Antibiotics are overused to the point that they’re becoming ineffective. Bacteria have evolved so that they aren’t killed off easily through pharmaceutical remedies. However, there are plenty of home remedies that still work.
Foods that you likely already have in your cupboards or fridge have antibacterial properties. They will help to kill the bacteria in your body. Bacteria can’t adapt against the antibacterial properties in natural foods since the foods will continually adapt too.
The best thing about vegetables is that they will offer other benefits. They’re full of antioxidants, antiviral properties, and anti-inflammatory properties. All these working together will help to boost your immune system, so bacteria can’t-do the damage they originally could.
Here’s a look at 12 vegetables that you need to start eating more often. Some of these are herbs and spices, but in their natural forms, they are classed as vegetables!
Stock Up on Onions
Let’s start with one of the most popular vegetables in the diet. Onions are packed with antibacterial properties thanks to the sulfur compounds within the vegetable. The vegetable is so good that it has a deep history of being used for medicinal purposes, dating right back to the Roman era.
It’s often been used to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. This helps the body’s immune system to work more effectively against viruses and bacteria, helping to overcome colds, the flu, and persistent coughs.
It’s also been used to fight against major diseases, internally and externally. It will get rid of free radicals within the body that have been known to lead to cancer. It can also fight against Staphylococci, which is a bacterial strain that’s now resistant to most antibacterial products.
Include Garlic in All Your Meals
Garlic and onions are part of the same family and offer many of the same benefits. Studies have shown that garlic is the best vegetable when it comes to fighting against the Staphylococci strain of bacteria. It also has antifungal properties, helping to fight against most yeast infections. Many yeast infections are caused by using antibiotics!
You can use garlic in your cooking or make garlic tea. The tea will be a taste that you need to get used to, but it’s worth it when you overcome some of the most common, minor ailments that there is no treatment for.
Studies have also shown that garlic will help fight against MRSA, a super-bacteria that’s common in hospitals of all places! This is all thanks to the Allicin compound that is naturally found in garlic. It will also fight against the bacteria in ear infections. You just need to create a mixture of garlic and olive oil for direct use. Make sure you talk to your doctor about this first, as placing liquids into your ears can be dangerous. Check out more info on best foods to eat while on antibiotics here
Drink More Ginger Tea
Ginger may be considered a spice, but it’s a vegetable in its raw form. You can use either raw or dried to get results, but raw is going to be far better for you. Ginger has proven to be successful against staph infections, and is better than using antibiotics on them!
You don’t just have to drink ginger tea. You can use it in your cooking and baking for antibacterial benefits.
Ginger is full of compounds known as gingerols. They’re the reason that ginger is so effective against bacterial compounds, and can also help to fight against pathogens found in the mouth. The compounds kill bacteria on a cellular level, helping to reduce the work that your immune system has to do. You’ll witness less inflammation and find that digestive complaints become a thing of the past.
Ginger has also been known to fight against upper respiratory infections. Most doctors won’t prescribe anything to get rid of these anymore since antibiotics are useless. You can also reduce acid reflux and reduce nausea, whether from illness, pregnancy, or nerves.
The best way to use ginger is in its raw form. Add a thumb of it to your green smoothies or to some hot water to create your ginger tea. If you’re going to use ground ginger, make sure it’s organic to get all the benefits.
Stock Up on Your Cabbage
Out of all the cruciferous vegetables, cabbage is the one that you want to stock up on the most. It’s known for its healing powers and has been used throughout the centuries in herbal remedies.
There are some reasons cabbage is used for antibacterial reasons. The first is the sulfur compounds. Like with onions and garlic, the sulfur will directly kill bacteria. Another reason is the vitamin C amount.
Our bodies can’t create vitamin C on its own, nor can it store it. It’s up to us to make sure we get enough. Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that helps to boost the immune system. It’s nature’s antibiotics. A cup of cabbage will give you 75% of your recommended daily amount! You can use that cup of cabbage in multiple ways to get all the benefits.
