Food poisoning is a relatively common yet frustrating illness that can come after eating contaminated foodstuffs, re-heating leftovers or eating out-of-date food.
But how do you distinguish food poisoning from a stomach bug? And how can you prevent food poisoning in the first place? Kajsa Ernestam, health expert and in-house dietician at Lifesum, looks at the causes, treatments and best foods to eat if you get struck down by food poisoning.
What causes food poisoning?
Food poisoning occurs when you consume contaminated foodstuffs. 'Food poisoning is the result of eating or drinking something that is either toxic, or that has been contaminated with germs, often by having been left out for too long, not cooked properly, or eaten after its use by date,' explains Ernestam.
'Food poisoning is often caused by bacteria, such as listeria, E.coli, and salmonella, or a virus, such as norovirus or the flu and can be contagious, but only for one or two days.
Otherwise, it can be caused by chemicals or toxins, and since this is not an infection, it won’t be contagious.
Symptoms of food poisoning
The symptoms of food poisoning can arrive even just a few hours after eating the contaminated food. According to Ernestam, the main things to look out for include:
❗️Pregnant women are more at risk because their bodies are experiencing changes in their metabolism. Also, elderly people have a weaker immune system, so they will not be as protected to infection.
How to treat food poisoning
While it is an uncomfortable experience, food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week. However, in more severe cases, symptoms can linger for up to one month.
'If you, or your child, has food poisoning then it is advised to stay home from school or work and to make sure that you rest and stay hydrated,' says Ernestam. 'Ensure that you wash your hands and do not prepare food, as to avoid spreading it to anyone else.'
'I recommend healing your body with nutrition and vitamins from natural foods, a lot of liquids, rest, and, when you are up for it, some fresh air,' Ernestam adds.
⚠️ When to see your GP
If symptoms persist or become more serious, contact your doctor. 'If you are vomiting for more than 12 hours, pass bloody urine or stool, or a fever higher than 37 degrees Celsius, then you should see your GP,' says Ernestam.
'Also, if you are experiencing symptoms of severe dehydration, such as not passing urine, dry mouth, or difficulty keeping fluids down, then it could be worth calling your GP.'
Food and drink to ease food poisoning
If you've experienced a particularly nasty bout of food poisoning, you might feel like you never want to eat again, but it is important to keep yourself hydrated and sustained. The best food and drinks, according to Ernestam, include the following:
Applesauce is a great way to settle your stomach. Containing less fibre than apples (try to minimise your fibre intake when you’re suffering from food poisoning) the sauce is easy to digest and contains pectin, which can help with diarrhoea.
💦 Birch Water
A 2013 study published in the Molecular Medicine Reports, showed that birch water can help improve the immune system, and the hydrating electrolytes can help hydrate to restore your body’s natural balance, which will help both with the nausea and dehydration.
☕ Ginger or peppermint tea
Studies have found that a soothing cup of your favourite herbal tea can do wonders to settle the nasty effects of food poisoning. Ginger tea is thought to reduce motion sickness, whereas peppermint tea is a known morning sickness cure in pregnancy. Both will also reduce nausea and stomach pain.
🍉 Foods with a high-water content
Since food poisoning can leave the body very dehydrated, it is important to try to retain as much water as possible. In addition to the various drinks, foods that are high in water will help as well.
Once you are ready to try food again, some good options are celery, tomatoes, aubergine, radishes, strawberries and the obvious cucumber and watermelon. All of these fruits and vegetables contain around 80-95 per cent water, and are also filled with natural sugars, important vitamins, such as vitamin A, B, and C, and minerals, such as potassium and magnesium.
How to prevent food poisoning
There are a few things you can do that will help you to avoid getting food poisoning. These include the following:
- Wash your hands: make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with warm water and soap
- Follow use-by dates: even if the food looks okay, don't eat it if it has passed it's use by date.
- Cook food properly: make sure all food, particularly meat, is always cooked through before eating it.
- Cool down leftovers: if you're saving a portion of food, make sure it's throughly cooled down before putting it in the fridge or freezer. However, don't leave it out for hours.
- Store raw meat correctly: keep it covered and on the bottom shelf of the fridge so it doesn't drip down and contaminate other foods.