What is food poisoning?
Food Poisoning when bacteria, viruses, and parasites contaminate the food we eat or the water we drink, we can get food poisoning. Not being able to detect these microscopic vectors makes prevention impossible at the last minute but we can easily prevent food poisoning from the very beginning especially at home. We start with some prevention tips followed by some treatment options.
Causes of Food poisoning
- Not cooked
- Not kept in a hygiene place.
- left out for too long
- handled by someone who is ill or hasn’t washed their hands.
Prevention of food poisoning
Foods and drinks to avoid
In food poisoning the body is already in offensive mode, the better we should not give
more chance to make this disease critical.
The number priority has to be to avoid the foods that make you sick in the first place
remove the suspect food from your list of foods even if it is your favorite food until you are completely well and good and free from food poisoning.
The following foods are not good for the stomach.
- Nicotine
- Seasoned food
- Dairy products
- Foods high in fiber
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Caffeine (Soda, energy, drinks, coffee, tea.)
- Fried foods
- Fatty foods
- Any other diarrhea medications.
Who is at risk?
- Infants and children
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- People with a chronic condition
Preventions of food poisoning
Always Wash Before Touching Food
You’d think it would be pretty obvious to wash your hands before handling food. Sadly that’s not the case. Not to scare you, but sometimes people don’t even wash their hands if they work in a restaurant. It’s just laziness. Always wash your hands with warm soapy water before you cook anything.
Use Separate Boards
when you are cutting your food you should always use two separate boards for your cooked and raw foods. It’s all too easy to start chopping vegetables on a board that’s had raw chicken on it. This also applies to the knives that you use to cut the food.
Wash Your Fruits and Veggies
Before you use any fruits and vegetables it’s really important to wash them properly under the tap. They will probably be brought in from the fields and dumped in the supermarket. Think about all that horrible stuff that’s going to be on them. If you don’t do it already, start straight away.
Defrost Your Food
When you know you are going to be using something that’s been in the freezer you should always take it out the night before and let it defrost. It’s too easy to forget and you are left hungry with something that’s not been fully defrosted. Don’t chance your luck and try using it when it’s still partly frozen.
Don’t have Pink Bits
Just because you like your steak raw doesn’t mean you can do the same with chicken. Always make sure you cook your food until it is definitely cooked all the way through. Get Rid of Bad Food: I’m sure everyone has been in the position of taking out food from the fridge and nearly being knocked over because of the bad smell. If you were one of the ones who decided to cook it any way you should stop now. If anything smells like it’s been lying under the sun for a week you should get rid of it.
Check the Dates
Food comes with a use-by date for a reason. It’s so you don’t get sick when eating it. If it was 0K to eat they would not throw it in the bins behind the supermarket. Don’t eat anything that’s out of date. You can change it, but you won’t have anyone to blame when you’re throwing up.
Never Induce Vomiting
If you suspect food poisoning, never induce vomiting and stay away from antacid and anti-diarrhea medications. Rich, spicy, high in fiber, and dairy products must also be avoided while your digestive system is still weak.
How do you get rid of food poisoning naturally?
Ginger
Add a few drops of ginger juice to some honey and consume to ease the pain and inflammation.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Because it is alkaline, vinegar eases irritation in the lining of the stomach. It will also make it impossible for the organism to multiply or grow, making the recovery much faster.
Replace Electrolytes
One of the bad things about food poisoning is it brings dehydration and thus you must increase your fluid intake. Drink water that has electrolytes in it, for example, Gatorade or even a light natural organic fruit juice. Other fluids with electrolytes include ginger and lemon tea, blackberry, chamomile, mint, and raspberry juices.
Lemon
The acid nature of lemon will kill quite a few microorganisms that induce food poisoning. Combine a little sugar with some fresh lemon juice. Consume it like a medicine, or if you like, mix some lemon juice into your teas.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea can eliminate stomach cramps in just a couple of hours after consumption. A great remedy for food poisoning. Alleviate And Kill Harmful Microorganisms
You can drink these high acidic liquids diluted or undiluted, but you will have to drink them slowly.
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of unfiltered and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar,
- Lemon juice made from two to four lemons or Grapefruit seed extract
- About two to five drops mixed in water.
Antibiotics
If you have these at home, you can use them as remedies due to their antiseptic, antibiotic and antioxidant properties. They can also be bought at local herbal stores. Barberry extracts or capsules, Garlic, Papaya, Ginseng, Basil, Goldenseal extract, Cumin, Fenugreek, and Licorice.
Bananas
Bananas have heaps of potassium in them. Bananas will ease an upset stomach more times than not. They are surprisingly effective. There are many ways to consume a banana, get creative. Making a shake is a good one.
Absorbents
You can consume these if you are bent on having the toxins absorbed from your body to reduce the symptoms being experienced. Bread, Crackers, and Charcoal or activated carbon or charcoal powder or capsule.
See Your Doctor
If your symptoms worsen and if you suddenly begin to experience high fever, slurred speech, bloody bowel movements or vomiting, abdominal swelling, inability to urinate, yellowing of the skin, rash outbreak and extreme thirst get to a hospital quickly.
Medical Research links
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/
- https://www.aiims.edu/en/disclaimer/79-about-aiims/6905-national-poison-information-centre-24×7.html
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/understanding-food-poisoning-treatment#1
- https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/what-to-eat-after-food-poisoning
- https://www.emedicinehealth.com/food_poisoning/article_em.htm
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/home-remedies-for-food-poisoning/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356236
- https://www.medicinenet.com/food_poisoning/article.htm
- https://draxe.com/signs-of-food-poisoning/
