A new American study has shown that adults who consume a fiber-rich diet have fewer antibiotic-resistant microbes in their intestines. These findings call for the use of diet to combat drug-resistant bacteria. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consuming at least 8 to 10 grams of soluble fiber daily reduces the number of antibiotic-resistant microbes such as tetracycline and aminoglycosides.
According to "Science Daily," the study recommended a diverse diet, emphasizing that this does not mean a Western diet, but rather a significant variety of foods. Danielle Lemay, a molecular biologist and supervisor of the study, stated, "We examined specific correlations of antibiotic resistance gene levels in human gut microbes with fiber and animal protein in adults' diets."
She added, "The research team found that the amount of animal protein in the diet was not a primary indicator of increased levels of these genes, and it became evident that the correlation is a decrease in these resistant genes as soluble fiber intake increases." Soluble fiber is found in grains such as barley and oats, legumes like beans, lentils, and peas, as well as chia seeds, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables such as carrots, berries, artichokes, broccoli, and squash.
