As summer and warmer weather draws near, staying well hydrated is crucial for your overall health and a strong immune system. Getting enough water each day is especially important if you have an active infection, or you have diarrhea from using antibiotics. Dehydration from antibiotics is also a very common problem.

It’s easy to forget to drink enough water throughout the day, especially if you’re active and on the go. And most common beverages could be doing your immune system more harm than good.

While a cold soda, sports drink or fruit juice can be a tempting refreshment on a hot day, water is a much better option for hydration and to support your immune system. Water is free from the immune-weakening sugar, unneeded calories and artificial ingredients found in most popular beverages.

A bit about beverage quality and quantity

It’s important to understand that water means water. Yes, there’s water in soda, coffee, tea, and many other drinks, but these are not meant to keep you hydrated. You can enjoy a cup of coffee or a soda, but make the following distinction in your mind: Most beverages are simply a treat, not a substitute for hydration throughout the day with water.

As a good rule of thumb, always drink water if you’re thirsty, and you probably need more water than you think. Most adults should drink a minimum of 2 quarts per day for adequate hydration. If you are exercising or if it’s hot out, then you’ll probably need 3 or 4 quarts per day. For heavy exertion at high altitude or in extreme heat and low humidity, up to 6 quarts of water may be needed.

Most municipal water supplies have chlorine, fluoride and some have odor causing compounds. Chlorine in your water kills both good and bad bacteria in your digestive system. Filtering and purifying your water can make a HUGE improvement in the taste and remove toxins from the water. Removing chlorine from tap water and taking probiotics is a great way to help boost your immune system. As an alternative to installing your own water filter, some natural food stores sell high-purity bulk filtered water at an affordable price.

How to spruce up your water

Water should make up the majority of your daily hydration, with other beverages in moderation. While drinking water is the healthiest way to stay hydrated, water by itself can get a little boring over time. Fortunately, you can jazz up your water with a few simple (and healthy) tips:

• Infuse your water with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Freshly minced lavender, mint or basil are excellent herbs to spice up your water. Adding thinly sliced fresh lemon, cucumber or melon adds a crisp, refreshing taste. For a light, natural sweetness, try adding some sliced pineapple, strawberry or to a pitcher of water and refrigerate overnight. Just add the herbs and/or sliced fruits and veggies to a pitcher of purified water and refrigerate overnight to allow plenty of time for the flavors to infuse into the water. Try different combinations and see which you like most.
• You can also add store-bought organic unsweetened cranberry juice or green tea to spruce up your water. These ingredients can also alkalize your water and help raise your pH. A cup or so of unsweetened juice per gallon of water is a good place to start (or per the label). You can also infuse the mixture with herbs or other ingredients if you like.

To your best health,

Michelle

Author of MRSA Secrets Revealed, the industry-standard natural Staph MRSA treatment program program.

This week I heard another amazing report about green smoothies and healing from chronic disease. While I often hear testimonials about the benefits of green shakes with Staph and MRSA infections, this latest report came from my mother. Her story is about an autoimmune disease she has struggled with for years that had been getting worse (see below for her own testimonial).

For many years my mother has suffered from scleroderma, a progressive disease similar to arthritis. The hardened joints in her hands have been painful and it makes her unable to hold or grab things well. It’s also made it more difficult for her to paint or make pottery, which she loves, and none of her medications seemed to help her much. She did enjoy some joint relief by taking certain supplements for her immune system, especially omega-3 oils. But recently she added green smoothies to her diet and experienced the biggest improvement yet.

Just a few weeks after starting the green smoothies, my mom’s symptoms started to improve. Eating one green shake every day or two, she now has more joint movement than she has had in years. Better yet, by drinking green smoothies, she’s wanting to eat even more healthier foods as well as reducing her sugar intake. She’s noticed another big shift by cutting down on sugar. Sugar is a major contributor to inflammation in the body. If “super foods” do exist, then green smoothies have to be one of them.

