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 by Dr. Rita Louise
Millions of people around the world suffer from food poisoning each year. Sometimes called bacterial gastroenteritis or infectious diarrhea, food poisoning is a common yet distressing disorder. Food poisoning is often recognized by abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Food poisoning appears suddenly, and often within 2-48 hours after the consumption of a contaminated food source. Typical contaminants include bacterial, viral or parasitic pathogens, as well as chemical or naturally occurring toxins. Depending on what is consumed, symptoms such as bloody stools, dehydration, fever, chills, nervous system damage and even death can occur.
n most cases, food can become tainted because of harmful bacterial growth. Bacteria that are hazardous to our health grow in temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Foods can also become dangerous when they are handled improperly during preparation and storage. This includes the improper cleaning of utensils, storage and preparation areas; or problems with storing foods correctly. Practicing good hygiene, such as washing the hands thoroughly after using the restroom, can greatly reduce the risk of food contamination.
By following some simple alternative health practices and working with natural remedies, you can work to reduce or eliminate the chance or getting food poisoning.
Recommendations For Wellness
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Drinks lots of fluids to replace the ones that are lost due to vomiting or diarrhea. If you are unable to get or keep fluids down, you may need to seek medical advice to avoid dehydration.
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Avoid solid foods until any bouts of diarrhea have resolved themselves.
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Warm heat, like from a hot water bottle, can help to relieve stomach spasms.
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When preparing foods, wash your hands, any utensils, and the preparation surface thoroughly - especially before and after handling raw foods.
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Serve hot foods right away or keep them heated above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t leave foods at room temperature for more than two hours.
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If you have questions regarding the viability or safety of a food item, keep this motto in mind: “When in doubt, throw it out.”
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Don’t eat raw fish, fowl, beef or pork. Avoid foods such as sushi, raw oysters or salads made with raw eggs.
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If you think you have food poisoning, eat some bread. Bread is believed to help soak up the poison.
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Drinking barley or rice water can help to soothe stomach or intestinal inflammation.
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Activated charcoal powder can also be used to absorb noxious substances from the stomach and digestive tract.
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A folk remedy reported to be of value when dealing with food poisoning is two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
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Barberry has traditionally been used to treat diarrhea, especially in cases of E. coli and V. cholera.
This information is provided for educational purposes only.
The descriptions of nurtritional supplements are based on the historical usage of the various ingredients. They are not intended to promote any direct or implied health claims, and actual results of usage can vary.
The statements on this Web site have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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