We live in a society where people are becoming extraordinarily wealthy by killing germs. There are antibiotics which kill all sorts of bacteria in the stomach. Or there are wipes which promise to kill 99.9% of germs. There are even commercials that show the average mom spraying down doorknobs after a sick, sniffly, child who just wiped their nose on their sleeve, grabs the door and runs inside.
So we’re left with two questions- is that .01% of bacteria growing into a superbug? And how did people avoid getting sick or treat sickness before antibiotics, disinfecting wipes, and aerosol sprays came into the picture?
Simple.
Mother Nature already had a solution. And it turns out most of these would have been in your grandma’s pantry.
Onion extract- Turns out a study in 1995 put onion extract up against Chrysosporium queenslandicum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Onion came out swinging at 500 ppm (parts per million) and completely wiped the floor against the two bacteria, completely eradicating them.
Habaneros (and two other types of pepper) actually went head to head with four types of bacteria, including salmonella. Research showed the capsaicin element of the pepper was an inhibitor to the growth of the bacteria.
Apple Cider Vinegar (not the cheap stuff, but the raw version) contains malic acid, which is anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-viral! A teaspoon a day is also great for promoting healthy digestion in the stomach. The stomach, besides the skin, is the primary defender against illness.
Raw Honey is more expensive than processed honey (and in fact, some processed honeys are even proven to be fake) but it is worth the extra cost. Not only does it taste delicious, but it has bits of pollen still in it which allows the body to develop defenses against allergies. And a study performed in 2011 put honey against E. Coli, P. aeruginosa and Salmonella. The study showed honey has antibacterial properties (bacteriostatic-which inhibits growth and bactericidal- killing bacteria) similar to antibiotics! Those bees are amazing!
Multiple studies have shown garlic extract to have antimicrobial properties. It has been tested against Staph, Strep, Salmonella, E. Coli, and Candida. Scientists uncovered bacteriostatic properties for garlic as well.
There are also two roots, turmeric and ginger, which have research backing up their antibacterial properties. These both have links to anti-inflammatory properties as well, so taking them does double duty for health.
This is just a small sampling of foods which cure disease by fighting bacteria. So next time you’re feeling sick, reach for a ginger kombucha (a natural elixir which has live probiotics which help populate the gut in the fight to have a healthy stomach).