When I told my Mom I wanted to share her good news with others on how diet can make such a big difference with chronic conditions, she wanted to share a few words of her own:

I am amazed at how the green smoothies have helped me.  Normally when I get out of bed in the morning the joints in my fingers, and hands are very swollen.  It would take about an hour for the swelling to go down enough to bend my fingers.  After having green smoothies for breakfast for such a short time, my fingers are not swollen, stiff and painful anymore.  I can actually bend my fingers and make a fist (something I haven’t been able to do for a long time).  On top of that, a side benefit is that I generally feel better and have more energy.

It’s remarkable how well our bodies can heal themselves from a range of ailments when we take care of our immune systems. I remember myself when I started eating raw foods, my body started craving them, and then I wanted to eat less sugar automatically. I see this is happening to my mom as well. Sometimes, the most simple and inexpensive “remedies” are the most powerful in the long run. My mom’s health challenges are still ongoing, but she’s more hopeful than she has been in years. She’s on a good path toward healing and she has experienced just how effective diet can be.

While eating more green shakes is no miracle cure for chronic diseases, it’s a great addition to an immune boosting diet, along with proper supplements, remedies (when necessary) and professional support for your specific ailment. But of all the diet changes for your immune system, I believe green smoothies are one of the easiest and most valuable changes you can make.

To your health,

Michelle
Author of MRSA Secrets Revealed, the industry-standard natural MRSA Staph treatment program program.

As a child I was highly allergic to wasp stings. Each sting was always worse than the last and eventually, a wasp sting meant a trip to the hospital. As a precaution, I began carrying an EpiPen (to prevent anaphylactic shock) in the outdoors in case of a sting.

A few years ago while camping in Colorado, I forgot to take along my EpiPen. On the last day or our trip, a bee flew in through the open window of the truck and stung me on the arm – the first sting I’d had in years.

At first I was really panicky, as we were in the back country and no where near a hospital. Thank goodness I had some essential oils with me and I remembered that lavender oil could help with bug bites. So I put a few drops onto the area of sting and gently rubbed it in. I kept putting more lavender on every 5-10 minutes. Long story short, my arm never got swollen or my skin red and I never had a reaction.

This amazing essential oil saved our camping trip and also saved me a trip to the hospital. Nowadays I take lavender oil with me everywhere I go and haven’t carried an EpiPen since.

A universal oil

Lavender is the essential oil that I use most often day to day. While there are stronger oils for a MRSA skin infection, you just can’t beat lavender for sheer number of uses. In fact, I consider this fragrant oil one of the top 10 additions to anyone’s natural medicine cabinet.

Sometimes called the Universal Oil, lavender’s calm, comforting and inviting smell make it a favorite ingredient in many beauty and cosmetic products. Lavender is also a popular soothing oil for massage therapy. Because of its mild antimicrobial and skin regeneration properties, lavender is an excellent choice for insect bites, as well as minor scratches and scrapes.

Lavender oil is mild and safe and easy to use undiluted on the skin. It’s also the perfect oil to air diffuse when you want to feel more relaxed. Adding this oil to your shampoo, lotions and other beauty products is great for younger skin, too. And lavender is my number one favorite oil to add to bath salts for a calming, hot bath.

Sensitive MRSA skin infections

Lavender oil has some unique benefits for skin infections on sensitive areas of the body, such as the face or nose. The oil is mildly antibacterial and can be used by itself for skin infections. However, combining it with another oil, such as tea tree oil, gives you the tissue soothing benefits of lavender along with the infection support of tea tree.

A 50/50 mixture of lavender oil with tea tree oil is a good ratio for most skin infections. But for highly sensitive skin areas, this mixture can be diluted in a carrier oil to minimize burning and sensitivity.

As with most essential oils, a little goes a long way and more is not always better. Using too much oil or not diluting it enough can sting, burn and could even damage highly sensitive areas. And only the highest quality therapeutic grade oils should ever be used for support with infections.

