Natural Antibiotics You Can Find In Your Kitchen

Since antibiotics were discovered in the 1920s, it became easier for people to treat bacterial diseases. Nevertheless, with the development of new products, the problem of resistance development appeared. It turned out that bacteria are smarter than we thought and can actually build defenses against the drug. Such process is known as mutation of bacteria.

The main reason for resistance to antibiotics is that some of us use them too often, even when we do not need them. Such attitude towards taking antibiotics allows bacteria to adapt to drugs. So when we need to treat serious bacterial infection or certain life-threatening disease, we need to take heavier and heavier antibiotics. What is worse, when we take another round of antibiotics, it kills not just bad bacteria, but good bacteria as well. It means that each intake makes it more difficult for your body to fight off infections in the future.

The good news is that there is a way to prevent antibiotic overkill and control the spread of resistance. The first thing we can do is to avoid taking antibiotics each time we feel sick and stick to them only when necessary. The thing is that there are actually natural sources of antibiotics that can help your body to combat bacterial infections. What is more, nature’s antibiotics help to reduce inflammation and increase the number of good, healthy bacteria. So here are the 10 nature’s antibiotics you can find in your kitchen.

1. Manuka Honey

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Manuka honey, made from bees that pollinate the Manuka bush, is a king of the honey land. It is a super honey, honey on steroids, or as you wish. It has a lot of health benefits to offer, including infection-fighting ones.

Things that make manuka honey a great antibiotic, is a trifecta of substances known as hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and dihydroxyacetone. Thanks to these substances, manuka honey is effective even against off staph infections (MRSA). It is worth to mention that most of the drug-based antibiotics are not able to kill this antibiotic-resistant superbug. 

Manuka honey can be used to treat skin infections and oral infections. Also, it is one of nature’s best immune boosters. It is worth to note that primarily, manuka honey is used topically. Nevertheless, you can eat it, enjoy its taste and support your immune system.

Also, manuka honey can be used to prevent flu. For example, if you see that people around you are getting sick, you can add a couple of spoons of manuka honey to your daily meals to boost your immune system. Such delicious way of boosting your immune system will help you not to get sick or to reduce the duration of your illness.

If you want to get the best of what manuka honey can offer, you can mix it with cinnamon and ginger – two another nature’s antibiotics. Just note that you do not need to eat it every day for long periods of time, because manuka honey is more than just honey – it is medicine. Also, if you want the honey to work, avoid buying cheaper brands with lower UMF ratings.

2. Garlic extract

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Garlic is used in different cultures throughout the world both as a delicious vegetable add to meals and as an antibiotic to fight a wide range of infections including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites.

Although garlic does not kill infectious microbes, it boosts your immune system and provides you with numerous health benefits. It helps to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, prevents Alzheimer’s disease and boosts your athletic performance. According to studies, adding garlic to your daily meals allows reducing the number of colds by 63% and reduce the duration of ilness by 70%. 

It is worth to mention that if you want to enjoy all the benefits garlic can offer, it has to be raw. The thing is that cooked garlic loses its antibiotic effects. What is more, garlic needs some time to show its healing features. It means that after you crush raw garlic, you have to let it sit for 30 minutes.  Mixing garlic with healthy oils such as olive or coconut oil is also a good idea. One more thing to remember is that the best garlic is organic garlic.

3. Ginger

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Ginger is another superfood with a number of great health benefits. Natural compounds stored in ginger can fight infections, relieve nausea and reduce inflammation. What is more, ginger is beneficial for the digestive system. It helps to soothe digestive issues and discomfort, and increase stomach acid to calm digestion after a meal and prevent foodborne illness. That is why Japanese eat sushi with ginger.

The same to garlic, ginger’s antibiotic effects appear when it is raw. You can increase its effectiveness by mixing ginger with another nature’s antibiotics such as honey and cinnamon. By the way, such combination is considered to be one of the best ways to relieve symptoms of flu. What is more, combining ginger with other foods allow making it taste better.

Here are some tips to use ginger:

Avoid using ginger to treat your skin as it can cause irritation;

Buy organic ginger;

Freeze if you have any excess ginger;

Try to use it as a salad dressing.

