Can antibiotic use affect your gut health?

• Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance through multiple mechanisms including intrinsic resistance, genetic mutations, and DNA transfer between bacteria, with resistant strains persisting in the gut for approximately one year.

• Even brief antibiotic use permanently alters gut microbiome diversity, with resistant bacteria multiplying and beneficial strains being eliminated, creating long-term gut dysbiosis.

• A country's overall antibiotic consumption directly impacts an individual’s gut health. High antibiotic-use nations carry more antibiotic resistance genes even without taking antibiotics themselves.

• Keystone strains are affected by antibiotics, and overall gut diversity is reduced as well.

• Protecting gut health involves avoiding antibiotics, consuming probiotic-rich foods daily, reducing linoleic acid (LA) intake, supporting keystone bacteria, and considering natural antimicrobial alternatives.