To your very best health,

Michelle

Author of MRSA Secrets Revealed, the industry-standard natural MRSA Staph treatment program, covers natural infection control practices including 2 chapters of in-depth detail about how to use essential oils

MRSA, Staph and other infecting bacteria can live on towels, clothing and can contaminate the inside of washing machines. MRSA laundry contamination provides an easy route for the bacteria to spread from person to person, or to re-contaminate a person who was recently infected. Did you know there are simple and inexpensive ways to reduce MRSA on clothing during washing and drying?

Staph and MRSA on clothing is an extra concern for families, schools, and athletic clubs where more than one person can share the same clothing and washing machine. Surface disinfecting, hand washing and good personal hygiene are all important ways to control an infection and keep it from spreading to others. But taking steps to kill MRSA laundry contamination is an often overlooked part of MRSA infection control.

Natural MRSA laundry detergent benefits

Most common laundry detergents contain harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients that may be weakening your immune system and causing more harm than good. Ingredients like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), plus artificial fragrances, brighteners, dioxane, phosphates and surfactants, are all potentially harmful to your health and the environment. In particular, SLS is found in most detergents, cleaners and personal care products and has been linked to skin irritation as well as organ, reproductive and endocrine toxicity. Phosphates and dioxane end up contaminating lakes, streams and the ocean where they disrupt animal life cycles and cause algae blooms.

Doing your laundry with a more natural detergent is better for your health, your immune system and the environment. The trouble is, detergents are not required to list harmful ingredients on labels. And even if they are listed, some ingredients can have several different names, making it hard to judge the quality of a detergent by simply reading the ingredients.

MRSA laundry practices and tips

The following tips and practices can help you reduce bacteria like Staph and MRSA on clothing. And, using more natural laundry products can also help support your immune system as well as the environment:

• Keep laundry from those with active infections separate from other laundry.
• Store and wash contaminated clothes separately if you have an active infection.
• A high temperature wash cycle and hot dryer setting will help reduce the amount of Staph and MRSA bacteria living on clothing. Be sure your clothing is safe for higher temperature washing and drying.
• Adding several drops of an antibacterial essential oil to your wash water, such as tea tree oil, can help reduce bacteria in the wash water and washing machine.
• Products such as SurfaceAide from Coating Specialists bind to fabric and help repel bacteria for several washes.
• Choose a 100% natural laundry detergent using environmentally-friendly ingredients and enzyme cleaners if possible. For less toxic cleaners (and better immune system support) try to avoid detergents with fragrances, dyes, sulfates, phosphates, brighteners and bleach.

To your best health,

Michelle Moore
Author of MRSA Secrets Revealed, the industry-standard natural MRSA Staph treatment program, covers natural infection control practices in great detail

In February, I wrote about the toxic effects of sugar, especially how it can weaken your immune system and make it harder to overcome infections. Earlier this month, the news program 60 Minutes aired a segment called “is sugar toxic”, which exposed even more reasons why sugar is the last thing you want in your diet if you’re struggling with a chronic health challenge.

Below is a link to the revealing 15 minute news segment video:
www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n

In one clinical study, people who ate high fructose corn syrup (the most common sweetener in processed foods) increased their risk factors for heart disease in just two weeks. Another study showed that a third of common cancers have insulin receptors and cancer cells feed on excess sugar in the bloodstream.

Most interesting, sugar has a similar effect on the brain as drugs like cocaine. Sugar stimulates the reward region of the brain and causes a euphoric “high”. The trouble is, sugar suppresses that reward region over time. So just like an addictive drug, you need more and more sugar to feel the same reward or “high” over time.

It’s encouraging to see the dark side of sugar getting such respected media attention. It’s also a good lesson that sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference in your health. That’s why I cover sugar and other important aspects of nutrition and how it relates to your overall MRSA or Staph strategy in my book. While reducing your sugar consumption may seem too simple and trivial, it may very well be a key factor allowing recurring infections and other health challenges to maintain a foothold.

