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17 Best Natural Remedies For E. coli

E. coli, we know that E. coli normally lives in our intestines but also it lives in the intestines of animals. Most varieties of this bacterium are harmless or they can cause relatively brief diarrhea. The E. coli O157: H7 which is a strain of the E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

The most common ways to get E. coli infection is by eating contaminated foods (like fresh produce, unpasteurized milk, and ground beef), drinking contaminated water and from personal contact. Adults who are healthy recover from E. coli in a period of one week. But older adults and young children can develop a life-threatening form of kidney failure known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome. People who have a weakened immune system have more chances to be affected by E. coli infection. In most cases, E. coli infections in the United States of America are happening from June through September.

If you are taking some medications to reduce your levels of stomach acid, then it can increase your risk of E. coli infection. The symptoms of E. coli infection show up in a period of ten days after being exposed to the bacteria and the symptoms of E. coli last up to ten days. The average person feels better in 6 – 8 days. You need to talk with your doctor if you have E. coli infection before you start using some of the below-mentioned home remedies. Here are some home remedies for E. coli:

e. coli prevention

Barberry treat E. Coli 

The scientific name of barberry is Berberis vulgaris. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries as a natural treatment for E. coli infection. There was one study in which was published that the berberine which is the active compound in this plant was added to the drug-resistant E. coli bacteria. This study has shown that the berberine can serve as a good antibacterial agent against multidrug-resistant E. coli [1]. Also, there were animal studies conducted with rats, mice, and rabbits in which were shown that berberine inhibited the growth of E. coli in the animal’s intestines.

Apple cider vinegar help in E. Coli 

This is a traditional home remedy for many different health problems and also E. Coli infections are no exception. It is known that apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties which can help in the treatment of E. coli infections. Some doctors are recommending adding 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup of warm water and drink this home remedy a few times per day.

Wash your hands

It is very important to wash your hands after preparing or eating food, changing diapers or using the toilet. Also, you should be sure that your children wash their hands before eating, after contact with animals or after using the bathroom.

Keep raw food separate

You should use separate cutting boards for foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and meat. You should never put the cooked hamburgers on the same plate which you are using for the raw patties.

Probiotic

We know that when someone has E. coli infection, then the bacteria balance in the gut is thrown off balance. Probiotics can help to ease the symptoms of E. coli and they can promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria which can help to stop the spread of E. coli and other unfriendly bacteria. One of the best probiotic choices for E. coli is acidophilus. We know that the probiotic is a friendly bacterium which is producing antimicrobial compounds in your gut and these compounds can stop or slow the growth of unfriendly bacteria, like E. coli, salmonella and even Candida yeast. [2]

Herbal tea help E. Coli 

There are some studies in which are said that some herbal teas are possessing powerful medicinal properties which can help in the treatment of E. coli symptoms. You can drink ginger root tea and peppermint tea because they can help to improve the digestion and they will calm an upset stomach. The chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory and calming properties which can help to soothe the abdominal cramps. The cardamom tea can help you in the treatment of flatulence and gas. The slippery elm tea can help to reduce stomach cramps. [3]

Keep it clean

You can easily be exposed to contaminated feces in public bathrooms, spaces, etc. This is a reason why you should wash your hands regularly. This is especially important if you have touched a high-risk surface or you have been in the high risk environment, such as raw meat and procedure; environments with animals, such as petting zoos and country fairs; dirty diapers and bathrooms. Also, the E. coli infection comes from ingesting it, so this is a reason why you should wash your hands before eating or touching any surface which goes near your mouth.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

You need to avoid these substances because they can worsen the symptoms of E. coli infection. Caffeine can increase dehydration which can worsen diarrhea. Alcohol is harmful to the lining of your stomach and also it can alter liver metabolism.

Wash utensils

You should use hot soapy water on cutting boards, countertops and knives before and after they come in contact with raw meat or fresh produce.

Add foods gradually

It is very important when you start feeling better to stick on low – fiber foods and not to eat everything. You should eat rice, eggs, toast, and crackers.

