Recognizing and Dealing with Food Poisoning Symptoms

Every year, more than two million Americans report illnesses that can be traced to foods they have eaten. The actual number of food poisoning cases is estimated to be higher, because people often mistake the symptoms for those of stomach "virus."

As many as 9,000 deaths occur annually from all types of food poisoning and many cases lead to chronic health disorders.

Symptoms vary, but the most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain. There are many reasons why food poisoning occurs ...most often it is due to improperly handled poultry, beef or fish which are particularly susceptible to bacterial infection. Also, poor hygiene by food handlers in restaurants as well as eating at salad bar-type environments which can breed bacterial infection if the food is not fresh or properly rotated.

Keep in mind these healthy tips for helping to prevent and alleviate symptoms:

Charcoal Capsules are very effective in removing toxic substances from the colon and bloodstream. Recommendation for use: At the first sign of illness, take 2 - 3 capsules. Try to separate intake of Charcoal from taking other nutritional supplements, since it can absorb vital nutrients as well as toxins.

Garlic destroys bacteria in the colon while it detoxifies. Recommendation: Take 2 Garlic Oil capsules or Deodorized Garlic tablets 3 times daily.

Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic that destroys bacteria in the colon. At the first sign of food poisoning, take an herbal Goldenseal supplement - 2 capsules, repeat every 4 hours for 24 hours.

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids works with Vitamin E to detoxify the body and enhance the immune system. Recommendation: Take Vitamin C (with bioflavonoids) / take 2,000 mg. 3 - 4 times daily (6,000 - 8,000 mg.) Take Vitamin E Complex - 1,000 iu once daily.

Include an amino acid supplement supplying L-Cysteine, also take 200 mcg. of Selenium daily.

Follow These Valuable Tips:

• Wash your hands with antibacterial soap thoroughly, before handling food and after handling raw meat, fish or poultry.
• Try to prepare your foods using 2 different cutting boards: 1 for meat, the other for vegetables. Wash them at least 3 times weekly with a solution of 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and approximately 2 gallons of water.
• Be sure to discard cans that are bulging, rusted, bent or sticky; these are warning signs of possible botulism.
• Wash kitchen towels and sponges with a solution of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water regularly.
• Thaw all frozen foods, especially meats and poultry in the refrigerator.
• Be especially careful when eating at salad bars: Avoid the following foods at salad bars: chicken, fish, creamed foods, foods containing mayonnaise, undercooked foods, and soups that are not kept at near-boiling temperatures.

Be Aware of These Symptoms:

When you eat or drink food contaminated with foreign bacteria - at home or abroad - severe symptoms can occur. Treatment depends on the bacterium involved and the severity of symptoms. Anytime you have diarrhea that fails to clear in 48 to 72 hours, you should see your personal physician or health professional.

Diarrhea and dramatic increase in motility (bowel contraction) and in secretion (production of mucus and lack of water reabsorption). Those two activities result in the waves of cramping in your belly, a bloated feeling, and finally the passage of stools every 30 minutes to an hour that become progressively looser and watery.

Typical "food poisoning" caused usually by a staphylococcus bacterium results in sudden onset of both vomiting and diarrhea with severe stomach cramping, but usually with no fever or other body symptoms. Other bacteria (Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium botulinum) contaminating the food produce a toxic chemical that, when eaten, causes a sudden increase in motility and secretion. The bacteria themselves don't cause the symptoms, and therefore this kind of diarrhea truly is a "poisoning" and not an infection. SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you ever develop: bloody diarrhea, fever, double vision, difficulty swallowing, difficulty talking, or difficulty breathing. Do not ignore or attempt self-treatment for these kinds of symptoms!

Here's How To Treat Diarrhea:

Diet modification plays a crucial role in helping to normalize the activity of your bowel during and after bouts of Diarrhea.

• Immediately stop all intake of food or drink at the onset of diarrhea (and vomiting). Take nothing by mouth for at least one hour.
• Begin intake first by melting small pieces of ice in your mouth, nothing more.
• Drink small sips of Gatorade (contains glucose and the electrolytes sodium and potassium.) Try to take in 8 ounces of fluid per hour in small sips throughout the first day. If you don't have Gatorade, use any clear liquid without caffeine such as 7-Up, decaffeinated tea, or water. No cola drinks!
• The following day, clear broth (chicken or beef) and small bites of dry toast or Saltine crackers to supplement sodium. Continue to drink ever-increasing amounts of Gatorade and other clear liquids without caffeine or alcohol.
• Later, increase intake of broth and toast, begin eating lightly - lean beef or skinless chicken, well-cooked scrambled eggs for protein intake. Continue to drink plenty of the clear fluids, as before.
• Continue only eating lean meat, chicken or egg, dry toast and crackers. A little rice or a few noodles for limited carbohydrate intake, can be added by the third or fourth day.
• Finally, add plain, non-fat yogurt and an Acidophilus w/pectin supplement to your daily intake.
• Avoid all caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods until your symptoms have completely cleared.

Sodium levels fall with diarrhea of large volume or many days. Low sodium makes you feel washed out, weak, dizzy with minimum activity and nauseated. That's why it's helpful to use Gatorade and the chicken or beef broth in addition to water and other clear beverages. Replenishing sodium will help to speed your recovery.

Diarrhea also causes a severe loss of potassium, causing the weak, breathless, washed-out feeling that lingers after your recovery from such an illness. Increase take of Potassium with supplements.

Eating apples has long been used as a remedy, because the Pectin is valuable for alleviating diarrhea symptoms.

Blackberry and raspberry are high in tannins and are also very effective.

Carob powder helps shorten the duration of diarrhea and its symptoms. Also include Bee Propolis supplement.

Psyllium contains almost 50% mucilage, so it swells in the gut and relieves diarrhea.

Sources / References:

"The Doctor's Complete Guide To Vitamins and Minerals" / Eades, M.D.

"The Nutrition Desk Reference" / Garrison, Jr., M.A., R.Ph. & Somer, M.A., R.D.