Don't jump to "Antibiotics " every time you catch COLD & COUGH.

Antibiotics are used to eliminate bacteria that make people sick. Antibiotics are not meant to be used to treat viral infections like the common cold or the flu, as these are caused by a different type of germ called a virus. When you take an antibiotic for a virus-related illness such as bronchitis or strep throat, it will not work, and it may depress your immune system, making your problem worse.

However, what one may not know is that gut health forms the core of our immunity.

Some good bacteria is needed to support your immune system.

You've probably heard that antibiotics can kill the bad bacteria in your body, but they also kill off some of the good bacteria in your gut that plays a critical role in your immune system. Your body needs this good bacteria to be able to fight off infections and other health problems.

“Gut health is important as our gut contains immune cells and healthy bacteria that kill infectious viruses, bacteria and fungi. A healthy gut also connects with the brain through hormones and nerves in order to maintain overall health and well-being,” explains Manisha Chopra, a nutritionist and fitness expert.

So, how exactly does good gut health assure immunity? “Our gut microbes produce compounds that tell immune cells to destroy harmful viruses in the brain and nervous system. There are trillions of microbes living in and on us, collectively known as the human microbiome, which activates the immune system to fight viruses and keep our immune system strong. So, it’s important to keep good bacteria in balance in our gut, so that we can fight infection.

To improve one’s gut health, experts recommend regular consumption of probiotics & prebiotic food .

However, prebiotics shouldn’t be confused with probiotics.

Prebiotics are a form of dietary fiber that feed the “friendly” bacteria in your gut.

Probiotics are" live bacteria" found in certain foods .

Here are the list of foods rich in Prebiotics

Apple

Banana

Garlic

Onions

Lentils

Beans

Barley

Flax seeds

Mushrooms

Spinach

Probiotics

Curd

Buttermilk

Homemade pickles

Dosa / idly

Fermented Dhokla

Kefir

Rice kanji

Carrot kanji

Kombucha

Cheese

Apart from food few lifestyle discipline for gut health are-

good night sleep

stress free environment

good hydrated body

Exercises / yoga / Meditation

Add healthy regional fats in diet like filtered groundnut oil, coconut oil, til oil, mustard oil etc.

Antibiotics are important for curing bacterial infections, but they can also weaken your immune system if used improperly or too often. Your doctor should prescribe them only when necessary, and sparingly, which will help protect against any future problems with antibiotic resistance. Try taking probiotics while on your course of antibiotics to help support your gut, and science-backed immune-boosting supplements to support your white blood (immune) cell activity.