Causes and Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning or food borne illness is a common and at times cause life threatening intestinal sickness that befalls people and causes much distress and may even lead to death, if it is too severe. Food poisoning Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, which may also be accompanied by fever, bloody stool, dehydration, and damage to the nervous system, depending on the contaminant.
Food poisoning symptoms appear suddenly and within 48 hours after ingestion of food contaminated with viruses or parasites or pathogenic bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter, clostridium botulinum, staphylococcal organisms and infections caused by them. The last four bacteria are the most potent causes that trigger off food poisoning.
Food poisoning is also caused by toxic agents like pesticides on fruits and vegetables, poisonous mushrooms or improperly prepared exotic dishes like barracuda. Majority of food items that can potentially result in food poisoning are undercooked or raw food from animal sources like stale fish, shellfish, exotic seafood, eggs, cheese, non-pasteurized milk or meat.
Lack of hygiene, poor sanitation and preparation lead to contamination of food by these agents. Those who handle the food may have infections themselves or may not wash their hands properly after using the toilet; these infectants then pass on to the food causing contamination. Contamination is often promoted when improperly packaged foods are stored at the wrong temperature. If you consume packaged food items, which have crossed their expiry date, they may cause food poisoning.
Home Remedies for Food Poisoning
Apart from the usual cures, which include harsh antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, you can also try out alternative home remedies like ayurvedic cures. (Ayurveda is an ancient, trusted and harmless science of medicine originating in India). Turmeric is a trusted remedy, which can effectively treat diarrhea and loose motion.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of turmeric spice in a glass of warm water and take it only once a day.
- Take 1-3 gm of dried ginger powder mixed with equal parts of sugar, twice daily.
- Take 1 gm powder of fried long pepper/cumin/dried ginger with 1 cup of buttermilk, 3-4 times daily.
- In case of children Mix ½ -1 gm of nutmeg powders with Luke warm water. Drink it twice or thrice daily.
- Juice of 1 lemon and 25 gm sugar mixed in 250 ml of water taken thrice daily, will restore the electrolytic balance lost due to vomiting and loose motion and prevent dehydration. Or you may take ½ -1 gm fried large cardamom seed with 1 teaspoon honey, thrice daily to reduce the vomiting.
- 2 tablespoons of pasteurized apple cider vinegar in an undiluted form may be consumed the moment you feel you might have food poisoning.
- You can develop a strong digestive system by practicing yoga asanas and pranayama.perform shankhaprakshalana first and the next step is Pawanmuktasana, vajrasana for 10 mins after meals, bhujangasana, mayurasana, sarvangasana and savasana, bhastrika, nauli kriya, uddiyana, moola and jalandhara bandhas.