A gastroenterologist has shared advice for people taking antibiotics, urging them to eat certain foods to keep their gut healthy
A gastroenterologist has shared crucial advice for those on antibiotics, highlighting the need to eat specific foods to support gut health. Dr Joseph Salhab, also known as thestomachdoc on Instagram, warned that antibiotics can wipe out both harmful and beneficial bacteria in the gut.
He emphasised the importance of bolstering gut health while on medication, something he regularly advises his patients. Dr Salhab explained: “Make sure you eat this when you’re taking antibiotics. I’m a board-certified gastroenterologist, which is just a fancy term for a gut doctor. And when my patients are antibiotics, I always recommend them to do this.
“It’s cold and flu season and antibiotics are sometimes necessary, especially if you’re treating things like pneumonia. But the thing about antibiotics is they don’t discriminate. They can kill both bad and good bacteria, especially within the gut.
“First thing you’re going to want to do is eat more foods rich in prebiotics. Prebiotics are food for gut bacteria, to allow them to grow and thrive and repopulate. Second thing you’re going to want to do is eat foods that are rich in probiotics.
“My favourite personally are fermented foods, things like kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented pickles. These contain the actual beneficial organisms, which you can reintroduce back into your gut, which may have otherwise been killed off by the antibiotics.
“The third thing is you’re going to want to eat more plant-rich foods that have all different colours. Plants of different colours have different benefits. They have different vitamins, minerals, more varied, more nutrients you’ll get.”