18 Natural Antibiotic Super Foods

Superfoods is a term that you hear all the time but it is not clearly defined. While there is no strict definition, superfoods are foods that are known to be nutritionally dense and therefore good for your health. These foods can treat eczema, burn fat, and even make your teeth strong. But did you know that there are certain superfoods that can be used as natural antibiotics? Foods with antibiotics present are now more researched than ever. As bacterial resistance grows, the need for new antibiotics grows ever stronger: natural antibiotic foods fill the gap. Check out these 12 super foods rich in antibiotic power that just might save you life.

What is a natural antibiotic?

Antibiotics refer to a group of powerful medicines to cure bacterial and microbial infections. These medicines fight bacteria by hindering their reproductive system or completely destroying them.

When a bacterium enters your body, the immune system usually is activated and kills it. Even if the bacterium is able to induce symptoms, the immune system can usually cope by producing antibodies to combat the disease. The immune system learns how to fight.

Antibiotics are being used around the world in excess. This potential overuse is leading to an increased number of bacterial infections. Moreover, this misuse is also contributing to antibiotic resistance. The bacteria are learning to fight back.

Antibiotic resistance is particularly common in the United States. It is also a threat to all the countries in the world. [1] According to an estimate, 25000 people die every year due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [2]

This where natural antibiotics come in. Plants have been fighting pathogens for millions of years. They have developed a wide variety of compounds that have antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. There is a natural antibiotic for almost any infection and these superfoods represent a whole new line of defence against infection.

Natural antibiotic foods give humanity an alternative when traditional medicine fails.

Natural Antibiotic Foods

Garlic

One of the most important superfoods to use as a natural antibiotic is garlic. This miraculous vegetable possesses strong properties against infections.

The best thing about garlic is that it does not only have antibiotic properties, it is also a great antiviral superfood. Garlic can also fight against parasites and insects. It can treat respiratory diseases and purgative problems as well.

What is it that makes garlic so powerful?

Most of the properties attributed to garlic are due to a compound named allicin. This chemical releases as soon as you slice a garlic clove. Allicin is also what imparts a strong smell to garlic.

Allicin is just like penicillin, a strong antibiotic. It can fight different types of bacteria and viruses and prevent them from spreading. Additionally, it can also give a good boost to your immune system. [3]

Garlic is capable of activating all three kinds of immune cells of your body. This forms a formidable foe against bacterial infections and protects you from infections. Garlic can also help to kill oral bacteria. [4]

So, do not forget to add a lot of garlic to your daily food. You can use it in raw form if the strong taste does not repel you.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular medicinal spice. It can treat a lot of diseases, ranging from common cold to digestive problems.

This Ayurveda spice also possesses strong antibacterial as well as antiseptic properties. This makes it perfect to be included among superfoods to use as natural antibiotics. [5]

The healing properties of turmeric are an important part of the modern medicine. It is especially useful as a topical antibiotic food.

You can use it on your skin to treat infections. Turmeric golden honey is, for example, a well-known example. Consume it orally or apply it on your skin to fight the bacteria invading your body.

Coconut Oil

The use of coconut oil is no longer limited to healthy hair. It is, in fact, a natural way to fight lots of viruses and bacteria. [6] It is among the top antibiotic food because of lauric acid.

Lauric acid has strong antibacterial properties to ward off most infections. [7] It is also the reason why coconut oil is a food rich in antibiotics

You can acquire the benefits of coconut oil by using it in your meals, smoothies, and desserts. Blend it into your coffee or eat it straight from its jar.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

The extract of the grapefruit seeds is one of the super foods rich in antibiotics. It is rich in an antioxidant known as polyphenols. These polyphenols can be helpful against salmonella, Staphylococcus, and E. coli infections. [8]

Polyphenols can also protect your body from UV damage. These agents can treat joint inflammation, detoxify the cells [9] and enhance circulation.

Grapefruit seed extract can stop bacterial growth in poultry and fish as well. So, do not forget to include it in your list of superfoods to use as natural antibiotics.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If we were to pick one natural antibiotic superfood, then it would be Apple cider vinegar. It consists of acetic acid, a compound formed during fermentation.

Acetic acid possesses strong antibacterial powers. It can also treat other problems such as dandruff, constipation, and high sugar levels. [10] It can even reduce inflammation due to gout, acne, and arthritis.

You can also sip on apple cider vinegar even if you are not sick. This is because apple cider vinegar can boost energy and help lose weight. It is rich in probiotics and can improve your gut health as well.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is an essential natural antibiotic food. This magical food item can fight colds, flu, yeast infections, and staph infections in a natural way.

Goldenseal is a herb that has been in use for treatment of digestive problems. It can even be taken as a nutritional supplement. Because most of the immune system resides in the gut, goldenseal can help keep sickness away. [11]

Echinacea

Before the introduction of one the counter medicines, echinacea was used as a natural antibiotic. It was a natural solution to coughs, stuffy nose, and infections of the ear.

Echinacea is composed of components with strong antibacterial properties. It can cut the symptoms of cold at any age.

