Antibiotics are medications prescribed to treat bacterial infections such as a sinusitis or pneumonia. Antibiotics aid the body by destroying bacteria or inhibiting their ability to reproduce. Not all bacteria is considered bad, however; your body needs good bacteria in the gut, mouth, vagina and on the skin. Antibiotic treatment eliminates good bacteria along with the bad bacteria. After a course of antibiotics, changes to your diet can help replace beneficial bacteria and restore symbiosis in your body.
Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea
You may experience diarrhea while taking antibiotics, according to MayoClinic.com, as nearly all antibiotics can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This type of diarrhea is characterized by frequent, watery bowel movements. Most cases are mild and resolve after treatment is complete. More severe cases can lead to abdominal pain, fever, bloody diarrhea and even inflammation of the colon. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs when antibiotic medications upset the symbiosis, or balance of good and bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
Bland Diet
Whenever you have diarrhea, it is a good idea to drink plenty of fluids and eat soft, easily digested foods. Drink fluids with added electrolytes to replace losses. Drink water, 100 percent fruit juice, non-caffeinated soft drinks and sports drinks. Choose foods such as bananas, applesauce, peaches without skins, oatmeal, rice, plain pasta, toast or crackers, low-fat dairy, pudding, eggs and soup. Avoid raw vegetables, dried fruit, strong cheese, whole grains, spicy, fatty or fired foods and any food that irritates your stomach. Additionally, eating small, frequent meals may be helpful.
Probiotics
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines probiotics as live microorganisms, usually bacteria, that are similar to the microorganisms found in the human gut. When these friendly or good bacteria are administered, it confers health benefits on the host. When you take antibiotics, the normal balance of good and bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract is thrown off. Antibiotics kill the bad bacteria causing the infection, but also eliminate certain friendly bacterium that is a natural part of your gut. Good bacteria in the body is essential to the proper function of the immune system as it fights microorganisms that cause disease, promoting normal digestion and absorption of food and nutrients. Taking probiotics may help restore the balance of bacteria in your body after the use of antibiotics.
Probiotic Foods
You can purchase probiotics in the form of food or dietary supplements such as capsules, tablets and powders. Foods that contain probiotics include dairy products such as yogurt and milk; aged cheese such as cheddar and Gouda; cultured soy products, some juices, tempeh, miso, kefir and komboucha. In some foods and supplements, the bacterium was present originally while in others it is added during processing and preparation. Consuming bland foods and foods containing probiotics can help relieve diarrhea and restore normal gastrointestinal function after using antibiotics.
