The staphylococcus aureus bacteria causes potentially dangerous infections known commonly as staph infections. Staph bacteria is present in everyone's bodies, however not everyone will develop an infection from them. Staph infections commonly refer to a staph infection on your skin. However, this same bacteria is responsible for strep throat. Eating a healthful, well-balanced diet can help to protect you against staph infections by promoting a strong immune system. In addition, including cranberry juice and garlic and avoiding foods high in sugar may give you extra protection.
Risk Factors
A variety of factors may influence your susceptibility to contracting a staph infection. These include the strength of your immune system, health conditions you may have and sports you play. Staph bacteria are widespread in hospitals and pose a risk to people with compromised immune systems and open wounds. In addition, if you have an invasive device such as medical tubing, this provides a path for the staph bacteria to invade your body. In addition, staph infections are common among athletes in contact sports such as wrestling. Staph bacteria also is spread among athletes when they share towels and sporting equipment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cranberry Juice
A recent clinical study of the effects of cranberry juice found that it not only is effective in fighting urinary tract infections, but also can help prevent the start of a staph infection. In fact, the study showed cranberry juice was even more protective against fighting staph infections. However, the exact mechanism of protection continues to be an area of research, reports Terri Camesano, professor of chemical engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Garlic
During World War I, garlic was used by European soldiers to prevent infection of their wounds. Garlic is known to have an inhibitory affect against a number of microbes, including staph. Garlic protects your body against staph by causing the staph cells to rupture, reports a study published in the February 2008 issue of the "Research Journal of Medicinal Plants."
Foods to Avoid
Avoid eating high-sugar foods. Foods that are high in sugar support the breeding of staph infections. In addition, sugar actually depresses your immune system's ability to fight off infection. Sugar impairs the ability of white blood cells to kill germs for up to five hours after you consume it, reports naturopath Linda Page, PhD, in her book "Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone."
References
- "Science Daily;" Cranberry Juice Shows Promise Blocking Staph Infections; Terri Camesano; 2010
- "Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone;" Linda Page; 2004
- "Research Journal of Medicinal Plants;" Cellular Effects of Garlic (Allium Sativum) Extract on Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aureus; Boboye & Alli; 2008
- Mayo Clinic; Staph Infections: Risk Factors
