Insight into food poisoning
Food poisoning usually occurs when pathogens contaminate food and water. Food poisoning is common and makes a person feel uncomfortable during their stay in the body.
Food-borne illness is the other name for food poisoning. It can make a person exhibit symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, stools with blood, fever, and muscle cramps.
Food poisoning symptoms will exhibit within a few hours of eating contaminated food.
Usually, the symptoms go away on their own without treatment; however, in some cases, depending on how severe the symptoms are, a person may require medical attention.
What are the foods that cause food poisoning?
Food poisoning enters a person when they consume food that is contaminated with microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites or other harmful agents.
Some of the foods that are likely to cause food poisoning are as follows
Poultry
Raw or undercooked poultry like chicken, turkey or duck has increased chances of causing food poisoning.
This is due to a bacteria called salmonella that is commonly found in these birds. The bacteria affect fresh poultry meat during slaughtering and can remain on them until the meat is cooked.
Cooking the meat properly can kill the harmful bacteria present in them. If the meat is undercooked, then there are high chances of contamination.
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, a person must ensure that poultry meat is entirely cooked before consumption.
Vegetables and leafy greens
A surprising name on the list. Usually, green leafy vegetables occur in the healthiest form of food. No one would have thought that this helpful substance could cause food poisoning.
Sadly, they are a common source of food poisoning when consumed raw.
Vegetables, or green leafy vegetables, can be contaminated with harmful toxins or bacteria like E coli and salmonella.
The contamination can occur through various sources present in different stages of the supply chain. Some of them include clean water or dirty run-off that can lead to contamination of the fruit or vegetable that is grown in the region.
Dirty pieces of equipment that are used to process the vegetables or unhygienic preparation of food particles can also be a significant contributing factor in contaminating it.
To minimise the chances of developing food poisoning while consuming vegetables or greens, it is recommended to wash them thoroughly before cooking and eating them.
Fish
Fish is a common source of food poisoning. If not stored at the correct temperature, fish like shellfish can pose a high risk of being contaminated with histamine.
Histamine is a toxin produced by bacteria naturally occurring in fishes. This bacteria cannot be destroyed by normal cooking and can result in food poisoning.
The food poisoning caused by this particular bacteria can lead to swelling of the face or tongue.
Shellfish carry the risk of food poisoning as the algae consumed by these fishes produces various toxins and can build up in the flesh of the organism.
These bacteria pose a danger to humans when they are consumed. Shellfish captured from a polluted area can pose a risk due to contamination.
To reduce the risk, it is always recommended to buy seafood from authentic retailers and make sure it is cooked thoroughly before consuming it.
Rice
Being the staple food for more than half of the world’s population, many would have prayed that this cereal grain should not feature in the list.
Uncooked rice can be harmful. A bacteria called bacillus cereus produces a toxin that can cause food poisoning in humans.
Even if the cooked rice is left at room temperature for a long time, these bacteria can grow and multiply on it. The longer rice is left at room temperature, the more it can be unsafe for consumption.
To minimise the chances of developing food poisoning through rice, it is better to consume it immediately after cooking or refrigerate leftover rice immediately.
Deli meats
Deli meat like bacon, salami, ham and hotdogs can cause food poisoning as their contamination occurs directly through poor quality meat or hygiene by the staff handling it.
Cooking the hotdog meat, sausages or bacon must be done correctly and should be consumed immediately after being cooked. It is also essential to store them in the refrigerator until they are ready to be consumed again.
Unpasteurised dairy
Pasteurisation is good for the food. It is the process of heating food or a liquid to kill harmful microorganisms in it. Unpasteurised dairy products can contain double-time food poisoning agents as pasteurised dairy products.
To minimise the risk of food poisoning caused by unpasteurised milk, purchasing pasteurised products from the store is better.
Eggs
The egg is superfood, incredibly nutritious, and versatile, but can be a source of food poisoning.
Eggs can trigger food poisoning if they are consumed undercooked or raw. Due to the salmonella bacteria present inside and out in the eggshell, there is a high chance that eggs are not cooked properly.
Some videos might be circulating on social media showing men with good physiques consuming raw eggs. Still, it is advised that to reduce the risk of food poisoning, do not consume raw eggs or eggs with dirty shells and choose to cook eggs or pasteurise them before consumption.
Fruit
The most unexpected name on the list. Considered one of the healthiest consumables, fruits can also be linked to food poison outbreaks.
Various fruits preprepared for salads can be linked to food poisoning.
Fruits that grow on the ground, like watermelon, can have a higher risk of causing food poisoning because a bacteria called listeria can grow and spread to its flesh.
Sprouts
Raw sprouts can offer a good amount of protein to the body but can also cause food poisoning.
The culprit here on the sprout is the bacteria called salmonella. The seeds require warm and moist conditions for the sprout to grow. These conditions are also ideal for the growth of bacteria.
It is better to cook the sprouts to kill any harmful microorganisms present in them and also eliminate the chances of developing food poisoning.
What are the remedies for food poisoning?
