10 Ways to Protect You + Your Loved Ones from an E.Coli Infection

You’ve probably heard about the recent romaine lettuce recall that effected the US.  The CDC narrowed down that the outbreak of E. coli infections are from romaine lettuce grown in the northern and central regions of California.  They’re advising people not to eat any romaine lettuce from those Central Coastal regions.  If you don’t know where the romaine lettuce was harvested, or if it’s not labeled with a growing region, don’t eat it. 

“EcoPhage”

Want powerful protection against bad bacteria, like E. coli? Pioneered in Europe before the advent of antibiotics, bacteriophages, like Body Ecology’s EcoPhage, selectively target specific, harmful bacteria while leaving beneficial microbes to flourish!

Symptoms of an E. coli infection vary, generally occurring within 3-4 days of consuming the bacteria, and are similar to food poisoning where people vomit, have diarrhea, stomach cramps and/or a slight fever. A diagnosis is confirmed by a stool sample test, so if you notice symptoms persisting, please contact your doctor. 

Please also note that according to the CDC, antibiotics are not recommended for people who contract an E. coli infection.

Leafy greens should be a part of any healthy diet, although many people tend to shy away from them since they have caused thousands of cases of reported illness’ since 1990.  Greens are easily contaminated through dirty water, unwashed hands, or even manure, so make sure to wash all produce thoroughly and minimize any risk of cross-contamination by keeping raw foods separate when using cutting boards.

Unfortunately, most “pre-washed” salads are washed with chlorine, which still leaves quite a bit of bacteria on the leaves. And some may not contain chlorine, yet are still made with organic peroxide and lactic acid.

While re-washing your greens at home is wise, even if you do this, you cannot always be sure that they are free of pathogens.  Yet, there is something more that you can do to protect you and your loved ones against bad bacteria!

Ways to Protect Your Inner EcoSystem from Bacterial Overgrowth

Nature has provided us with a way to live safely in the world if we have a hardy inner ecosystem of beneficial microflora and yeast there to protect us.  Let’s look at some ways to not only prevent bacterial overgrowth from occurring, but ways to create a healthy inner ecosystem.

1. Learn about the dangers of processed foods and the dangers of sugar

Processed foods and sugar adversely affect you physically and emotionally. If you want to feel your best (and look your best too!), making changes to a whole food, probiotic-rich, sugar-free, gluten-free Body Ecology diet helps support and create a thriving inner ecosystem. For example, a 2013 study published in Gut found that a typical western diet shifted the bacteria in the inner ecosystem of the gut, leading to leaky gut and greater numbers of E. coli.1

And an easy way to start replacing sugar and other too-sweet sweeteners is with Lakanto, an all natural, zero-calorie, zero glycemic index sweetener that tastes and bakes just like sugar.

2.  Strengthen your gut balance and immunity with probiotics

When we were born, our inner ecosystems should have been established inside our digestive tracts to ensure that we could live in a world totally covered with both good and bad microbes. The modern American diet can destroy this.  You CAN rebuild it with fermented foods and drinks.

Since ancient times, fermented foods and beverages have provided healing benefits in almost every culture.  Because we have never been taught about fermentation, there is some major confusion about fermented foods and drinks, meaning that the majority of Americans are missing out on their amazing healing benefits!

Fermented foods and drinks are your best source of probiotics because food sources of probiotics make it past your stomach acid and into your intestines where they can go to work making you healthy and strong.  They can bring back the good bacteria in your gut to promote healthy digestion, supply your body with vital nutrients, boost energy, increase your immunity, and help you to look your best both inside and out.

3.  Fermented foods and drinks

While naturally sour fermented foods and drinks can be an acquired taste, many people find them very tasty. A great way to introduce yourself to fermented foods and drinks is to try something like our Cocobiotic that can withstand harsh stomach acids to maximize colonization in the gut. It tastes great right from the bottle, even kids will love this delicious, healthy probiotic liquid.

4.  Attack bacterial overgrowth with phages

When you eat out, you are constantly exposed to pathogens – same goes for certain foods we eat at home.  Bacteriophages, like our EcoPhage, selectively target harmful bacteria (like E. coli), and completely wipe them out (this was pioneered in Europe before the advent of antibiotics) 2,3,4, leaving beneficial microbes to flourish, supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria and protecting against future infection.

Laboratory studies even show that when probiotics and phages are used in combination, beneficial bacteria grow to thousands of times their baseline rate. 5, 6

5.  Get in your 9 essential amino acids

Basically, amino acids are the critical foundation for the growth and maintenance to the tens of thousands of proteins within the human genome that are critical to maintaining a healthy body and mind.  And they can only be obtained by what you consume. Once again, as part of the standard American diet comes a huge focus on animal protein.  And while animal protein is important in small quantities, your body digests fermented protein best.  This is why we created one of the best probiotic protein shakes that consists of fermented pea and rice protein (a complete amino acid profile) with no soy or dairy, helping to foster a healthy gut and enhanced digestion.

6.  Eat healthy fats

Yes, fats are healthy and they keep you satisfied and slim! But be sure to learn which fats are the best, and which to avoid!

7.  Choose organic foods

Whenever possible, choose pesticide-free organic foods.

8.  Educate yourself on the REAL reasons for mineral deficiencies

The food you eat plays a bigger role than you may think in the health epidemics we face as a nation. Find out why the Body Ecology system of health and healing is ideal to give the body what it needs to establish a thriving inner ecosystem.

9.  Take time to detoxify

If you have been eating sugar and processed foods (and who hasn’t?), you can do a world of good by detoxifying your body. Learn about toxins from food and how you can detoxify to look and feel your best.

10.  Go step-by-step

Take your time incorporating new practices into your life. Good health is a journey and taking small steps adds up to feeling your best over time.

References

  1. Martinez-Medina, M., Denizot, J., Dreux, N., Robin, F., Billard, E., Bonnet, R., … & Barnich, N. (2013). Western diet induces dysbiosis with increased E coli in CEABAC10 mice, alters host barrier function favouring AIEC colonisation. Gut.
  2. Nale, Dr Janet, Chutia, Mahananda, Carr, Philippa, Timothy Hickenbotham, Peter, Clokie, Martha. 8/22/2016. ‘Get in Early’; Biofilm and Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) Models Reveal New Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Clostridium difficile Bacteriophages. Frontiers in Microbiology. VL – 7, DO – 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01383. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01383/full
  3. Abedon ST, Kuhl SJ, Blasdel BG, et al. Phage treatment of human infections. Bacteriophage. 2011;1(2):66-85.
  4. Bruynoghe R, and J. Maisin. Essais de thérapeutique au moyen du bacteriophage. C. R. Soc. Biol. .1921;85:1120-1.
  5. Pelfrene E, Willebrand E, Cavaleiro Sanches A, et al. Bacteriophage therapy: a regulatory perspective. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2016;71(8):2071-4.
  6. Supplier Internal Study. A Probiotic-Enhancing Prebiotic. Data on File. 2016.
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