Anna Hunt, Staff Writer
Waking Times

Although most doctors continue to prescribe antibiotics anytime they find signs of infection, these medicines are becoming less and less effective. The over-use of antibiotics has heralded the rise antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the best defense you have against bacterial infection may be to proactively fortify your body with natural antibiotics by making certain foods and supplements part of your daily diet.

“For a long time, there have been newspaper stories and covers of magazines that talked about ‘The end of antibiotics, question mark?'” said Dr. Arjun Srinivasan. “Well, now I would say you can change the title to ‘The end of antibiotics, period.'” (Source)

In the Western world, we’ve gotten so accustomed to taking medicine anytime something feels off that even the slightest sign of infection due to a common cold will be bombarded by a full dosage of antibiotics by any traditional doctor, and such action is often expected by the patient. Although our bodies are equipped to fight infection on their own – especially if they are properly nourished with certain natural foods – yet most of us no longer trust in the intelligence of the body, instead turning to modern medicine for all the answers. Our reliance on modern medicine may also evolve from modern culture, in which we no longer can or want to spend our time resting and dealing with the discomfort of pain and fever brought on by infection.

But what if you could skip infections altogether? What if when you got a cold or a runny nose, it didn’t always turn into an ear, nose and/or throat infection? What if you were able to nurture the symptoms of an illness without worrying that your body is susceptible to infection or that your natural defenses were too weak to handle a minor bacterial attack?

With a healthy diet of natural foods, reinforced by natural antibiotics such as garlic, honey, oregano and grapefruit seed extract, can help you body maintain its natural defenses against harmful bacteria, especially during cold and flu season. You may not be able to side-step all infectious bugs, but these natural remedies will help you recover faster when infection does strike, without any side effects that come with medication, and your body will be better equipped to fight off other illnesses such as viral attacks.

1. Garlic

Garlic been proven by scientists at Washington State University to be extremely effective in fighting disease-causing bacteria and increases the overall antioxidant levels of the body. (Source) It is best if eaten raw – perhaps mix it up with some apple sauce to soften the taste – but it can also be purchased in liquid extract form.

Recommended products:

Garlic Tincture- Liquid Herbal Extract: 1 oz

Ear Support – Willow/Garlic Ear Oil, 1 oz (Multi-Pack)

2. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil, an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, is another common remedy to prevent and treat bacterial infections. It contains two active ingredients, thymol and carvacrol, that have shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Recommended products:

Oregano Oil – 1 Oz / 30ml, 100% Certified Organic

1oz Oil of Oregano, Super Strenght 83-85% Carvacol, Pharmaceutical Grade

3. Honey

Honey is an effective treatment for many health conditions. It is rich in antiseptic and antibacterial properties, making it a great alternative to topical antibiotic ointments, which are also becoming less and less effective due to the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties may help reduce gastrointestinal disorders. Honey can also help some unpleasant skin ailments such as acne and sores, and makes an effective moisturizer when combined with other ingredients such as cucumber.

Recommended products:

Healing Honey – Active Manuka 15+ 12oz

100% Pure Raw Organic Eucalyptus Honey Kosher 500gr

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 5 Healing Honeys Known for Their Medicinal Power

4. Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract has been stated by some practitioners of alternative medicine to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Recent study from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grapefruit-seed extract was effective in killing over “800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multi-celled parasites.”(Source)

Recommended products:

HawaiiPharm Organic Grapefruit Liquid Extract – Dried Peel Tincture 2 oz

Solaray Liquid Grapefruit Seed Extract, 100 mg, 1 Fluid 

Grapefruit Seed Oil – 100% Pure – Topical antiseptic Oil For Skin, Hair and Lip Care – 0.5 Fl oz

For more insight about using natural antibiotic remedies, see:

Garlic Proven 100 Times More Effective than Antibiotics, Working In a Fraction of the Time

Health Benefits of Garlic, a Natural Antibiotic

Natural Ways to Avoid and Recover from Antibiotics

Read more articles by Anna Hunt.

About the Author

Anna Hunt is writer, yoga instructor, mother of three, and lover of healthy food. She’s the founder of Awareness Junkie, an online community paving the way for better health and personal transformation. She’s also the co-editor at Waking Times, where she writes about optimal health and wellness. Anna spent 6 years in Costa Rica as a teacher of Hatha and therapeutic yoga. She now teaches at Asheville Yoga Center and is pursuing her Yoga Therapy certification. During her free time, you’ll find her on the mat or in the kitchen, creating new kid-friendly superfood recipes.

This article (4 Healthy Foods That Serve as Natural Antibiotics) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Anna Hunt and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.

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