Some of the remedies for poisoning are the symptoms occurring in the body and can help dehydration, a common side-effect of poisoning.
Resting the body
Rest is one of the best ways to recover the body from food poisoning. Taking rest is an easy way to feel better and improve health.
Apart from rest, not consuming any drink or food for a few hours after the onset of symptoms can help fight against it.
Some ice chips can help a person stay hydrated during these situations.
Hydrating oneself
Dehydration is one of the most common side-effects of food poisoning or food-borne illness.
Dehydration can be commonly found in older adults or younger children. This complication should never be taken lightly as the health condition can be fatal if it is not treated immediately.
Dehydration is a condition that is often treatable at home. Sports drinks or electrolytes can ease mild dehydration.
If the dehydration symptoms are severe, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately.
BRAT diet
Following the BRAT diet can be gentle on the stomach. This diet consists of rice, banana, apple sauce and toast.
Broths that are clear and not spicy can be included in this diet. This diet contains food that can help the stools get thick and replenish the nutrients a person may lose through illness or dehydration.
Probiotics
Probiotics are microorganisms that help keep the gut in check. Good and bad bacteria live in the stomach, and food poisoning can disturb that fine balance in the gut.
Probiotics can balance the bacteria in the stomach and help strengthen the gut to protect it from food-borne illness.
Medication
Over-the-counter medications can help manage the symptoms of food poisoning. With the help of some medical assistance, anyone can buy medicines and nausea or diarrhoea.
Over-the-counter medications are not for children. Adults or children need to consume a lot of fluids and follow their regular diet and sit for medical help if their dehydration or food poisoning last for a long time.
Ginger or mint tea
Ginger, for centuries, has been a staple in the traditional medicine practice of various cultures around the world.
Various studies show that it can cure nausea in many cases. Mint accompanied with ginger can help treat food poison.
Mint is a herb that traditional medicine uses to settle the stomach due to its pain-relieving properties. Drinking tea can keep a person hydrated when ginger or mint is mixed with it and helps to manage symptoms of food poisoning.
Ginger
Ginger is applauded for its medicinal properties and is a staple in various cuisines.
Ginger is full of valuable properties and is easy on the stomach. Consuming ginger in food or adding it to hot tea can help deal with food poisoning.
Honey
Honey has antibacterial and antifungal properties. This makes honey the most effective choice for food poisoning.
Consuming a tablespoon of honey in its purest form can ease food poisoning symptoms and help a person cope.
Lemon
Lemon is considered to be the best food against poisoning due to the strong anti-inflammatory properties it has to offer a person consuming it.
Moreover, the anti-viral and antibacterial properties in lemon help to kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Garlic
Garlic is known to prevent or reduce fever and provide cardiac properties to the body. The presence of antibacterial and antifungal properties can help relieve symptoms like diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
Apples
Apples hold an important role in curing food poison as they can reduce reflux or burns. This too prohibits the formation of bacteria that can cause stomach aches or diarrhoea.
Cold milk
As mentioned above, it is crucial to pasteurise milk before consuming it, but cold milk can soothe the stomach lining by reducing its acidity.
Rehydration mixture
Dehydration is a common companion of food poisoning. This condition will extract the fluids from the body and make it tired.
Drinking enough water or lime water can help replenish the body with essential salts lost through dehydration.
Water
Water is the universal healer. Simple and effective. Drinking enough water during food poisoning will help to flush out various toxins or bacteria from the body.
Cumin seeds
Cumin seeds are popular home remedies to treat food poisoning as it increases the activity of digestive enzymes in the body, thus speeding up digestion.
In a cup of water, boiling cumin seeds and consuming them once or twice a day can have positive effects on the body.
Basil leaves
Basil leaves are commonly known as Tulsi leaves in India. Worshiped for medicinal values, these leaves have anti-inflammatory properties that can fight against food poisoning and positively affect the digestive tract.
Tulsi leaves can also correct the body’s natural pH level by balancing the amount of acid produced in the body.
Coriander leaves
Coriander leaves are used in cuisine to enhance the taste. This leaf is full of medicinal properties and can soothe the stomach against injuries caused by bacterial or viral infection.
Oil extracted from coriander leaves is known to have antibacterial properties, and consuming it helps fight against stomach infections.
It is essential to take care of the body when it is dehydrated. Reducing the intake of solid foods and consuming liquids can ensure the digestive system’s quick recovery.
Restricting outside food can help. Eliminating foods that are fried, spicy or sweet can have a positive impact on reducing symptoms of food poisoning.
If the symptoms of food poisoning last longer than three days, it is important to seek medical attention.
To sum up
Food poisoning is a health condition that anyone can develop when consuming food that contains bacteria or a virus.
The symptoms usually set in immediately or can take days after consuming the contaminated food.
It is essential to take good care of the body when it is dehydrated to reduce the chances of developing further health complications that can be fatal.
Mild food poisoning or dehydration can be cured with home remedies. If a person exhibits symptoms that appear severe, medical attention is mandatory.
