Food poisoning happens more frequently during the summer months when the heat is at its peak compared to the rest of the year. Bacteria and viruses proliferate in warmer temperatures faster. That is why even if your food still smells okay and may taste like nothing’s off, it may already have pathogenic bacteria or norovirus that can make you sick, especially if your immune system is weak and cannot fight off the infection.
Such is the case for immunocompromised individuals in the older adult population, as well as children, pregnant women, organ transplant patients, patients who have compromised immunity like those with diabetes and under chemotherapy or taking immunosuppressive drugs.
Food that is left on the table for more than two hours may deteriorate and have bacterial growth. It is best to discard. Leftovers must be refrigerated as soon as possible and reheated before eating. Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator. Thoroughly wash fresh fruits and vegetables before serving. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold. When in doubt, throw it out.
Even if you are well, you may still fall victim to food poisoning at least once in your life. Should you rush to the emergency room? Not just yet. There are things you can do at home that could alleviate symptoms and spare you from rushing to the hospital. You should not delay intervention at home.
Here are the home remedies for food poisoning that manifests in these usual symptoms: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or loose bowel movement, stomach cramping, bloating, and weakness.
The first thing you need to do when you vomit is to take sips of cold water or suck on ice chips. Apart from this, do not eat or drink for at least three to four hours. You need to rest your stomach. Gradually take in more fluids that are clear, such as water, electrolyte or sports drinks, clear soups, gelatin, ice pops, 100 percent fresh fruit or vegetable juice like apple or cucumber. As you tolerate fluids, you can progress to bland soft food like lugaw or congee and bananas. Never drink milk, soda, or citrus juices. Milk exacerbates diarrhea and sodas or citrus juices are irritating to the stomach
If you feel nauseated, chew on raw ginger. The taste may not be acceptable to everyone but its effectiveness in alleviating nausea and vomiting is backed up by science. You can also chew on some mint leaves that has been washed properly or take sips of peppermint tea. It has a calming effect on the stomach.
Oftentimes food poisoning will give you loose bowel movement or diarrhea. But before you pop some loperamide pills to stop pooping, please hold your horses! If your bowel movement is watery yet still has some solids in it, allow your body to flush out all those toxins first. Otherwise, you will be keeping all those toxins inside Image by storyset on Freepik your body. The important thing is to rehydrate. Drink as much fluid as you can for as long as you are not vomiting. You can have the same abovementioned fluids for nausea and vomiting. In addition, you can drink green tea as it has a cleaning effect. Green tea is a prebiotic and so is honey. They feed the good bacteria in the gut, helping to establish equilibrium by killing the pathogenic or bad microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) that are making you feel sick.
You can eat rice or lugaw, banana, apple, toasted bread, or dry crackers. What most people don’t know is that psyllium fiber and oats will help you form your stool, making it solid. You aren’t supposed to eat vegetables at this time and other food items that contain insoluble fiber that speeds up bowel movement. Bananas, apples, oats, and psyllium fiber contain soluble fiber and pectin that will help harden your stool.
In case you are still having diarrhea and only liquid comes out, you can take anti-diarrhea medications like loperamide. It can be bought over the counter.
When do you need to go to the hospital? If you cannot tolerate fluids within 24 hours or your urine output is less than once in eight hours, you feel very weak, have a fever, bloody stool, or stomach pain that isn’t relieved even after puking or pooping or on medication, especially if you are on insulin and anti-diabetic drugs or if you are a kidney patient. Children, pregnant women, and older adults must be given immediate care. Do not delay treatment.
Keep safe during the scorching summer months!