What drink helps food poisoning go away?

Food can become contaminated at any stage during its production, processing or cooking.

For example, it can become contaminated by:

  • not cooking food thoroughly (particularly meat)
  • not correctly storing food that needs to be chilled at below 5C
  • keeping cooked food unrefrigerated for a long period
  • eating food that has been touched by someone who is ill or has been in contact with someone with diarrhoea and vomiting
  • cross-contamination (where harmful bacteria are spread between food, surfaces and equipment)

Cross-contamination can occur, for example, if you prepare raw chicken on a chopping board and don't wash the board before preparing food that won't be cooked (such as salad), as the harmful bacteria can be spread from the chopping board to the salad.

It can also occur if raw meat is stored above ready-to-eat meals and juices from the meat drip on to the food below.

See preventing food poisoning for information about reducing these risks

Types of infection

Food contamination is usually caused by bacteria, but it can also sometimes be caused by viruses or parasites. Some of the main sources of contamination are described below.

Campylobacter

In the UK, campylobacter bacteria are the most common cause of food poisoning. The bacteria are usually found on raw or undercooked meat (particularly poultry), unpasteurised milk and untreated water.

The incubation period (the time between eating contaminated food and the start of symptoms) for food poisoning caused by campylobacter is usually between two and five days. The symptoms usually last less than a week.

Salmonella

Salmonella bacteria are often found in raw or undercooked meat, raw eggs, milk, and other dairy products.

The incubation period is usually between 12 and 72 hours. The symptoms usually last around four to seven days.

Listeria

Listeria bacteria may be found in a range of chilled, "ready-to-eat" foods, including pre-packed sandwiches, cooked sliced meats and pâté, and soft cheeses (such as Brie or Camembert).

All of these foods should be eaten by their "use-by" dates. This is particularly important for pregnant women, because a listeria infection (known as listeriosis) in pregnancy can cause pregnancy and birth complications, and can result in miscarriage.

The incubation period can vary considerably, from a few days to several weeks. The symptoms will usually pass within three days.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Escherichia coli, often known as E. coli, are bacteria found in the digestive systems of many animals, including humans. Most strains are harmless but some can cause serious illness.

Most cases of E. coli food poisoning occur after eating undercooked beef (particularly mince, burgers and meatballs) or drinking unpasteurised milk.

The incubation period for food poisoning caused by E. coli is typically one to eight days. The symptoms usually last for a few days or weeks.

Shigella

Shigella bacteria can contaminate any food that has been washed in contaminated water.

Symptoms typically develop within seven days of eating contaminated food and last for up to a week.

An infection caused by Shigella bacteria is known as bacillary dysentery or shigellosis. See the topic on dysentery for more information about it.

Viruses

The virus that most commonly causes diarrhoea and vomiting is the norovirus. It's easily spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water. Raw shellfish, particularly oysters, can also be a source of infection.

The incubation period typically lasts 24-48 hours and the symptoms usually pass in a couple of days.

In young children, the rotavirus is a common cause of infection from contaminated food. The symptoms usually develop within a week and pass in around five to seven days.

Parasites

In the UK, food poisoning caused by parasites is rare. It's much more common in the developing world.

Parasitic infections that can be spread in contaminated food include:

  • giardiasis – an infection caused by a parasite called Giardia intestinalis
  • cryptosporidiosis – an infection caused by a parasite called Cryptosporidium
  • ameobiasis – a type of dysentery caused by a single-cell parasite (ameoba) called Entamoeba histolytica (this is very rare in the UK)

The symptoms of food poisoning caused by a parasite usually develop within 10 days of eating contaminated food, although sometimes it may be weeks before you feel unwell.

If left untreated, the symptoms can last a long time – sometimes several weeks or even a few months.

As the name suggests, food poisoning wake forest nc occurs when contaminated food or beverages are consumed.  While uncomfortable, most cases of food poisoning tend to clear up in a few days without needing treatment.

People that have been diagnosed or suspect they have food poisoning may be wondering how their diet will be impacted which will be the focus of this article.

What to Eat and Drink After Food Poisoning

Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.  After going through these uncomfortable symptoms, experts recommend letting the stomach settle or rest by abstaining from food and drink for a few hours.  Once the stomach has settled, the following are recommended:

  • Stay Hydrated: Because vomiting and diarrhea rapidly deplete the body’s fluids leading to dehydration, ensuring adequate liquid intake is vital to helping the body combat the effects of food poisoning.  Slowly drinking small amounts of water or sucking on ice chips is a great starting point.  Electrolyte or sports drinks can also be used but may need to be diluted with water if they contain too much sugar which could upset the stomach.  Non-caffeinated sodas, tea, and vegetable or chicken broths can also be consumed to provide electrolytes and hydration.
  • Eat Bland Foods: If the stomach has settled and the patient feels they can resume eating, it is advisable to stick to easy to digest foods that won’t upset the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.  Foods should be bland, low in fat, and low in fiber.  Because fat is harder for the stomach to digest, avoid fatty foods as much as possible.  Foods that are easier on the stomach include cereal, bananas, egg whites, gelatin, oatmeal, plain potatoes, rice, crackers, toast, and applesauce.
  • Natural Remedies: It is important to allow the body to purge and cleanse the digestive tract to eliminate harmful bacteria from food poisoning.  As such, it is not recommended to use over the counter diarrhea medications as these can kill the good stomach bacteria needed for a healthy gut.  Natural remedies like ginger can be used to soothe an upset stomach.  Once symptoms have fully resolved, taking probiotic capsules or eating natural yogurts can help replace the normal intestinal flora lost during illness.

