Breakthrough research from Yale University found that a certain kind of bacteria can “jump” from your gut to other organs. This triggers inflammation, which in turn causes autoimmune disease.1
Autoimmune disease is a modern-day epidemic. In fact, more people have an autoimmune disease than cancer, heart disease and diabetes COMBINED!
But Big Pharma’s solution to stopping autoimmune disease — prescribing antibiotics to eliminate these “bad bugs” — is the SAME bad mistake they’ve been making for decades.
Let me explain…
When I was in medical school, bacteria were still considered one of the biggest public health threats we faced. And antibiotics were believed to be the Holy Grail that would wipe them out.
I’m not saying antibiotics don’t have a purpose.
But they can’t distinguish good bacteria from the bad. So antibiotics disrupt the complex ecosystem of bacteria, viruses and fungi we carry around in our gut. This complex system is called your “microbiome.”
Even as a med student, I knew this disruption would take a toll on your overall health. And now this breakthrough research from Yale University backs me up.
This study supports my belief that diseases originate in your gut. But the authors intend to use their research to find a way to kill off these harmful bacteria with antibiotics.
Here’s the problem…
There are more than 400 different kinds of these gut “bugs.” Some are bad and cause disease and infection. But others boost your immune system. And even more help you digest your food and turn it into the nutrients you need to thrive.
The secret to good health is NOT getting rid of all the bad bacteria. It’s having enough good microbes to crowd out the bad ones.
So using antibiotics to wipe out bugs that cause autoimmunity makes no sense. In your gut, antibiotics kill off ALL bacteria — the good along with the bad. They disrupt the delicate balance in your gut flora. They allow bad bacteria to thrive.
When that happens, you see an increase in disease and aging. Your risk of obesity and heart disease goes up. So do rates of allergies, asthma, autism, and even autoimmune diseases.2 In other words, using antibiotics to fight autoimmunity can cause it!
I help my patients rebalance their microbiome naturally. The best way to do this is by eating cultured and fermented foods. These foods are loaded with “probiotics.” They restore the good bacteria in your gut even after a course of antibiotics.
I recommend cultured milk products like yogurt and kefir. Just be sure to avoid versions with added sugars, flavorings and preservatives. The ingredients should say milk and “live, active cultures” — that’s it.
Lacto-fermented veggies like kimchi and raw sauerkraut also give you billions of good microbes. But avoid canned or packaged versions. The processing kills good bacteria.
You can also help the good bugs in your gut flourish by feeding them inulin. This special water-soluble prebiotic fiber resists digestion from the small intestine. It reaches the large intestine intact and feeds good microbes.
In fact, studies have shown that inulin can help stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. Increasing the amounts of these bacteria improves digestion, immunity and overall health.3,4
Good sources are bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks and artichokes. But your best source of inulin is chicory. The root of this blue-flowered perennial is best known as a coffee substitute during WWII when coffee was in short supply. It’s still a popular favorite in New Orleans.
Brew A Cup of Healing Chicory Root “Coffee”
You can find ground chicory root in the coffee aisle of many grocery stores. Or you can buy the root and grind it yourself.
Chicory root coffee contains high amounts of inulin, which stimulates the growth of good bacteria.
- Wash and peel the root thoroughly.
- Cut into small pieces roughly the same size. This will help them roast evenly.
- Roast the chopped roots in a shallow pan, or a baking sheet at 2500 F for about 7 hours.
- Grind the roasted pieces in a coffee grinder.
- Brew as you would your regular coffee. If you prefer you can mix it with real coffee.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS