7X THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU HAVE FOOD POISONING
Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: 7x this is what you should do if you have food poisoning
Accidents happen in small corners and food poisoning can come from a small bite. That spring roll that tasted strange, rendang that was left out of the fridge too long, and that mussel that was half open or half closed? Bam, you've got it. And what do you do then?
Every year, 70,000 people have a food poisoning. They ate something that was not good, and boy, they will know: diarrhea, nausea, and generally feeling very unwell. The difference between a sneaky stomach flu and food poisoning: within one to eight hours after eating that bad food, you notice something is wrong. You feel nauseous, may even get a fever, and your intestines start to protest. You can even become seriously ill and lie in bed for days. A comfort: within three days, you will be rid of the misery. For most people, it's just very unpleasant, but for the elderly and babies, such food poisoning is really dangerous; the RIVM estimates that ten people die from food poisoning every year.
No panic
Do you need to throw up a few times? No panic, your body will clean up the mess itself. You probably have already expelled the food that made you sick. Take it easy, but don't worry.
Drink enough
Is it lasting longer? Are you still feeling nauseous and can't keep anything down? Then especially try to drink. Take a few spoonfuls of water, tea, or broth every five or ten minutes. This way, you prevent dehydration. You can also take ORS, a solution of glucose and salt (available at the pharmacy), but to be honest: it tastes pretty bad.
Grandma's remedies really help
Your grandma wasn't so crazy when she said you should drink a little cola or ginger ale for nausea. Let the soda sit so that it loses its fizz, or dilute it with water, and drink in small sips. Maybe it helps? Other tips: a damp towel on your head, ginger tea, and breathing exercises (in through your nose, out through your mouth, remember yoga?) also help.
No pills
Even if your medicine cabinet is full of remedies for diarrhea and nausea: stay away from them. Of course, it's annoying to feel so unwell, but that nastiness needs to come out of your body. Moreover, anti-diarrheal medications can cause constipation, and then you're further from home. Check if other medications you're taking still work. Birth control doesn't work well if you vomit the pill after taking it.
Wash your hands
Especially when you're sick, you must wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or after vomiting. Imagine making other people sick!
Eat what you feel like
Is the worst misery over? Then you can cautiously start eating again. It doesn't matter much what you eat; go by your own taste. Many people stick to something light, like some boiled rice or some vegetables. Avoid apple juice, milk, fizzy drinks, and light products; your intestines can't handle those well after an infection.
Let it be known
Did you eat at a restaurant and got sick from it? Then let the restaurant know. Also check if your dining companions have also become ill.
