Before antibiotics were discovered in the 1900s, bacterial infections were a feared enemy of modern society.

Antibiotics changed everything – saving millions of lives and offering an effective tool to battle deadly infections.

Fast forward to now, and antibiotics, while still incredibly useful, are sadly claiming the lives of our beneficial gut bacteria, which has been linked to uncomfortable side effects such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD).

Of course, losing a few gut bacteria to save you from a nasty infection is a no-brainer; however, the loss of beneficial bacteria from multiple courses of antibiotics can cost you so much more over a lifetime.

In fact, losses of good bacteria have been linked to a greater risk of chronic diseases, such as digestive disorders, cardiovascular disease and even mental health symptoms; this is why protecting your gut bacteria is important for good health.

The most important thing when taking antibiotics is managing the loss of good gut bacteria during and after every treatment.

This means having strategies in place to help protect your inner health so that you can deal with AAD and other issues associated with the loss of beneficial gut bacteria.

This comes down to two things: protecting your bacteria when you need to take antibiotics, and, reducing your need for antibiotics.

‘The most important thing when taking antibiotics is managing the loss of good bacteria during and after every treatment.’

Probiotic Protection to Reduce Diarrhoea

A combination of specific probiotic strains (types) can reduce AAD while also helping recover your gut microbiome after antibiotics.

Using scientifically formulated probiotics, such as the Metagenics Ultra Flora Intensive Care (available at Your Wellness Centre), can assist in rebuilding beneficial gut flora (bacteria), and provide some of the most researched bacterial strains that reduce AAD, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii).

In a nutshell, probiotics can help you restore healthy gut bacteria after antibiotic use, and this can help maintain healthy gut function.

It’s important to note that antibiotics can affect your gut bacteria for up to two weeks after you stop taking them.

Ensuring you take your probiotic from the start of your antibiotic course until a minimum of two weeks after you finish will give your gut bugs the support they need.

To date, these specific strains have been the most successful in preventing AAD.

So, to ensure you are getting the right bang for your hard-earned buck, see a natural health practitioner at Your Wellness Centre to get access to these strains.

‘It’s important to note that antibiotics can affect your gut bacteria for up to two weeks after you stop taking them.

Support Your Immune System to Reduce Your Need for Antibiotics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised us to limit the use of antibiotics to the most essential situations.

This is because using them too frequently or inappropriately can help

infectious bacteria develop resistance to their antibacterial mechanisms, obscuring their efficacy.

For this reason, limiting your chances of needing antibiotics in the first place does the world a huge favour.

Boosting your immunity against infection is the smartest way to reduce your need for antibiotics and curb your risk of related side effects.

Here are our best tips on how to do this:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your elbow, and use alcohol-based hand sanitisers
Try to avoid touching your face, and wash your hands before and after if you do;
Improve your health with nutrition, better sleep and stress management to avoid getting sick in the first place
Have a handy natural ‘First Aid’ kit equipped with remedies and natural herbal supplements to limit the severity of an infection.

How to restore your gut after antibiotics

Thanks to modern medicine, we’ve been afforded the freedom to thrive without bacterial infections cutting our lives short.

However, with this comes the responsibility of ensuring that antibiotic therapy is used wisely, by being mindful and modest in how often we use antibiotics.

When you do need them, it is important to support your gut bacteria with probiotics in order to prevent side effects such as AAD (antibiotic-associated diarrhoea).

Chat to a natural health practitioner at Your Wellness Centre to learn more about taking care of your gut for good immune and overall health, today.

Abdominal Cramping, Bloating, Flatulence, Constipation, and Diarrhoea

Since we often see clients who have abdominal cramps along with either bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or flatulence, we thought we’d look at the connection between abdominal cramps and these types of digestive issues.

We’ll start by looking at your stomach which is one of the hardest working systems in your body.
The action of your stomach is to digest food and extract nutrients to sustain you.
However, if something disturbs this, digestive symptoms such as those mentioned above can result.

While many of these are normal, others may indicate something more serious.
Understanding these symptoms and their implications is important for maintaining overall wellness.

Normal, Everyday Symptoms:

Transient Belly Bloating

Occasional bloating, which is a sensation of fullness or swelling in the abdomen can result from dietary changes or larger meal portions, leading to trapped gas. Chewing food thoroughly, having smaller meals, and aiming for a moderate carbohydrate and fibre intake can help reduce bloating.

