More and more, people are developing GUT ISSUES without realizing that their gut health is linked to so many other symptoms in the body (and often the root cause of illness).
While gut issues can be the result of many factors, one common driver of gut problems is the OVERCONSUMPTION OF ANTIBIOTICS.
Antibiotics were a great discovery (ranging back to Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928) that have literally saved many lives. The problem is that nowadays, antibiotics are being over-prescribed.
Additionally, antibiotics are found in the food we eat, and that affects both our gut and our environment. Astoundingly, I recently found out that about 80% of the antibiotics sold in the US are for food-producing animals!
Why are Antibiotics used so much in our food?
Current “factory farming” entails large quantities of livestock (cattle, chicken, etc) in very small areas with poor conditions, where infections spread easily. This became a huge issue. But instead of improving conditions for the animals. farmers discovered that low doses of antibiotics can keep the animals safe from infections, and even increase their growth rate, therefore facilitating the production of MORE meat in less time and for less money. So go figure.
Even though the amounts used are very small, some studies show we can still get affected by these antibiotics when we eat the meat (even eggs and milk) of conventionally raised livestock.
Additionally, studies show that this common use of low-dose antibiotics is leading to ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, which is a big threat. This overuse of antibiotics seems to lead to an increase in resistant bacteria, also known as "superbugs," and when these are passed to humans, they can cause serious illness.
Note: While this is a controversial topic and research is still ongoing, I personally recommend erring on the side of caution and trying to avoid - when possible - conventionally raised meat/pork/chicken etc., (which not only may contain antibiotics, but also growth hormones, not to mention they're fed genetically-modified grains that also can affect our health).
What can you do to avoid the risks of consuming antibiotic-fed animals?
Opt for buying pasture-raised organic eggs, organic milk, free-range and antibiotic-free chicken/turkey, and grass-fed organic meat.
This will start to make a difference in your health, the health of your children, and ultimately will hopefully contribute to more organically raised livestock.
If we all begin taking baby steps towards greater wellness by choosing organic and becoming more aware of what goes into our food, it'll start to add up to a healthier population overall.
So please share this article, and don't forget to request your antibiotic-free and hormone-free eggs today!