The chance of food poisoning is higher on hot summer days. Still, food poisoning remains frequent throughout the year. Manifestations can range from mild to severe. In addition, your symptoms may be different depending on ingested germs. Nonetheless, you can try several natural home remedies for mild forms of food poisoning.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness that occurs following the ingestion of food tainted with certain bacteria, viruses, allergens, and toxins. Signs of food poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and an upset stomach. Individuals with food poisoning may also experience severe stomach cramps and fever. In most cases, these symptoms resolve themselves on their own. However, excessive vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, which may require medical treatment.
One common mistake people make when attempting to treat their symptoms is taking over-the-counter pain medicines, which can irritate the stomach and worsen the symptoms. While the only true cure for food poisoning is time, you can often relieve discomfort and calm the digestive system with natural home remedies.
Replenish Potassium With Bananas
The typical symptoms of food poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, which can result in low potassium. Imbalanced potassium levels can cause you to feel worse, so it is essential to replenish the system as soon as possible.
Bananas are a common natural remedy for food poisoning. The fruit contains high amounts of potassium and is gentle on the digestive system. Therefore, bananas can help to relieve symptoms. Still, you should seek medical attention if they experience severe dehydration or if diarrhea or vomiting persists for longer than three days.
Ginger
Ginger is a natural herb that can treat stomach ailments. It naturally increases acid production in the stomach, which in turn aids digestion. Sipping ginger tea if you have food poisoning can help keep you hydrated while calming your stomach. Sufferers may also benefit from eating raw ginger.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is a natural plant that hinders stomach contractions and aids digestion. It also helps remove excess gas from your stomach and encourages healthy digestion. Individuals with symptoms of food poisoning can often calm their overactive stomachs and ease uncomfortable symptoms by sipping on peppermint tea or sucking on hard peppermint candies.
Liquids
To avoid dehydration, it is necessary to stay hydrated. Water, tea, and other drinks without sugar or sweeteners can replenish your fluids and help your body keep homeostasis.
Food Poisoning Prevention
Even better than treating your food poisoning is to avoid it entirely. It can be challenging to determine whether certain food items are contaminated before ingestion. Still, there are measures that you can take to lower your risk of becoming ill.
For example, keeping raw foods separate from ready-to-consume foods and washing your hands before preparing meals reduces the risk of bacterial contamination. In addition, avoiding raw eggs and cooking meat until it reaches a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit can also help prevent illness.
When to Consult a Doctor for Food Poisoning
See your doctor if you have severe symptoms that may include
- high fever
- bloody diarrhea
- frequent vomiting
- signs of dehydration
- dizziness
- diarrhea more than 3 days in a row
Resource Links:
- “Food poisoning. Causes, remedies, and prevention” via Postgraduate Medicine
- “How to avoid food poisoning” via Paediatrics Child Health
- “Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Food Poisoning among Food Handlers and Dietetic Students in a Public University in Malaysia” via Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences
- “Clinical approach and management of food poisoning” via Acta Medica Indonesiana
- “Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials” via Food Science & Nutrition