Cabbage juice is the most effective. It’s been used for treating ulcers and other digestive problems. Create your cabbage juice and drink it between your meals for two weeks. You can also add some honey and lemon for extra vitamin C. Stomach ulcers are attributed to H. Pylori bacteria. The juice will also help to prevent bladder infections and other similar complaints.
If you have bacterial issues on the skin, apply the cabbage leaves directly. This will help to soothe inflammation and burning, while thefight against the infection directly.
Fermenting cabbage will help to bring out more of the antibacterial properties, making it even better for you! It’s time to dish up the sauerkraut.
Enjoy More Carrots
Carrots do more than help you see in the dark. They will help fight off a range of bacterial issues. It’s one of the best and cheapest vegetables to add to your diet. You can enjoy carrots raw, cooked in your meals, or even juiced. Just make sure you get carrots in your diet on a daily basis.
The antibacterial properties will help to fight against most diseases within the eye. They can help prevent problems like cataracts and macular degeneration disease. However, they also help to relieve food poisoning and digestive issues.
Unlike most other foods, cooked carrots are better for you. Carrots are full of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that offers some of the healing benefits. The beta-carotene is released in full after cooking, making them far more beneficial for your health.
Like all other orange colored vegetables and fruits, they’re also full of vitamin C. You’ll have more protection against all types of illnesses, as your immune system gets extra support. Carrot juice is a good way to gain more vitamin C, and it’s healthier than orange juice since there aren’t as many natural sugars in carrots.
Add More Broccoli to Your Diet
While cabbage is the best cruciferous vegetable, you want to add some of the others to your diet. Broccoli is the next one that you should look towards. Not only will you get the antibacterial benefits, but many other nutrients straight into your diet. Broccoli is full of calcium and iron, offering more bone and energy support.
The antibacterial benefits come from the vitamin C, which will help to enhance your immune system. The benefits aren’t just for inside your body. You’ll also find that wounds heal much easier and quicker. Your body will also be more resistant to infections and diseases. Your immune system can kill off the bacteria before it even takes hold!
Studies have shown that vitamin C can also help to heal snack bites! Just a little fun fact, even if you live nowhere near snakes.
Get More Spinach in Your Diet
It’s not just the cruciferous vegetables that are good for you. The dark leafy greens are excellent options for your diet and are very easy to add in. While many people will think about the iron, calcium, and magnesium benefits of spinach, there is also the vitamin C benefit. This means there’s an antibacterial benefit.
Spinach helps with repairing wounds and improves development and growth. The vitamin C will help to support the immune system, killing bacteria before they get a chance to infect the body. There are studies that show foods high in vitamin C can help to fight against bacterial and viral infections.
You can eat spinach raw in salads and sandwiches. Just replace your lettuce with the leaves. It is also possible to cook it, or you can add it to the blender and use it as a base for your smoothies. Add a few berries to help balance out the bitterness of the spinach.
If you want to treat wounds directly, you can use the spinach leaves directly onto the skin. It’s also an ingredient that can be blended and used directly in your skin care.
Opt for Kale Instead
Kale is the next step up from spinach. It’s stronger in all the same benefits, but it’s all much bitterer. This is one of the biggest reasons people will opt for spinach instead.
Like with all the other vitamin C foods, kale has been proven to help fight against bacterial infections. It’s effective on the skin and within the gut. You can also help to reduce inflammation, which will also help the immune system work better than before. The reduced inflammation can also help your mental health, which in turn helps your physical health.
Opt for a kale smoothie to start your day with all the antibacterial benefits. You’ll give your immune system the boost when it most needs it, meaning you’ll find it easier to keep all infections at bay.
Don’t Forget About the Tomatoes
Okay, so tomatoes are one of those ingredients that are debated on: is it a fruit or vegetable? For this, it will be a vegetable. There are just too many antibacterial benefits to ignore it from the list because of a technicality.
