Diarrhea is never fun and can truly be a pain in the you know where!
However, recent studies show that you can help prevent infectious diarrhea by following a several guidelines. Coming into close contact with the infectious agent by utilizing proper hygiene is essential and so is use of a good probiotic and a healthy diet, because you truly are what you eat.
A systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration found that prophylactic supplementation with probiotics reduces the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea by 64% compared to no treatment or a placebo.
It all boils down to flora which is the bacterial content of your digestive tract. Good bacteria helps your digestive tract break down foods and prevent infection.
Unfortunately, we live in a proverbial antibiotic soup. Consider our use of antibacterial hand soap, and antibiotics used in meats and fish, as well as the unnecessary use of antibiotic medication for non-life threatening infections or even viral infections. All of that exposure kills the good bacteria in your gut, as well as the bad stuff, throwing off the microbial balance of the stomach and leading to poor health.
So, what can you do?
First, throw away the antibacterial soaps at home. They don’t reduce infections any more than regular soap and water. They can also lead to antibiotic-resistant strains that are more difficult to treat. Even the FDA is against them!
Second, take a probiotic supplement. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that are good for you. Even if you ignored the benefits of a well-functioning digestive and immune system, a $35 month supply of probiotics is well worth it considering that the estimated cost of treating C. difficile infections range from $2,871 to $4,846 per case!
If you do get diarrhea, it’s not the end of the world. It’s usually just your body’s way of cleaning itself out so you can heal. Remember to stay hydrated (Coconut water is recommended), get plenty of rest, get adjusted, and don’t venture too far from the bathroom!