Natural recipe

The following recipe was recommended by many people as a natural treatment for E. coli. You should wash 25 grams of parsley root and then grind it in a grinder. You should do the same process with 25 grams of lemon with rind. You should mix them together and then add 2 dl of olive oil and 20 grams of honey. You should put this home remedy in a clean jar. You should take one tablespoon before breakfast and one before dinner until you have eaten the whole mixture.

Avoid foods that are aggravating the symptoms of E. coli infection

When you have some symptoms of E. coli infection, such as intense abdominal cramping, nausea or diarrhea, then the last thing you should do is to put more dietary stress on your body. If you suffer from E. coli infection, then you should avoid dairy products, heavy foods that are rich in fat and high fiber foods. It is known that these foods can make the symptoms of E. coli infection worse.

Drink plenty of fluids

It is known that the E. coli infection can increase your risk of becoming dehydrated. You should drink a lot of clear fluids to replenish your fluids. Also, it is very important to stay hydrated when you have an infection because it has additional benefits to your health. When you are drinking fluids, then it can help you to flush the bacteria and toxins out of your system and this will speed up the recovery and healing processes.

Ensure your gut health

You should take probiotics regularly, not just when you have E. coli infection because this friendly bacterium can reduce the risk of E. coli invasion. Also, you should limit antibiotic usage. You should eat more fiber foods. You should less fat, red meat and dairy products. [2]

Prepare food properly

You should keep raw separated from other foods until it is cooked. You should keep the food chilled in your fridge or freeze because this can help you to avoid bacteria growth. You should wash all the products well with running water. You should cook your meat well to kill the E. coli bacteria. You should pay special attention to the beef because this is the primary cause for most E. coli outbreaks. If you are cooking roasts and steaks, you should cook the meat until the internal temperature hits 145 degrees F or higher.

The ground beef has more chances to have E. coli bacteria than the steak so this is a reason why it should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F. But there are some cases when the E. coli can survive the high heat. You should reduce your meat consumption or even switch to a plant-based diet because in this way you can minimize the risk for E. coli infection.

Watch out for dirty water

When you are swimming lake, stream or swimming pool, then you should avoid getting water in your nose, ears, eyes, and mouth and you should avoid swallowing any water. The dirty freshwater can be contaminated with feces and this can increase your risk for E. coli infection. [4]

Drink pasteurized milk, juice and cider

These products are good for the treatment of E. coli infection. You should know that any boxed or bottled juice that is kept on room temperature is likely to be pasteurized even if the label does not say so. [5]

References:

[1] Bandyopadhyay S, Patra PH, Mahanti A, et al. Potential antibacterial activity of berberine against multi drug resistant enterovirulent Escherichia coli isolated from yaks (Poephagus grunniens) with haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2013;6(4):315-9.

[2] Sherman PM, Johnson-Henry KC, Yeung HP, et al. Probiotics reduce enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7- and enteropathogenic E. coli O127:H6-induced changes in polarized T84 epithelial cell monolayers by reducing bacterial adhesion and cytoskeletal rearrangements. American Society for Microbiology: Infection and Immunity. 2005.

[3] Noormandi A, Dabaghzadeh F. Effects of green tea on Escherichia coli as a uropathogen. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2015;5(1):15-20.

[4] Probert WS, Miller GM, Ledin KE. Contaminated stream water as source for Escherichia coli O157 illness in children. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2017;23(7):1216–8.

[5] Samet-Bali O, Roua L, Felfoul I, et al. Detection of Escherichia coli in unpasteurized raw milk. International Journal of Agricultural and Food Science. 2013;3(2):53-5.

Neem Mayur
Neem Mayur
Mayur Neem, a certified dietician having more than 5 years of experience in the field of diet practice. He is working as a diet expert and offering services to body builders, sports persons, celebrities, etc. He is lover of natural remedies and loves to spend most of his free time in his organic farm and offers expert advice on organic farming to local farmers. He is available through [email protected]

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