Terry Talks Nutrition: Infectious microbes
Meet the Microbes Microbes = very tiny living things that can only be seen under a microscope 4 types of disease-causing microbes Bacteria Viruses Yeast (fungi) Parasites
What is the difference between Bacteria and Viruses? Bacteria Are mostly harmless, some are helpful less than 1% of bacteria cause diseases in human Do not require a living host to survive and reproduce Virus Almost allare harmful to humans Cannot survive without a host they steal genetic material from a cell in order to reproduce This either destroys the cell or turns it into a cancerous cell Usually target specific cells in the body liver or blood, for example
Some common bacterial infections Strep throat Caused by group A streptococci Peptic ulcer Caused by H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) Food poisoning Commonly caused by Salmonella or E. Coli Can be many other bacterial or viral causes of food poisoning 5,000 people die of food poisoning every year Also: urinary tract infections, ear infections, sinus infection, kidney infection and on and on Most commonly contaminated foods: leafy greens, eggs, and tuna Eggs are contaminated IN THE SHELL because the hen eats contaminated food, bacteria are transmitted to the egg before it is even laid
What kills bacteria? Antiobiotics! 1929: Alexander Fleming discovers the first antibiotic: penicillin Antibiotics have saved the lives of many, many people BUT: Many scientists think that antibiotics now are overused and causing unintended problems 2011: research study reports that pediatricians write10 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions every year
Have you heard of the Super Bug -MRSA? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus This bacteria can t be killed by the antibiotics ordinarily used to treat the infections it causes it is antibiotic resistant MRSA is usually harmless when on your skin If enters your bloodstream through a cut or wound can cause serious infections and - problems
Antibiotic Resistance Did You Know? 80% of antibiotics in the US are given ROUTINELY to HEALTHY FARM ANIMALS to help them grow larger 1999: E. coli drug resistance is 3% 2010: E. coli drug resistance is 21% 2 million people a year get a bacterial infection in the hospital, while being treated for a different problem 70% of those infections will be resistant to at least one of the commonly prescribed antibiotics Next choice antibiotics are more expensive, less effective, and more toxic
What leads to Antibiotic Resistance? Doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a viral illness Antibiotic won t kill a virus! Patients expect to walk out with a prescription for SOMETHING Many times an antibiotic is prescribed correctly, but patient doesn t take it correctly If you have an antibiotic take all the pills, even if you feel better don t save them for later or give them to someone else The more times the bacteria encounters the drug, the more likely a few will survive and create more resistant bacteria
Viral Infections Common cold Influenza Warts HIV/AIDS Chicken pox/herpes (shingles) Since viruses live inside the cells they are protected from drugs and are harder to eliminate
Parasitic Infections Examples: Giardia and Cryptosporidium (also called crytpo ) Transmitted in soil, food or water Most infections associated with swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, or other water that is contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals Both have diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting as primary symptoms
Fungal/Yeast Infections Most common yeast infection candida Candida is always present on the body but when conditions are right can become so plentiful an infection develops Vaginal yeast infections Often a side effect of antibiotic use Diaper rash Thrush Athlete s foot Fungal (yeast) cells and human body cells are similar at the molecular level Difficult to find drugs that kill yeast cells without killing human cells Many antifungal drugs have serious side effects such as liver damage
One natural ingredient kills all 4 types of microbes Essential plant oils Powerful and concentrated up to 100 times more concentrated than standard powdered herbal extracts Many plant oils have activity against all four microbes Antibacterial Antiviral Anti-parasite Anti-fungal Minimal or no side effects and NO drug resistance
Clinical Research Citrus essential oil found to kill the most dangerous strain of E. coli when applied to raw foods Oregano oil has been shown to kill several harmful microbes, including E. coli, salmonella, and listeria Thyme oil was shown to inhibit bacteria cultured from hospital patients with drugresistant infections (including Staph infections) Much, much more
Uses for bio-typed essential oils Almost any type of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection Shingles and herpes outbreaks Warts and foot fungus (apply topically) Sinusitis and respiratory infections Yeast overgrowth and thrush Common cold
What you should know before purchasing essential oils for internal use Not every oil is safe to use internally Many oils are intended for topical use only Make sure the oil has been tested to determine what kind of plant compounds it contains, and that it is safe for internal use Plants oils are POWERFUL A little goes a long way Follow label directions
Other natural antimicrobial nutrients Vitamin A as retinylacetate Elderberry Garlic Calcium lactate Pelargonium and andrographis Curcumin