4. Turmeric

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Turmeric is one of the most health beneficial spiсes ever. It is widely used in traditional Indian cooking and is also widely used by nutritionists. This sure spice is very beneficial to stomach. It is effective against Helicobacter pylori and any gastric damage caused by the infection. What is more, it is used to relieve allergies and to boost the immune system. That is why turmeric is considered to be a good fighter to fever.

Turmeric can be used as antibiotic in dosages of 400 to 600 mg three times a day. It provides even more benefits when it is combined with honey or black pepper.

5. Oregano Oil

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Although you will not add oregano oil in your salad, this natural antibiotic is considered to be one of the most powerful in the world. The same to manuka honey, you have to be careful with this powerful stuff and use it only when it is necessary.

What makes oregano oil so special are two potent compounds known as carvacrol and thymol. Both of them are very effective against a number of harmful microbes.

Oregano oil can be used to treat bacterial infections, fungal infections, viruses, parasites, and allergies. What is more, this oil effectively reduces inflammation. The same to manuka honey, oregano oil can kill MRSA.

If you need to treat foot or nail fungus, you can combine oregano oil with coconut butter and apply it to your skin on nails. To treat sinus infections, add a few drops of oil into a pot of steaming water and inhale the steam. To treat oral infections, you can combine it with a coconut oil and swish for a few minutes.

Just note that not all oregano oils are equal, so always choose supplements containing Origanum vulgare or Thymus capitatus. What is more, choose organic oils.

6. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

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Coconut oil is one of the most versatile and unique gifts from Mother Nature. It is literally packed with antioxidants and is considered to be one of the best natural solutions to treat bacterial and fungal infections. What is more, coconut oil is one of the most effective natural immune boosters. It helps to balance hormones, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and it can significantly improve brain function. Also, coconut oil is widely used to as a skin and hair moisturizer.

You can use it as a gargle, you can add it to your meals and you can apply it to your skin and hair. When it comes to cooking, you can replace oils you use with coconut oil and enjoy all the benefits it offers.

7. Onions

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Onions are so commonly used in every kitchen, but many are unaware of benefits they offer. Onions contain powerful flavonoids known for antibiotic effect. They also share some common beneficial to health features with garlic due to the presence of therapeutic sulfur compounds called cysteine sulphoxides.

Onions are the remedy for infections, they can heal cuts, can cure an earache, can soothe burns, remove eye irritation, provide a cough relief and fight insect stings.

The same to garlic, onions need time to show their healing effect, so it is important to let then sit opened for about 10 minutes. To enjoy all the benefits, you can mix onions with garlic and coconut oil. 

8. Cinnamon

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Although cinnamon is a common spice, it is actually extraordinary one. It helps to fight fungal infections, inhibits the growth and mycotoxin production of certain fungi, treats acne caused by bacteria, helps to get rid of bad breath and oral infections, relieves gut discomfort and is effective against hemorrhaging. And all these health benefits come with a great taste.

If you want to enjoy health benefits provided by cinnamon, always choose organic Ceylon cinnamon. The thing is that most common form of cinnamon you can find in stores is Cassia.

9. Lemons and Limes

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Both lemons and limes are known for their antibacterial properties provided by coumarin and tetrazine stored in these fruits. You can eat lemons or limes to treat stomach infections and upper respiratory infections. Just note that these fruits provide health benefits only when they are raw, so you can simply squeeze them and drink to treat colds, the flu, sinusitis, any upper respiratory problem.

10. Fermented Foods

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Fermented foods are here as a bonus. Actually, fermented foods are not considered to be antibiotics, but they are extremely important for the immune system. The thing is that 70% of the immune system is in the gut and fermented foods like sauerkraut or kombucha contain healthy bacteria that help to balance the gut flora destroyed by the pesticides in our food, antibiotics, alcohol, and NSAID drugs. In that way, healthy bacteria found in fermented foods help your body to fight off infection.

You can get healthy bacteria from such fermented foods as kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and fermented grains.

The healthiest option is to make fermented foods yourself. The thing is that you can ferment almost anything you want. The process usually takes from 4 to 7 days. You have to believe, the taste of home-fermented foods is definitely worth that time!