To your health,

Michelle
Microbiologist and author of the book MRSA Secrets Revealed

If you wear dentures, cleaning them properly could help you prevent an infection from Staph or MRSA in the mouth, or even pneumonia. A few weeks ago, a new study showed that you can kill MRSA and Staph biofilms living on your dentures in three minutes using a common household appliance.

It’s been known for a while that Staph, MRSA and other bacteria can live in saliva, on your teeth and on dentures (Bull Tokyo Dent Coll. 1994 Nov, Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2005). These bacteria form tough protective shells or layers called biofilms on denture surfaces.

I talk quite a bit about biofilms (on medical implants or in wounds) because they are one of the big reasons why MRSA and Staph can be so hard to get rid of. Importantly, MRSA or Staph in your mouth can also be breathed into your lungs, potentially causing pneumonia. Many elderly people are more immune-compromised, so knowing about this potential source of MRSA is very important, as is knowing how to eliminate these biofilm structures.

Cleaning methods for removing Staph and MRSA

Now, most people simply rinse their dentures in the shower of soak them in a denture cleaning solution. Unfortunately, these methods for cleaning dentures don’t cut it when it comes to removing biofilms and killing Staph or MRSA on dentures.

The good news is that a study in the Journal of the Journal of the American Dental Association (2012 Mar) shows that microwaving your dentures in water for three minutes completely disinfects them of bacterial biofilms. This is great news because microwaving is not only fast and simple, it saves you from using harsh chemical disinfectants.

Microwave precaution: In the study, dentures were microwaved inside a container full of water. Microwaving dentures dry without submerging them in water can cause them to melt. Beware that some websites reporting on this study fail to mention that the dentures were submerged in water. Also, dentures containing metal should never be microwaved. Because dentures can be made from different materials, some may melt or deform in a microwave. If you are unsure about microwaving your dentures in water, be sure to ask your dentist if it is safe.

The study also found that 1 percent bleach solution and 2 percent Chlorhexidine gluconate killed biofilms after a 10 minute rinse. I always prefer to minimize the use of chemical disinfectants, and as such, essential oil studies show that more natural options can also kill biofilms.

For example, Listerine mouthwash which has some essential oils, appears to kill biofilms even better than Chlorhexidine (AADR Meeting, March 23, 2012). Also, essential oils of tea tree, rosemary and peppermint show biofilm killing activity in laboratory studies (Letters in Applied Microbiology, Sep 2009). And oregano oil is one of the most powerful against bacteria and biofilms (Journal of Medical Microbiology, Dec, 2006).

Below are tips for cleaning dentures to kill Staph and MRSA biofilms:

• Check with your dentist first to see if your dentures are safe to microwave in water (some may melt!).
• Place dentures inside a microwave-safe container and fill with water to totally submerge the dentures.
• Microwave the submerged dentures for 3 minutes. Dentures containing metal should not be microwaved.
• After cooling, scrub dentures mechanically with a brush using a general cleaning solution.
• Brush your teeth. And remember to brush your tongue too – your tongue also harbors biofilms.
• Do a quick mouthwash rinse on your dentures before use.

To your best health,
Michelle

Microbiologist and Natural Health Expert
Author of the natural MRSA and Staph treatment guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed

Caring for a baby with MRSA or Staph can be a scary and gut-wrenching experience. The good news is you can reduce the risk of your baby catching an infection by understanding and controlling that risk. So, how are newborns exposed to Staph or MRSA?

MRSA in newborns – how do they get it?

Babies begin to be populated with bacteria during the birthing process, from mother’s milk, from the environment, and some data suggests from inside the womb as well. Many of these bacteria are “good” and beneficial, helping to ward off infecting bacteria from the babies skin and intestines. As I’ve mentioned before, research shows about 80% of your immune system comes from beneficial flora (including gut and skin bacteria) and the same holds true for newborns too.