What NOT to Eat and Drink After Food Poisoning

Because the stomach is already upset and the body on the offensive fighting food poisoning pathogens, you want to avoid anything that will exacerbate the situation.  The first, and most obvious, thing to avoid would be the food or drink that got you sick to begin with.  Dispose of any of the remaining food or drink immediately.

Besides avoiding the known or suspected food or beverage, other things to avoid include:

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine – sodas, coffee, tea, energy drinks
  • Overly spicy or seasoned foods
  • High fiber foods
  • Dairy products – milk, cheese, ice cream
  • Fatty, fried, or greasy foods
  • Tobacco/nicotine
  • Fruit juices

 Luckily, food poisoning is generally short lived and manageable.  By following the dietary recommendations discussed in this article, patients should be back to normal in short order.

More on Food Poisoning : Symptoms of Food Poisoning

Medically Reviewed by Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on April 19, 2021

When you have food poisoning, the first thing you want is relief. Your symptoms depend on what caused you to get sick, but you usually have diarrhea, throwing up, and an upset stomach at the least. It’s no fun, but it’s how your body tries to kick out the toxins and get you better.

You usually get it from eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins created from these. While some cases last longer, it’s usually gone within a few days.

There’s not a whole lot you can do except stay near a bathroom and ride it out. But you can take some steps to support yourself as you recover.

Your treatment partly depends on what gave you food poisoning and how sick you are. Some of the causes, from most to least common in the United States, are:

Norovirus: You can get this virus from raw fruits and vegetables. You can also get this from shellfish, such as lobster and clams, that come from tainted water. Food handlers who have norovirus can also spread it as they prepare meals for customers.

Salmonella.You can become infected with this bacteria by eating contaminated food such as beef, poultry eggs, vegetables or fruits, drinking contaminated water, or touching infecting animals and not washing your hands afterwards.

Clostridium perfringens. Usually a problem on foods left unrefrigerated for too long, this is common in meats, stews, and gravies.

Campylobacter. You get can this from raw or undercooked meat, especially chicken, as well as unpasteurized milk and tainted water.

Shigella. Often spread when someone uses tainted water to clean food, it can be found on seafood and raw, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables.

E. coli. You often get this one from eating undercooked beef, especially ground beef, as well as drinking unpasteurized milk and cider. E. coli bacteria can also be contracted through contact with the feces of an infected person and by touching animals and failing to wash your hands afterwards.

Giardia intestinalis. This is a parasite found in stream water or food contaminated by stool.

Listeria. Less common than others on this list, you can get it from packaged foods such as hot dogs and lunch meats, soft cheeses such as brie, and raw fruits and vegetables. Pregnant women need to be extra careful about listeria since it can cause miscarriage.

In most cases, there isn’t much your doctor can specifically do for you, and you get better on your own within a few days.

Adults or children who lose a lot of fluids -- this is called dehydration -- may need to go the hospital to get an IV. This will replace your fluids and electrolytes more quickly.

For severe food poisoning caused by certain bacteria, such as listeria, you may get antibiotics.

But with most bacteria, you may not get any medication unless you have a weak immune system or you’re pregnant.

You may also get medicine for food poisoning caused by parasites. For viruses, there’s nothing you can take.

Diarrhea and vomiting can really throw off your body’s balance of fluids and electrolytes.

Electrolytes are minerals, such as sodium and potassium, that help with everything from keeping your heartbeat normal to controlling how much water is in your body.

So your main job is to drink plenty of fluids. Start with ice chips or small sips if you need to. It’s also helpful to:

  • Avoid food for the first few hours as your stomach settles down
  • Drink water, broth, or an electrolyte solution, which will replace the minerals that you lose with vomiting and diarrhea
  • Eat when you feel ready, but start with small amounts of bland, nonfatty foods such as toast, rice, and crackers
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Stay away from dairy, caffeine, alcohol, bubbly or fizzy drinks, or spicy and fatty foods -- they can just make everything worse

Tempting as it may be, you typically want to avoid over-the-counter medicine to stop your diarrhea.

That’s because the diarrhea is helping to get rid of whatever is making you sick.

If you think you need it, check with your doctor first. And don’t give it to children -- the side effects for them could be serious.

Though food poisoning usually goes away on its own, call your doctor if you have any signs of dehydration:

  • Dry mouth or extreme thirst
  • Not peeing much (or at all) or dark, concentrated urine
  • Rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure
  • Weakness, dizziness, or a lightheaded feeling, especially when going from lying down or sitting to standing
  • Confusion

Also call your doctor if you see any of these symptoms:

  • Blood in your vomit or poop
  • Blurry vision
  • Diarrhea for more than 3 days
  • Extreme pain or cramps in your belly
  • Fever over 101.5 F
  • Throwing up that won’t stop -- you can’t even keep liquids down
  • Tingling in your arms
  • Weakness in your muscles

Food poisoning is more dangerous for some people than others. It’s best to call a doctor for:

  • Adults 60 and older
  • Babies and children
  • People with a chronic illness or weak immune system
  • Pregnant women

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