Medicinal antibiotics are often expensive and have potentially harmful side effects. If you have a mild bacterial, fungal, or viral infection try taking some natural pathogen-fighting foods first before seeing your doctor.

Many healthy foods have antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. They’ve been used in traditional medicine to treat assortments of illnesses and current medical research proves their pathogen-fighting efficacy. If you have a mild infection try taking these foods:

Vinegar

1.

Vinegar

Vinegar’s acetic acid kills bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses. Use it as a disinfectant by applying it to wounds.

Dilute vinegar with water and drink it thrice daily. This prevents fungal overgrowths (like candida) in your gastrointestinal tracts and kills any bad bacteria thriving in your stomach and small intestines – this is especially handy when you have an upset stomach.

Oregano

2.

Oregano

According to the Scientific American, oregano oil effectively kills the norovirus — proving its antiviral properties. However, researchers say it’s more effective topically than internally.

Either way, it’s a great alternative to sanitizing agents such as bleach since it’s neither nontoxic nor noxious.

Manuka Honey

3.

Manuka Honey

Produced by native New Zealand bees, manuka honey is a miraculous traditional medicine. It contains high concentrations of methylglyoxal which is responsible for its antibacterial properties.

WebMD recommends that you use manuka honey topically to sterilize and treat wounds and burns. However, they also state that it can be used to prevent and treat cancer; reduce high cholesterol, treat inflammation, treat diabetes, treat nose, eye and ear infections; and prevent and treat digestive diseases (like inflammatory bowel disease).

Recent studies show that manuka honey also prevents and fights gingivitis and other periodontal diseases via reducing plaque buildup.

Best of all, manuka honey is — honey! It’s sweet and tasty and goes great on foods most honey complements well!

Pumpkin Seeds

4.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds have been used since ancient times in traditional Chinese medicine to expel parasites from the body. It’s also an antifungal, anticarcinogen, antiviral; and lowers bad cholesterol.

Pumpkin seeds go well with most foods, including salads and desserts.

Doctors visits can be expensive, and so can antibiotics. Try taking these natural pathogen-fighting foods first, then go see your physician if your infection doesn’t go away.