Finding ways to avoid bacterial infections is more important than ever, during the winter time when viruses proliferate, but also in general.
Super strains of bacteria are becoming more and more prevalent, which means your best defence against them is sensible self care and prevention.
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that can be found in a diverse range of places within our environment and even on our bodies.
Common bacterial infections include:
- Colds & Flu
- Fever
- Headaches
- Sore Throats
- Breathing Congestion
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Food Poisoning
- Cellulitis
- Genital Herpes
There are natural ways to help you avoid bacterial infections which are easy to follow, no matter your lifestyle.
And here we reveal six of those important ways that are completely natural and safe.
1. Start with Diet
Your diet is one of the most powerful health tools at your disposal. It affects your health in every possible way, including by helping you to avoid bacterial infections.
If you regularly eat processed packaged foods you'll weaken your immunity, cause damage to your gut health and digestive system, and make yourself far more susceptible to bacterial infections.
This is why you should avoid processed foods that are laden with colourings, preservatives and refined sugar, processed meats and dairy products which are highly inflammatory, and fatty take-away foods.
On the other hand, if your diet is rich in whole plant foods which are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, you’ll give your body everything it needs to fight off and avoid bacterial infections. If you're going to consume animal products, just ensure that they're hormone free, grass-fed or pasture-raised and organic where possible.
Powerful foods to help you avoid bacterial infections include:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Celery
- Ginger
- Citrus Fruits
- Oregano
- Raw Honey
- Echinacea
It's also important to consume plenty of fermented foods to introduce healthy bacteria into your gut.
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, sourdough bread, tempeh, miso soup, kombucha, and kimchi give your body the healthy bacteria it needs to maintain a balanced microbiome and fight off illness and disease (and avoid bacterial infections in the first place).
2. Consume Nature-Made Salt
Your body needs nature-made salt to function properly, but so many people avoid it. While foods high in sodium are absolutely to be avoided, natural salt is critical for your body. Nature-made salt can also help you avoid bacterial infections, because bad bacteria can’t live in salt.
This means the salt will help clean out any bacteria that your body doesn’t want, while you’re getting the benefit of salt to help you lower blood pressure, prevent disease, reduce inflammation, and so much more.
The key is in the type of salt you consume. Choose nature-made salts that haven’t been tampered with like Pink Himalayan Salt and Celtic Sea Salt.
3. Essential Oregano Oil
The essential oil of oregano is a potent antibacterial agent and is considered one of the most harmful bacteria removers of all the essential oils. Carvacrol and thymol, the two active ingredients in oregano, are phenols or agents that kill microscopic bacteria.
For centuries, oregano oil has been used to treat respiratory infections, chronic inflammation, urinary tract infections, dysentery, jaundice and more. Oregano is also rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron and manganese. These minerals only increase the healing potential of this essential oil, which has become especially popular in recent years as a natural alternative to prescription antibiotics.
Apply a few drops of oregano oil topically to the chest and throat, diffuse whilst your sleep or work, add to your cooking.
4. Grapefruit Seed Extract
Another natural way to avoid bacterial infections is to use grapefruit seed extract. This is pulled from the bioflavonoids found in the seed and pulp of grapefruits. Its germic action has shown a growth-inhibiting effect on bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.
Grapefruit seed extract has shown to be effective in inhibiting bacteria such as S. aureus, E. coli, P. aerugi- nosa and M. tuberculosis. This gives it a variety of uses, including an internal bactericide, water disinfectant, skin cleanser and first-aid spray. Also, grapefruit seed extract is a natural treatment for house pets and livestock that may be susceptible to bacterial infections from a variety of sources.
5. Avoid Antibiotics
At first, antibiotics were a miracle drug that was incredibly effective at killing bacteria and infections. But over time, many antibiotics have lost their effectiveness against certain types of bacteria because stronger strains have developed, mostly through “resistance genes.”
This means that antibiotics are not only becoming less and less effective, but also creating new and more dangerous strains of bacteria that antibiotics simply can’t kill. In fact, the problem is so serious that in the United States alone, over 14,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria picked up in the hospital.
Pharmaceutical companies continue to develop stronger and stronger antibiotics as the last line of defence to combat the problem, but these antibiotics also kill healthy bacteria in your body. This can strongly impact your health and immunity.
By using natural ways to treat and avoid bacterial infections, you’ll be able to avoid antibiotics and eliminate the possibility of developing resistance genes.
6. Natural Solutions
You won’t always feel 100%, but luckily there are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medication to prevent and support relief from any kind of bacterial infection.
Nature’s Silver Bullet is one great example. It uses Colloidal Silver and Fulvic Acid to boost your immunity and fight off bacterial and viral infection. You can use it regularly to increase immunity or up to five times a day when experiencing bacterial overwhelm.
Another option is the Internal House Cleanse Spray. It also uses Colloidal Silver and Fulvic Acid, plus essential oils specifically to treat sore or inflamed throats. These natural solutions help ensure you’re not dependent on medication to heal and disinfect, which can often do more harm than good.
More Ways to Avoid Bacterial Infections:
- Raw Honey has always been known to be a potent antibacterial, which makes it a great natural addition to your diet to help avoid bacterial infections. Before antibiotics were created, honey was a go-to bacteria healer. As well, bee propolis has been shown to prevent cell division and inhibit protein synthesis.
- Cranberry juice has been proven to be an effective non-drug therapy against urinary tract infections. It keeps bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder and urinary tract because of the active ingredients of the juice. If you’re prone to these types of infections, drink a quart of cranberry juice a day.
- Use pure essential oils, several of which are known for their antibacterial powers. In addition to Oregano oil, Tea Tree, Cinnamon and Thyme are also particularly potent antibacterials. You can use them topically, diffused and they may be ingested in small amounts responsibly.
- Ancient herbal remedies can work wonders. Try: Goldenseal, an effective natural biotic; raw garlic, containing potent bacterial effects; Kyolic, an aged garlic product that does not kill bacteria directly, but boosts immune function enabling the body to rid chronic bacterial infections.
- Do a Fast. By giving your body a chance to reset and simultaneously flush out toxins, you can completely reboot your immunity and heal various kinds bacterial infections. Start with a raw juice fast for 3-7 days, with an emphasis on apples, leafy greens, root vegetables (carrots, beetroot and celery) and ginger.
The Main Take Away
Avoiding bacterial infections is probably not something you'll think much about until you're feeling unwell or suffering from an infection.
However, particularly during the winter months, it is extra important to do things that help to build up your body's defences which will help you avoid bacterial infections and the need for antibiotics.
Ironically, the advent of “miracle drugs,” or antibiotics also set the stage for drug-resistant bacteria that simply do not respond to these antibiotics (because they create "super bugs") . That's why avoiding and neutralising bacterial infections requires a strong, effective immune response that you help create through the right daily lifestyle habits and your approach to self care.
The good news is that natural remedies, whole foods and plants have offered solutions for human health and protection from viruses for centuries - your only job is to consciously embrace mother nature and these solutions.
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