115: Antibiotic resistance: should YOU worry?
You probably already know about “good bugs,” the beneficial bacteria living in your gut which can help you experience more energy, lose weight, and improve your digestion.
But on today’s episode of The Dr. Gundry Podcast, my guest and I are going to be chatting about BAD bacteria — the kind that can seriously damage your health.
They’re the reason scientists first developed antibiotics nearly 100 years ago.
But in recent years, we’ve learned more about so-called “superbugs,” dangerous bacteria that are actually resistant to conventional antibiotics. In fact, the World Health Organization says that antibiotic-resistant diseases could kill up to 10 million people every year by 2050.
To help us make sense of how antibiotic resistance works, I’m joined today by Dr. Muhammad Zaman.
Dr. Zaman is a professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University and an expert on cell biology. He’s also the author of a brand new book called Biography of Resistance: The Epic Battle Between People and Pathogens.
On today’s episode, Dr. Zaman and I will discuss whether you should worry about antibiotics in your tap water, the connection between the food we eat and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and what YOU can do to help in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your doctor might be accidentally giving “ammunition” to deadly bacteria (8:45)
- How far-off wars can make the problem of antibiotic resistance HERE worse (11:30)
- Why there will always be antibiotic resistance — and what you can do about it (16:00)
- Whether YOU should worry about antibiotics in your tap water (18:55)
- The antibiotic secret of a “lost tribe” living in the Amazon jungle (26:00)
- Why there may be “hidden gut treasure” hiding in your backyard (31:30)
- The Soviet drug that could be one of our BEST weapons against antibiotic resistance (and why the U.S. Navy wants to use it) (39:00)
- Why Big Pharma does NOT want to invest in new antibiotics (43:45)
- What YOU can tell your doctor to help fight against antibiotic resistance (49:00)
- Why probiotics are helpful — but NOT the best way to repopulate your gut after using antibiotics (54:05)
Mentioned on this episode:
Biography of Resistance: The Epic Battle Between People and Pathogens
Dr. Muhammad Zaman — Boston University, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
If you like this episode, you may also enjoy:
Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum talks candida, fungi, and bacteria
I talk ALL about poop (yes, poop) and what it says about YOUR gut health
My thoughts on a potential COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. David Sinclair explains why old age is actually a disease
Episode Transcript:
Watch on YouTube:
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Dr. Steven Gundry is a renowned heart surgeon and New York Times bestselling author of “The Plant Paradox” and “The Plant Paradox Cookbook.”
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