Microbes are pathogenic organisms that tend to make us sick. Your body works all day every day fighting off these microbes in order to keep you healthy. That is why you have an immune system! Sometimes however the immune system needs a little help. We have developed ways of fighting microbes through antibacterial drugs, rubs, soaps and washes but did you know that nature created some antimicrobial agents as well? Here are some foods you can use to help defend your body against microbes:
1. Garlic – Garlic is one of the most
powerful anti-microbial foods you can eat. It contains several
components that will fight against yeast, fungus, worms and even candida
overgrowth.
2. Coconut Oil – Coconut oil contains a medium chain fatty acid called lauric acid that lends coconut its antibacterial properties.
3. Ginger – The compound in ginger known as gingerol has been shown to help fight infections, specifically those in the mouth.
4. Fermented Foods – Fermented foods carry all of the benefits of their raw components, as well as the proactive antimicrobial component of probiotics. These good bacteria are a large part of your bodies defence arsenal.
5. Lemons – Lemons contain two compounds called coumarin and tetrazine, both of which can help fight against several pathogens. Lemons have protective effects both inside and outside the body.
6. Horseradish – Horseradish was known as
an antibacterial food all the way back in the 1950s. It has been used to
help treat urinary tract infections and lung infections and in Germany
is known as one of the best anti-microbial foods you can consume.
7. Pineapple – Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain,
which is helpful for digestion but is also anti-microbial. It has been
used as a mouth wash to kill invading cells in the mouth and throat.
8. Turmeric - Turmeric has some of the
most reliable scientific backing when it comes to its anti-microbial
power. It has studies to prove its effectiveness against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The compound that lends the bright orange colour to turmeric is the same compound that gives it its anti-microbial power.
9. Honey - Honey was actually one of the
first anti-microbial medicines the be used long before pharmaceuticals
were around. Honey contains an enzyme that releases hydrogen peroxide,
which effectively kills off certain kinds of bacteria. Make sure that
your honey is raw and unprocessed. Pasteurized honey will not have the
same effect.
10. Cabbage - A member of the Brassica
family of veggies, cabbage has been used as a treatment for a plethora
of ailments. It has cancer fighting properties, as well as a high
vitamin C content which we all know boosts our immune systems and helps
us to fight off foreign invaders. Cabbage juice is also an effective
remedy for stomach ulcers.
So next time you feel yourself getting sick, try adding
some of these foods to your diet for a few days and see how it goes!
What are some of your favorite antibacterial foods to add to the list?
