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