Do you think that taking antibiotics will help improve your immune system? If so, you are not alone. Many people believe that antibiotics work to boost the immune system. However, this is a myth. In fact, overusing antibiotics can actually have the opposite effect and make it harder for your immune system to fight off infection.
So what exactly is an antibiotic? Antibiotics are medications that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the bacteria or preventing them from multiplying through stopping several important processes in the bacteria.
However, antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, not viruses. So, if you have a viral infection, taking antibiotics will not help you get better. In fact, taking antibiotics when you don't need them can do more harm than good. When you take antibiotics too often, your body can build up a resistance to the medication. This means that the next time you really need antibiotics, they may not work as well.
What's even scarier is that it can lead to the development of super bacterias. Super bacteria are bacteria that cannot be killed by antibiotics. When super bacteria infect people, they are very difficult to treat and much more deadly. They form when bacteria mutate and develop a resistance to the antibiotic.
These super bacteria are then able to pass on their antibiotic-resistant properties to other bacteria, making them harder to treat. Unfortunately, this mainly happens when people abuse or misuse antibiotics anytime they feel under the weather--especially if they don't finish the full cycle of the antibiotic. The reason this happens is because when you don't finish the full cycle, there are still some bacteria left in your body that can learn from the experience and mutate to become resistant to antibiotics.
So what can you do to make sure you're not abusing or misusing antibiotics?
First, only take antibiotics when they are prescribed to you by a doctor.
Second, make sure you finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better. This will help make sure that all the bacteria are killed and reduce the chances of developing antibiotic resistance.
Finally, make sure that they are for a bacterial infection and not a viral infection.
If you have a fever, it is more likely that you have a viral infection. Antibiotics will not help reduce a fever caused by a virus. However, if you also have other symptoms such as coughing up green mucus or pus, you may have a bacterial infection and antibiotics may be necessary.
Do you have any questions or concerns about antibiotics? Leave a comment below and let us know. We are always happy to help!
P.S. Want to learn about helping your little one's immune system?
BetaKIDS
While diet, sleep, and physical activity levels play a significant role in kids remaining healthy, with school restarting soon and the likelihood there will be bugs lurking, it is the perfect time to prepare their immune system.
BetaKIDS gummies contain beta-glucan, vitamin D3, and selenium, all of which play a significant role in the immune response and should be a welcome addition to every parent's arsenal.
What is Beta Glucan?
While beta-glucan has been a key part of eastern medicine for some time, its use in the western world has been limited until recently. This is due in part to its previous high cost. However, having become more affordable recently, it is building some momentum in the consumer popularity stakes.
Beta-glucan is what is known as an immunomodulator. The role of an immunomodulator is to support immune system function. This is done by making changes to the immune system, so it works at maximum efficiency.
How Does Beta Glucan Work?
Beta-glucan is not produced naturally by the body, so to experience its benefits, it must be taken as a supplement. In the context of the immune system, beta-glucan has been shown to stimulate macrophages that contribute to the first line of defense by attacking, ingesting, and demolishing the invading pathogens. Macrophages also stimulate other cells to attack and release cytokines, enabling the different cells mounting the immune response to communicate with each other--also furthering the general immune health.
The average person at any one time has about 30% of their available immune response active. Beta-glucan has been shown to increase this to 60%, which means a faster and more effective response can be mounted immediately when a threat is detected.
The positive impact that beta-glucan can have on a child's immune system has been borne out by the research. The Journal of Academy of Pediatrics showed that children who were taking beta-glucan found to be absent from daycare fewer days due to illness when compared to those who were not taking it.
Research has also shown that beta-glucan provides increased resistance against pathogens that have in recent years begun to become resistant to conventional treatments. One example of this is E. Coli which is known to be easily spread among children and can result in severe diarrhea. Beta glucan has also been shown to be effective in minimizing the effects of Staph. Aureus, a common childhood infection, when used in unison with antibiotics.
Safety of Beta Glucan
Research has been undertaken to consider the safety of beta-glucan for children. To date, none of these studies have discovered it to cause any adverse effects.
This is evidenced by Beta Kids having received a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rating from the FDA in accordance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The process that a product goes through to achieve this rating is rigorous and examines all safety aspects.
Beta Kids combines beta-glucan, selenium, and vitamin D3, all of which have a positive effect on the immune systems of children.
Selenium
Selenium is antioxidant. This means it reduces the oxidative stress on the body and, in doing so, decreases the level of inflammation which has the flow-on effect of enhancing your immune function. Recent research has also suggested that selenium has an antiviral effect on the body, which enhances the response of the immune system to viral pathogens.
Vitamin D3
There is increasing evidence confirming the role that vitamin D3 plays in facilitating the immune response and general immune support. Although the relationship between vitamin D3 and sunshine is well established, recent research has shown that maintaining a healthy vitamin D3 level can help further activate certain enzymes of a white blood cell leading to increased effectiveness against viral infections, such as a sore throat. Although further research is needed in the area, the research to date is clear regarding the advantages of avoiding vitamin D3 deficiencies.
Synergistic Effect
Research has clearly shown that each of the three key ingredients of Beta Kids, beta-glucan, selenium, and vitamin D3, has a positive effect on the immune system through synergistic immune support.
However, there has also been significant research into the synergistic effect when the three ingredients are taken in unison, with several studies completed at various universities and teaching hospitals. The evidence supports the proposition that when taken in unison, beta-glucan, selenium, and vitamin D3 enhance the other ingredients' positive qualities, creating a synergistic effect that further boosts the immune response of children.
Safety of Beta Kids
Beta Kids is safe for children of all ages. However, to gain the maximum benefit of the product, it is recommended that children begin taking the supplement, which comes in a daily gummy from age two on.
Many parents feel powerless when their children gets sick because they don't know how to support their children's immune system.
Beta KIDS gives you the most effective natural supplement available for supercharging your child’s immune system so you can have fewer sick days and less disruption to your family’s routine.