But some of these bacteria can cause infections in babies, especially pre-term infants or if the mother’s immune system has been weakened. It’s possible for newborns to get MRSA or Staph bacteria from the mom through the vaginal canal during birth. Infants can also be exposed to these bacteria through contact with hospital staff, catheters and other medical devices, or from contact with contaminated hospital surfaces (Pediatric 2002, 110:285-291).

It’s very important to know that having these bacteria on your babies skin doesn’t mean they are infected. However, if the Staph or MRSA gets through their skin via diaper rash, cuts or a scrape, an infection can develop. Good and consistent hygiene and cleaning and infection control by hospital staff will reduce these risks (here’s more about preventing hospital infections). Getting your own infection under control if you have a history of MRSA and Staph is also important.

Are babies exposed to bacteria before birth?

Evidence is suggesting bacteria can also be passed to a baby before they are even born. Some bacteria and viruses have been found within the amniotic fluid of the mother (the fluid surrounding the fetus). This fluid was previously thought to always be sterile. This suggests that bacteria can be passed from mother to her unborn child and may be a possible cause for pre-term deliveries (PLoS ONE 2008;3:e3056).

There’s also evidence that bacteria (as “L-form” mutated bacteria) can be passed from father to child through his sperm (Arch Androl 1995;35:43-7). This could be part of the reason for “genetic” type predispositions for certain diseases, as science is now discovering a correlation between certain diseases and chronic infections. Keeping your own immune system strong, getting good nutrition and reducing stress during pregnancy can reduce the risks.

Once a baby has a skin infection, the bacteria may spread internally as well. The problem with MRSA in newborns and babies is that their immune system is not well developed yet, making it harder for them to ward off and battle infections and more difficult to treat them.

Treating MRSA in children, especially infants, requires extra care. While some natural remedies can be used with newborns and babies, the dose must be reduced or diluted properly. Generally, the milder remedies for skin infections, including sterilized Manuka honey (not raw) and diluted medicinal tea tree oil can be a good place to start. Antibiotics can help if effective against the strain of Staph or MRSA causing the infection. However, antibiotics can put a big strain a baby’s undeveloped immune system, including affecting the “good” bacteria in the gut, which is being linked to allergies and possible future chronic health conditions.

What does this all mean?

It’s important to remember that we are all dependent upon bacteria for good health. Anything that changes our natural good flora can compromise our health, for both the mother and the baby. It’s been well established that antibiotic therapies change the good flora of the mother to a less-healthy flora. Since the newborn is largely dependent upon the mother for their bacteria, antibiotic use in the mother may be putting the newborn at a disadvantage.

Research also shows treating newborns with antibiotics can disrupt how they develop their gut flora (Acta Paediatrica Volume 92,s441:48–55).  Some researchers suggest it may be difficult to normalize newborn gut flora after exposure to antibiotics. Because of the link between antibiotic use and chronic health issues, I advocate using natural alternatives that work with the body, instead of against it whenever possible. Holistic and Integrative physicians are well versed in these supportive therapies.

We all should carefully guard and protect the bacteria that live within us… after all, they help protect us and keep us healthy from birth through adulthood.

To your best health,
Michelle

Microbiologist and Natural Health Advocate
Author of the Natural Staph and MRSA Treatment Guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed

Manuka honey is one of my favorite home remedies for Staph and MRSA skin infections. As I’ve mentioned before on my blog, Manuka honey is safe, inexpensive and easy to use and it can be used in different ways for MRSA wound care. It can also provide support against Staph and MRSA biofilms. And unlike essential oils and herbal products, finding Manuka honey products with the required purity and strength for stubborn infections is fairly simple.

One of the easiest and most helpful ways to use Manuka honey is on skin infections, especially open sores and wounds. Because it is so mild, it can be used repeatedly multiple times per day, applied directly to wounds. Most people tolerate honey quite well and reactions are rare.

A common way to use Manuka honey for a skin infection is to place it underneath wound dressings. Most people can replace their dressing 3 times per day with a fresh dose of honey applied each time. A dressing is simply a sterile bandage to cover the wound. Dressings come in various sizes and shapes and some have self adhesives while and others require tape to hold in place.

