Taking antibiotics can successfully protect you against bacterial infections and is often an important part of maintaining your health. But where it was once thought that taking antibiotics regularly was enough to protect you, new research suggests that unhealthy eating habits can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. Fortunately, research also reveals that eating soluble fiber as part of a balanced diet helps support the absorption of antibiotics in your body.
dive into research
A key reason your body may not be absorbing antibiotics properly is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This occurs when bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your system are able to overcome the drugs that are designed to destroy them. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 2.8 million AMR infections occur annually in the US.
A recent observational study published in the journal megabyteYoeither looked at how a regular diet could affect antibiotic resistance genes within gut bacteria.
The researchers asked 290 healthy adults (ages 18 to 66) to complete questionnaires about their usual diet. Using blood, urine, and stool samples, they also measured the gut microbiome — the collection of all the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and genes in the body.
The results
The authors found that a diet high in soluble fiber and low in protein was associated with reduced levels of antimicrobial resistance genes in gut microbes.
Regular consumption of Soluble fiber was the focus of these findings, rather than protein. That’s because this type of fiber dissolves in water and helps increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut.
In a declarationlead author and research molecular biologist Danielle Lemay put these findings into perspective.
“The results lead directly to the idea that modifying the diet has the potential to be a new weapon in the fight against antimicrobial resistance,” he explains. “This suggests that we may want to eat from a variety of food sources that tend to be higher in soluble fiber for maximum benefit.”
What this means to you
Increasing your daily intake of soluble fiber is an ideal way to increase your gut health, which can ultimately help you avoid AMR. the USDA recommends consuming 28 grams of dietary fiber each day for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.
Excellent soluble fiber sources They include oatmeal, legumes, apples, carrots, and citrus. Whether you’re making oatmeal for breakfast or lentils for lunch or dinner, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this type of fiber.
In addition to making a dietary adjustment, be sure to talk to your doctor to learn more about AMR and to make sure your antibiotics are as effective as possible.
