Cooking Food Thoroughly and Choosing Veggies Wisely Can Help Combat Antibiotic Resistance

Key Points:

• A new study suggests that cooking food thoroughly and avoiding certain types of vegetables and salad can potentially reduce antibiotic resistance.
• This approach aims to prevent bacteria carrying resistance genes from entering the gut.
• The researchers found that thoroughly cooked food reduced the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut, compared to raw or undercooked food.
• They also identified some vegetables and salad ingredients that can contain high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as lettuce and spinach.
• These findings highlight the importance of food safety practices, especially for individuals undergoing antibiotic treatment.

Hot take:

If you want to give those antibiotic-resistant bacteria a one-way ticket out of your gut, make sure you cook your food thoroughly! This new study reminds us that proper cooking techniques can help reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. So, fire up that stove and let’s give those resistant bacteria a taste of their own medicine. Oh, and be cautious when it comes to certain veggies and salad ingredients, like lettuce and spinach. They might be salad staples, but they can carry some unwanted guests. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay away from those tricky resistance genes!

Original article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230817163838.htm