Flatulence

Passing gas is normal, and is influenced by diet and gut bacteria. Moderating intake of certain foods, particularly, refined processed foods can reduce flatulence.

Symptoms That Require Attention:

Chronic Constipation

Infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools often accompanied by discomfort, may indicate insufficient fibre intake or dysbiosis (an imbalance in the types and levels of gut bacteria).

Additionally, chronic constipation is associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects the function of the bowel.
Increasing fibre-rich foods, including fruit and vegetables, and drink enough water, as well as prebiotic and probiotic supplements can aid in relieving constipation.

Diarrhoea

Frequent, loose or watery stools that occurs more than three times daily may mean infection or conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Seeking professional diagnosis and treatment is required for managing these conditions.
However, if your symptoms are associated with antibiotic use, we supply Metagenics Ultra Flora Intensive Care, which may help to restore healthy intestinal bacteria and relieve diarrhoea.

Malodorous Gas

Imbalances in gut bacteria can lead to smelly gas. Probiotic supplements containing specific strains may help restore a healthy balance.

Abdominal Cramps or Pain

Sharp, dull, stabbing, cramp-like, or twisting pain in your abdomen.
Different types of abdominal pain can have various causes, the most common being gas pain, food intolerances or allergies, or indigestion. Abdominal pain can also be a sign of something more serious, including appendicitis, gallstones, ulcers, infections, kidney stones. Persistent or severe abdominal pain needs to be addressed by a healthcare professional.

The Connection Between Abdominal Cramps and Digestive Symptoms

Abdominal Cramps often occurs together with one of these: Bloating, Constipation, Diarrhoea, or Flatulence.

Abdominal Cramps and Bloating: Bloating, characterised by abdominal swelling, often accompanies abdominal cramps due to trapped gas in the digestive system. Dietary choices and underlying digestive issues can contribute to both symptoms.

Abdominal Cramps and Constipation: Infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools are common issues associated with abdominal cramps. Insufficient fibre intake and poor bowel habits can exacerbate both constipation and cramping.

Abdominal Cramps and Diarrhoea: Loose stools and frequent bowel movements often coincide with abdominal cramps, indicating disturbances in the digestive system. Infections, dietary triggers, and gastrointestinal conditions can contribute to both symptoms.

Abdominal Cramps and Flatulence: Excessive gas production and abdominal cramps can occur due to imbalances in gut bacteria and dietary factors. Managing flatulence often involves dietary modifications and addressing underlying gut health issues.

Identifying Common Causes and Effective Management Strategies

As mentioned above, several factors contribute to the development of abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, and flatulence.
Dietary triggers such as high-fat foods, food intolerances, and excessive consumption of gas-producing foods can aggravate digestive discomfort.
Additionally, lifestyle factors like stress, inadequate hydration, and sedentary habits can impact digestive function and contribute to cramping.

The Impact of Gut Health:

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is important for digestive health and overall well-being. Imbalances in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, can disrupt digestive processes and contribute to symptoms like abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea.
Supporting gut health with probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary modifications can help restore balance and reduce symptoms.

Managing abdominal cramps and their associated symptoms requires an approach tailored to individual needs.
Dietary modifications, such as increasing fibre intake, staying hydrated, and avoiding trigger foods, can help alleviate digestive discomfort.
Probiotic supplements, digestive enzymes, and lifestyle changes like stress management and regular exercise can also support digestive health and reduce cramping.

Seeking Professional Guidance

Persistent or severe symptoms accompanied by other warning signs need professional treatment. Diagnostic tests can help identify underlying causes and lead to appropriate treatment options, ensuring personalised care for individuals experiencing digestive discomfort.

Conclusion

Understanding the connection between abdominal cramps and digestive symptoms is crucial for effective management and overall gut health. By addressing dietary, lifestyle, and gut health factors, individuals can alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Remember to consult a healthcare practitioner at Your Wellness Centre for personalised professional guidance and optimal digestive wellness.

If you regularly experience one or more problematic symptoms, particularly if they’re new or getting worse, consult with a Natural Health Practitioner at Your Wellness Centre for further investigation to devise an individualized comprehensive plan of attack that is suitable for you.

Our healthcare practitioners have a suite of testing available to investigate the driver behind your symptoms.

A stool analysis test enables us to identify all of the bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit your gut and how they contribute to your gut function and digestive symptoms.

You can read more about MetaBiome™ testing here.

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