Tomatoes are known for their vitamin C amounts, but that’s not the only reason they’re good for killing bacteria. They’re also acidic, helping to kill off bacteria before they cause a problem directly. The acid isn’t as strong as lemon, meaning tomatoes are perfect for sensitive skin. There are still some issues with stepping out into the sun unprotected, though.
You can eat tomatoes raw, cooked, or juice them. Make juice with a range of other antibacterial vegetables for a more powerful effect. Tomatoes are one of the cheapest vegetables out there, especially when they’re in season. If you can’t get fresh tomatoes, tinned options are good for you.
Stock Up on the Thyme
While it may be another herb, it’s technically a vegetable. You can add it to your diet in a variety of ways, including dried and through oil. Thyme essential oil is an excellent option when you want to disinfect wounds naturally. It’s still used in herbal medicine around the world.
Thyme is most effective against the bacteria that cause acne. There are studies that even show it’s highly effective. Cue the cheering of teenagers around the world! Thyme is better than benzoyl peroxide for fighting against acne-causing bacteria and doesn’t have the same side effects and the unnatural treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is known for skin irritation and burning.
You can use dried thyme in your cooking. However, there are no studies that support its effectiveness against other types of bacteria.
Switch Vegetable Oil for Oregano Oil
Oregano is another herb that’s technically a vegetable. However, you want to get the oil version of this ingredient, as it’s the most effective way to get all the benefits.
Oregano oil will kill all types of bacteria but is most effective when it comes to staph infections and MRSA. The oil also has antioxidant, antiviral, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory benefits. When everything works together, your immune system can fight off all types of infections that will affect your health.
Apply the oil directly to wounds to help prevent sepsis kicking in. You can use it in your diet to help prevent inflammation within the digestive system and reduce inflammation around your body. It’s also worth using the oil on your athlete’s foot to get rid of the fungal infection. You can also gargle, or oil pulls to help soothe and treat sore throats.
The benefit in oregano is the thymol, which is a phenol that destroys all types of microbes. Studies have found that the oil is more effective than 18 different types of antibiotics for killing MRSA! Farmers are even using it to treat animals’ bacterial infections, helping to reduce the use of antibiotics in meat.
Finish Off with Coconut Oil
You don’t need to use oregano oil on a daily basis (it is one of the most expensive types of oils). You can look for cheaper options, and the one you want is coconut oil. Coconut is a debated ingredient like tomatoes, but we’ll include it on the vegetable list for this.
Coconut fat contains a large amount of lauric acid, which turns into monoglyceride within the body. This is where most of the antibacterial properties come from. The monoglyceride is also found in breast milk, so the benefits transfer into your baby if you’re breastfeeding. The lauric acid will also offer antifungal and antiviral properties.
Studies have shown that coconut oil will kill the Staphylococcus Aureus strain of bacteria, which is one of the most dangerous types. It will also kill Candida Albicans strains of fungus, which is the most common reason for people to develop yeast infections.
You can use coconut oil in your diet and directly on your skin. It’s highly beneficial for removing fungal infections and repairing wounds. You can also melt it and use it in oil pulling. It’s been known for removing bacteria from the mouth to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. There are also some weight loss benefits!
Raw, untreated coconut oil is the best type to use in your diet. Others can breakdown some of the antibacterial properties or treatments will cause the properties to be removed.
Add the Right Vegetables to Your Diet
When you’re looking for vegetables to stock up on this week, look out for the above 12. They are the best for fighting against bacterial infections naturally and effectively. Many of them are far better than the antibiotics that you’ll be prescribed by the doctor.
Not only can you treat infections from antibacterial-resistant bacteria, but you can also prevent infections from taking place. The nutrients within the vegetables will support your immune system to help kill infections before they have a chance to take a hold.
Use the vegetables in the ways mentioned above. Some are better raw, as they keep hold of all their nutrients. Others will be better cooked or juice to help release the nutrients from the vegetables. They become easier to absorb by the body.