Staph and MRSA wound method

Below is a good method for using honey on wounds with dressings. The idea is to maximize contact between the wound and the honey by reducing the air-space in the gauze:

1. Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide or as directed by your physician.
2. Pre-soak a sterile gauze pad with manuka honey.
3. Drizzle honey into the wound and cover with a pre-soaked gauze pad.
4. Cover the pre-soaked gauze pad with a waterproof dressing to reduce oozing of the honey onto clothing or furniture.
5. Secure the dressing to the skin using non-irritating adhesive or tape.
6. Take care to avoid irritating the skin to much if you have frequent dressing changes.

Manuka honey quality

As mentioned above, it’s pretty easy to find a good Manuka honey by following a few simple guidelines. Raw is generally best, except for babies, MRSA in children, and immune-compromised people. A potency of UMF 10 to UMF 15 is best for skin infections. Be sure to never use processed, regular store honey – only high-quality UMF rated honey should be used for a honey wound dressing or MRSA wound care.

The above method is easy to use and many people have excellent results with it. As with any remedy for the skin, you’ll get better results if you also get internal support for your infection, boost your immune system, and counteract the effects of any antibiotics you’ve taken (my guidebook covers these important steps in detail).

Also, because every wound and infection is different, be sure to talk with your doctor for the best type and size of bandage or dressing to use and how often to replace it. And if you have concerns, ask your doctor about any special precautions or steps to take for MRSA Manuka honey treatment.

To your best health,
Michelle

Microbiologist and Natural Health Expert
Author of the natural MRSA and Staph treatment guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed

Staph and MRSA are a common part of today’s environment for both us and our pets. Because we are so close to our pets, bacteria like MRSA have an easy way to pass between our pets and us. Today I want to share a bit about natural ways of treating MRSA in dogs, cats and other pets as well as effective ways to protect against infections spreading back and forth.

How do dogs and cats get MRSA in the first place?

There are warning signs and risk factors that may signal a possible MRSA infection in your companion animal. Common signs of MRSA in pets include infections of wounds caused by trauma or operations, infections from catheters or orthopedic implants or other skin infections that just don’t get better. Pets have a higher risk of MRSA if they have been infected before or if their owner is infected. The risk is also higher if the pet or the owner is a MRSA carrier. A visit to a vet clinic experiencing an outbreak of MRSA also increases the risk.

An important note is that MRSA (caused by the bacteria Staph aureus) is more commonly associated with people than originating from pets. And, pets can carry MRSA bacteria without becoming infected.

MRSA diagnosis in pets

MRSA cannot be identified by symptoms alone. A MRSA test is needed to confirm what’s causing the infection. Another test, called a antimicrobial susceptibility test, can help your vet choose the best antibiotic for the infection, if antibiotics are needed. Fortunately, most MRSA infections in pets are not severe and tend to be limited to skin infections. Mild and moderate infections often respond well without antibiotics by using good wound management and diligent hygiene and prevention techniques.  And, there are alternative remedies that work very well for animals.

Prevention tips

Pets and owners can pass MRSA between each other in both directions. In fact, recurring infections in some people have be linked to close contact with an infected pet (J Hosp Infec. 1988). If you have a pet with MRSA, washing your hands often and keeping high-touch surfaces regularly cleaned and disinfected is most important. Keeping open wounds covered and well treated will also reduce the risks. Washing and bathing with natural antibacterial products can help decolonize the bacteria from your pet’s skin.

Just as hospitals are the most common place for people to get MRSA, vet clinics have the highest risk for pets to catch the infection. Most MRSA in cats and dogs occur at surgical sites and in open wounds. Vet clinics can lower the risk of MRSA spreading with good hand washing and cleaning of examination surfaces between patients. Vet staff can also wear disposable gloves, plastic apron, mask and cap when working with an infected patient to reduce MRSA spreading to other pets or people in the clinic. And, using antibiotics sparingly and prudently will help prevent the spread of MRSA.

