Antibiotics are a powerful tool in fighting bacterial infections like strep throat, whooping cough or a urinary tract infection. But they can leave the patient with nausea, diarrhea or an upset stomach.
That’s because antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately. They eradicate the malicious bugs causing illness and the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract that help the body digest and absorb nutrients — disrupting the balance of microbes in the gut, experts say.
“As they’re fighting the bugs that are making you sick, they’re also killing the good bugs that are in our intestines,” Lauri Wright, Ph.D., a registered dietitian, associate professor and director of nutrition programs at the University of South Florida, tells TODAY.com.
“They can wipe out a lot of the good bacteria that are in the gut.”
Antibiotics can also cause villi, the little finger-like projections in the intestines that move things along, to lie flat, which can lead to problems with nutrient absorption, Wright adds.
People can experience antibiotic-associated diarrhea, nausea, bloating and cramping, says Theresa Gentile, a registered dietitian in New York and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
But eating right can help diminish the gut flora disruption and restore a healthy balance of the beneficial bacteria.
“They can regrow and repopulate the gut with either foods or supplemental probiotics,” Gentile tells TODAY.com.
Antibiotics foods to eat
While taking antibiotics, the dietitians recommend adding the following to the menu:
Probiotic foods
These probiotic foods contain the healthy bacteria that help create a well-functioning gut.
They include:
- Yogurt with live cultures. But be careful because dairy can decrease the absorption of some antibiotics, like tetracycline, so always check the label on your medication for any food-drug interactions, Wright cautions.
- Kefir, a fermented milk beverage thinner than yogurt but creamier than milk.
- Fermented foods like…
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