The word pandemic has become synonymous with COVID-19.

And even though COVID continues to grab the headlines (and rightfully so), unfortunately it’s not the only health crisis affecting millions of people.

Case in point: Have you heard about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the news?

Probably not.

AMR occurs when your gut microbiome (the microbes in your intestines) is altered. When this happens, certain bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become impervious to the antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics) conventionally used to treat them.

AMR has led to 1.2 million deaths across 204 countries… and researchers say the threat is only going to get worse.

The World Health Organization (WHO) even declared AMR one of the top 10 global public health threats to humanity!

YIKES!

Fortunately, research has uncovered a simple diet ‘fix’ that can help arm yourself against AMR.

FIBER: A New Weapon Against AMR

According to a study published by the U.S Department of Agriculture, you can decrease your risk of AMR by eating more fiber.

In fact, the study found that healthy adults who ate a diet with eight to 10 grams of fiber each day have fewer antibiotic-resistant microbes in their guts.

But here’s the most mind-blowing outcome of this study…

The average fiber intake for most adults is 14 grams/day – well above the fiber intake noted in the study.

But that’s not even close to the amount of fiber you NEED in your diet – which is about 28 grams/day.

In fact, a study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that 95% of adults and children don’t consume the amount of fiber recommended for good health.

So, what’s the solution… loading up on “high fiber” breads?

Hardly!

Your best bet is to eat natural fiber sources like fruits, vegetables, and even the super-versatile avocado (my personal favorite).

If 10 grams of fiber is enough to help arm your body against AMR…just imagine how protected you can be if you actually get the right amount of fiber each day!