If your animal requires any type of surgical procedure, be sure to talk to your vet clinic about procedures they have in place to prevent the spread of infections or MRSA to your animal friend.

Treating pets with MRSA

As I mentioned above, antibiotics are most commonly used to treat MRSA or Staph. Be sure your vet tests the infection to determine the right antibiotic if you choose to use them. Many of the same natural remedies that work for people with MRSA can also help with pets, especially dogs and horses. In fact, essential oils like tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus and some antibacterial blends can be used for larger dogs just as for people with skin infections. For smaller dogs, essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil (such as grape seed oil) before applying to the skin.

Unlike dogs, cats are very sensitive to some natural remedies, including essential oils and most garlic preparations. As a general rule, essential oils should be altogether avoided with cats. If you are using essential oils yourself, consider keeping your cat in another room while applying them, especially when using an air diffuser. Because cats are so small, natural remedy dosages must be greatly reduced for cats relative to people. Homeopathic remedies can be a better choice for cats, as well as herbs like Goldenseal to help support the immune system.

An important note, some foods, herbs and remedies that are safe for people are dangerous for pets. Be sure to do your research before using a natural remedy with your pet. Always talk with your vet about proper dosage and usage to make sure it’s a right choice for your animal. Alternative or holistic vets will be much more educated about non-antibiotic choices.

Pet food and diet

Just like people, diet plays a big role in warding off infections for our pets. The more natural and less processed your pet’s food, the stronger their immune system and the easier it is to recover and prevent infections. At a minimum, your pet’s food should meet AAFCO requirements to ensure you pet’s basic nutritional needs are met. Because the words ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are not regulated, you need to look beyond the food’s label and marketing materials to judge its true quality.

For both cats and dogs, look at the list of ingredients for lots of real meat (beef, turkey, chicken, etc) and preferably no corn, soy or wheat or any artificial ingredients. As with people, nutritionally balance raw food blends can be an excellent choice, though there is a transition period if your pet is not accustomed to raw food.

For a great resource on natural and holistic pet health topics, including diet, nutrition and common health conditions, check out Doctor Becker’s website at healthy pets at mercola.com.

To your best health,
Michelle
See more about antibiotic alternatives in my 3 Step program on Staph and MRSA treatment

If you’ve ever taken antibiotics that don’t work, then you know about antibiotic resistance in a very real and personal way. I still remember the frustration of enduring antibiotic after antibiotic with all their side effects with no benefit at all.

While I love natural remedies, there are times when antibiotics can be the best treatment option for a severe infection. With MRSA on the rise, it’s more important than ever that these powerful drugs do their job when we need them to.

Overuse of antibiotics in the livestock industry is one of the biggest causes of antibiotic resistance. Recent news of MRSA and staph bacteria in meat has been a major wake up call for us all. Just last month, the FDA took action to ban the use of one type of antibiotic in livestock. While this ban is a step in the right direction, much more still needs to be done to protect these drugs and keep them working.

The good news is antibiotic resistance is getting more attention in the media, in government and in the medical community. And antibiotic resistance is a reversible problem that we can fix by taking the right actions personally and on a government level. In fact, you have more control over antibiotic resistance than you may think.

What you can do

On a personal level, you can follow simple tips for using antibiotics wisely and effectively. Using these drugs properly will help you get better faster and reduce the negative side effects too.

On a broader scale, you can make a real difference by staying informed and supporting a group called Keep Antibiotics Working.com. Keep Antibiotics Working is a coalition dedicated to stopping antibiotic resistance and providing you with an easy way to help. Their Action Alert Network will help you tell your representatives and the FDA what needs to be done to protect antibiotics. You can also stay informed on the latest updates about antibiotic resistance on their News and Press Center pages.

To your best health,
Michelle

Microbiologist and Natural Health Advocate
See more about antibiotic alternatives and counteracting antibiotic side effects in my 3 Step program on MRSA and Staph treatment