Welcome to episode 460 of The Whole View! This week, Sarah and Stacy look at the science behind antibiotics' impact on the gut microbiome and what we can do to break the Stress-Flare-Antibiotic Cycle as much as possible. Stacy gives insight into actions you can take outside the body, while Sarah dives deep into foods and lifestyle habits that can help from within.  If you enjoy the show, please review it on iTunes!

The Whole View, Episode 460: How to Break the Stress-Flare-Antibiotic Cycle
Welcome back to episode 460! (0:28) This week's episode was inspired by a lister question. As always, Stacy and Sarah pick questions that really resonate with the: First off, my mother and I love your show and have been listening to the show for years. I love how you can tackle complicated topics and boil them down to easy to understand and enjoyable shows. Stacy, your journey with your son through ADHD was such a help for me when my oldest son was diagnosed. It gave me a place to go when I wasn't sure where to go next. Now to the reason I'm writing to you.  I have been battling rosacea flares ever since 2010 when I had my first son. Pregnancy seemed to set everything off and I now deal with flares off and on. I know stress is a trigger. My dermatologist's answer is always to put me on antibiotics for months at a time and it's killing my gut health.  I had finally gotten my gut health to a pretty good place and hadn't needed to be treated for quite some time and then Covid hit, my mother-in-law moved in, and I started remote schooling 3 extra kids in my home along with my own children. No stress here! My question is, how do I maintain my gut health when I have Rosacea and have to use antibiotics to control the flare? Thank you for all the hard work you ladies put into your shows!  -Sara Sometimes, the flare itself can be additional stress and can snowball the problem.  Lifestyle changes aren't going to solve the issue independently, but adding different choices in where you can certainly help manage symptoms. 

First, Medication Isn't Failure!
In some situations, antibiotics are absolutely needed. (7:09) It's definitely smart to avoid antibiotics when they aren't really necessary (like viral flu and colds). But when it comes to certain illnesses and infections (the ones used to wipe out huge chunks of the human population!), antibiotics can prevent serious complications and even save our lives.  There's no reason we should ever feel guilty or like we've "failed" just because we need to take antibiotics.  While following a healthy diet and lifestyle typically supports much stronger and well-regulated immune systems, it does not (sadly) make us invisible.   The necessity for antibiotics doesn't mean that you didn't "Paleo/AIP/Nutrivore hard enough," so don't be hard on yourself.   While it's always a good idea to reflect on ways to improve the quality and consistency of our diet and lifestyle choices, what's most important while recovering from illness is making science-based, informed choices that give us the best chance of getting healthy efficiently!

Preventative Skincare 
Stacy refers listeners back to the episode on Dry Winter Skin because of the information on the moisture barrier in that show. (12:15) She also recommends checking out Science of the Skin Barrier. Beauty counter has a great Safe SPF Stacy loves! She cautions listeners to be wary of the ingredients in their products when shopping for sunscreen.  Studies have shown that many modern SPF on the market (chemical and mineral) have large amounts of Benzine contaminants, a known carcinogen. There are prescription topical medications to help with issues such as Rosacea. That is another option to talk to your doctor about.  Another known thing to irritate Rosacea is using hot water and dairy consumption.  Sarah adds that red light therapy is another interesting avenue to look into to add to your preventative care.

Self Care and Stress vs. Sleep
Stress is a huge trigger for Sarah