What is Food Poisoning?
Food Poisoning refers to the illness that the consumption of contaminated food may cause. It can be categorized into two groups of poisoning; infectious agent and toxic agent. Infectious agents are bacteria, viruses and parasites, while toxic agents are poisonous food such as mushrooms, improperly prepared barracuda as well as vegetables and fruits that have pesticide on them.
Food Poisoning Treatment
Food Poisoning is normally treated with antibiotics, in addition to your doctor’s orders. Doctors normally recommend the consumption of water, energy drinks and soup. This is expected to rehydrate the body. The consumption of solid food can upset the stomach during its infection stage so it is usually recommended that solid food be avoided. It is important that the doctor’s recommendations are adhered to.
Some Common symptoms of Food Poisoning
- Queasiness: When the body becomes infected it becomes queasy. Queasiness refers to that nauseous feeling that indicates that something is wrong inside the body. It is one of the most common symptoms of food poisoning.
- Vomiting: Vomiting is sometimes called throwing up. When the body becomes infected with contaminated food; the immune system will try to fight the bacterium that has caused the infection. As a result the body will try to get rid of the infection by giving the individual the urge to throw up.
- Abdominal pain: This refers to the contraction that is felt in the abdomen. This contraction is normally due to the urge to pass stool. Passing stool is another way of the body trying to rid itself of the infection.
- Diarrhea: If you are experiencing diarrhea, the common assumption would be that it is due to something you ate, in most cases you are right. Diarrhea is the most common of all the symptoms of food poisoning. This is one of the ways in which the body signals that it is infected.
- Dehydration: When a body becomes infected it normally loses its water, this will then cause the body to lose its capacity to fight toxins and deliver nutrients as needed. The need to quench your thirst is normally the body’s signal of dehydration.
- Weakness: If the body is infected with the contaminated food, then chances are that it will need nutrients to help fight the bacteria. Bacteria usually attack the body, making the immune system too weak to fight back.
- Fever: A fever occurs when a body’s temperature has been intensified. An increase in the body’s temperature is a common signal that the body is infected.
Tips on how to avoid food poisoning
- If you are unable to prepare your food yourself, avoid purchasing food that is prone to airborne infections.
- Wash your hands before you eat your meal; improper sanitation contributes to food infection.
- Wash your vegetables and fruits thoroughly before you consume them.
- If you purchase food that carries an expiration date, ensure that the date has not yet passed.
- If you should eat at a fast food restaurant avoid the ones that do not allow you to see how, where and when your food is prepared.
