Health
Best Natural Antibiotics
We are daily bombarded with lots of disease-causing agents. We suffer cough, pain, and other infections that surround us daily, either from the environment, food, chemicals and air. Therefore we need natural agents to help ward off these disease-causing agents. Antibiotics are very essential to fight diseases. Normally, antibiotics are disease- fighting agents that can be natural or man made as obtained in drugs. Below are naturally sourced antibiotics:
- Garlic
Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which it releases when crushed or chopped. Previous studies showed that allicin has antibacterial effects against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In fact, allicin is effective against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections.
When inhaled in aerosol form, allicin can also kill bacteria that target the lungs. It’s also a promising treatment for antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis. Note that garlic should be eaten fresh to reap the benefits of allicin. The compound is destroyed when garlic is cooked. To use this natural antibiotic, crush fresh garlic until you extract oil from the cloves. You can also incorporate raw garlic into dressings, sauces and salads. - Honey
Honey has a long history of use in traditional medicine. It goes all the way back to the Ancient Greeks, who had made extensive use of honey as an ointment for wounds.
Today, experts know that honey helps treat wounds because it provides a protective coating. Plus, certain types of honey, like manuka honey, have potent antimicrobial properties that help prevent infection. Honey’s antimicrobial properties are usually attributed to its hydrogen peroxide content.
Honey is a versatile ingredient you can use in a variety of dishes. To add honey to your diet, add it to smoothies or shakes for a touch of sweetness, spread it on bread and homemade muffins or stir it into oatmeal. - Ginger
Ginger is renowned for its antibacterial properties. In fact, many studies have shown that ginger has antimicrobial activities against two serogroups of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some can cause digestive issues like severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea.
Ginger’s antimicrobial properties are attributed to its numerous potent compounds, such as borneol, camphene and linalool.
You can brew freshly sliced ginger to make an immune-boosting herbal drink or add sliced ginger root to soups and curries. You can also stir-fry ginger slices with vegetables, meat and noodles.
Onions: Onions are of the garlic family but highly effective as antibiotic, especially when eaten fresh or lightly cooked. Onions have varieties; white and deep blue colour and are emulcifent.
One good aspect of onions is the ability to make us teary and that is one function that makes it antibacterial and antibiotic. It is also a cleanser. - Clove
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree, a tropical evergreen tree, native to Indonesia. They are widely used in India’s Ayurvedic medicine as a natural treatment for toothaches. In fact, clove has been used traditionally in dental procedures. Some studies suggest clove is effective against E. coli.
Ground or whole, cloves are used to flavour meat, sauces and rice dishes. Cloves are often used with nutmeg and cinnamon in sweet dishes, especially “pumpkin pie” flavoured foods for the fall, and in drinks like cider and mulled wine. - Oregano
Oregano, a staple ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which can be attributed to carvacrol and thymol. These two compounds are among the major components of oregano essential oil. Oregano, particularly its essential oil, is among the more effective natural antibiotics.
Oregano is typically used in tomato-centric recipes, such as pizzas and pasta dishes. Oregano is also commonly combined with olive oil to make delicious oregano oil, vinaigrette and marinades for meat.
Adapted from Food.News
By: Kevin Nengia