Antibiotics are powerful drugs. Although they can be used effectively to treat bacterial infections, research shows theyre often unnecessarily or improperly prescribed many times at the patients own insistence.

Heres the antibiotic dilemma. Even when theyre used correctly to kill bacteria, numerous studies show antibiotics can still cause more harm that good.

Yes, they kill off bad bacteria in your system, but they also destroy the good bacteria needed for proper digestion and protection against certain diseases. The destruction of good intestinal bacteria after a treatment of antibiotics has been found to be the direct cause of serious health issues, including candida.

And, worst of all, the misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics for anything and everything imaginable, including the common cold, flu and all kinds of viruses (which they have no effect on), is responsible for the growing resistance to antibiotics by many bacterial strains which are causing serious, untreatable problems.

A recent study, published in The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, showed that even a properly prescribed antibiotic can foster the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria for at least two to six months after treatment. Carrying these bugs around in your body increases your chance of getting another infection. It also means the carrier can pass the resistant bug off to their family, friends, co-workers or anyone else they may bump into in their travels.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family? You can be cautious about using antibiotics and you can strengthen your immune system.

Your immune system is your bodys means of defense against infectious diseases as well as colds, flues and other viruses. People with strong, healthy immune systems seldom, if ever, need to take antibiotics for infections.

When necessary, you can use a natural antibiotic. Garlic is a highly effective natural antibiotic that blocks toxin production of germs. According to the Garlic Information Center in Britain, garlic was found to be a more potent antibiotic than penicillin and many prescription drugs. It was also more effective against nine strains of E. coli and Staph infections.

If you decide to take garlic capsules, be sure the garlic is not deodorized. Allicin is the source of garlic odor and its also the active ingredient that makes it so effective. 5 to 10 milligrams of garlic is the equivalent of 75 to 100 units of penicillin.

And, after any antibiotic treatment, whether natural or prescription, always be sure to add a full spectrum acidophilus complex to your daily regimen. Acidophilus helps build the balance of good bacteria in your intestinal tract, so you can fight off any new drug resistant bacterial strains already in your system or that you might be exposed to in the future.

Your body has amazing abilities to protect you. All you have to do is make sure you give your body the right nutrition to build and maintain a strong immune system.