Research suggests echinacea can reduce the symptoms of a cold by 50 percent. [12] It can also treat sinus infections, athlete’s foot, and hay fever. So, don’t forget to make some echinacea tea for yourself and fight those pesky bacteria.

Onions

Onion is a close cousin of garlic and is another super food rich in antibiotics.

Studies have revealed that onions can kill harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. At the same time, it can also boost the immunity to avoid them in future. [13]

Consumption of onions comes with a lot of other benefits. It is a rich source of quercetin, a natural antibiotic to treat allergies and hay fever. It is also rich in sulfur which helps in detoxification. [14]

So don’t forget to buy onions on your next grocery trip. Include them in your salads and meals to live a bacteria-free life.

Honey

Honey, in all forms, is definitely among the best superfoods to use as natural antibiotics. The famous Manuka honey has the highest amount of antioxidants and antibiotic power.

Honey consists of an enzyme that leads to the release of hydrogen peroxide. This helps in fighting bacteria and prevent their growth. [15] Honey can soothe your digestive system by removing toxins as well.

For added benefits, consider combining honey with a pinch of cinnamon. This combination can strengthen the white blood cells, reducing the risk of infections.

Cabbage

Cabbage belongs to the cruciferous family. It is a sulfur-rich vegetable which can fight a lot of diseases including cancers. [16]

Cabbage is also a particularly high source of calcium. One cup of cabbage can fulfill up to 75 percent of your daily calcium needs.

You can incorporate cabbage into your life in different ways. Add it to salads, make it a side dish, or drink cabbage juice. Cabbage is an exceptional way to enhance digestion, prevent infections, and regulate weight.

Fermented Foods

Probiotics are one of the most incredible discoveries of the last decade. These little agents can help protect the natural gut flora in the digestive system.

Research has shown that a balanced gut is one of the primary factors of wellness. The good bacteria in your gut are extremely important for your health.

This means that anything that helps improve your gut can keep you away from infections. Fermented foods are rich in microorganisms and antioxidants which are better than supplements. [17]

So, fermented items can be considered among the best superfoods to use as natural antibiotics. These include everything- from unpasteurized sauerkraut to probiotic yogurt.

Cranberries

If you are a fan of cranberries, we have some good news. Cranberries, found in North America, are a fantastic antibiotic superfoods. These little berries can stop E.coli from invading the urinary tract. [18]

There are several ways to eat cranberries. You can either eat it in raw form or make a concentrated extract. It is also effective in the form of undiluted juice. The juice of cranberries is considered among the best natural topical antibiotics.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain. Bromelain aids digestion but it also has antimicrobial properties.

It also is packed with anti-inflammatory properties and is very good to treat mucus and sore throat. The juice can be used as a mouth wash for bacteria that infect the throat.

Pineapple also helps treat parasitic infections including intestinal tapeworm and toxoplasmosis. Regular ingestion of Pineapple fights off the infection and reduces pain associated with it.

Oregano

Oregano oil is loaded with minerals including iron, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese. Adding to that, the oil in oregano is rich in carvacrol and thymol.

Carvacrol is the compound that gives Oregano its slightly tangy and spicy taste. It also an excellent natural antibiotic.

Likewise, thymol also has antibacterial properties and the combination of both thymol and carvacrol work by inhibiting unwanted bacteria’s ability to break down healthy cell membranes (19). Bacteria are then prevented from spreading through the body.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate or seeded apple qualifies as a superfood. Originated in Middle and Far East, this fruit has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties.

It has more anti-oxidants than green tea, blueberries, cranberries, and oranges put together. Along with antioxidants, pomegranates are rich in vitamin C, K, B5, potassium, and calcium.

This nutritious fruit is packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic and anti-viral properties, and the red seeds are used for treating various ailments, like heart disease, cancer, and obesity.

The juice is particularly good at treating infections of the mouth and gums. What is more, the oil extracted from the peel kills staphylococcus microbes.

Asparagus

Asparagus is not only delicious but is also another food rich in natural antibiotics.

Asparagus is rich in the antioxidants ‘zeaxanthin’, ‘cryptoxanthin’; these antioxidants help to fight against free radicals and protects the body from viral infections and diseases.

Extract of the roots of Asparagus were shown to be highly effective against a range of bacteria including E coli, salmonella and shigella. (20)

Green Tea

Green tea is a popular drink across the globe. The health benefits of green tea have been studied for many years but recently the focus has been on the antibiotic properties of the tea. It turns out that green tea is a natural antibiotic and anti-viral superfood.

Compounds called ‘catechises’, found in the tea have shown promising antimicrobial effects against a variety of organisms

Green tea has been shown to fight heart disease and is particularly good for oral health and bacteria that are present in the mouth and throat. Also the tea has had positive effects against a variety of viruses, including HIV, and herpes. (21)

Blueberries

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that check the cellular damage caused by free radicals.

They are also loaded with manganese, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Blueberry are highly beneficial in the prevention of urinary tract infections.

Proanthocyanidins do not let bacteria stick to the walls of the urinary tract. Vitamin C inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Do’s

Always perform a patch test before applying anything to the skin
Consult a doctor about the safety of a natural food if you already suffer from a disease

Don’ts