Food poisoning and diarrhea are some of the most common ailments travelers encounter when jet setting across the world, especially in Third World areas. The old adage for eating in these kinds of places is, “boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.” As simple as it might sound, most travelers have a hard time following this old saying.
So what do you do if you run into food poisoning while traveling? Take a look at some of these helpful pointers from travelers just like you:
Avoid dehydration
Whether it’s coming out of the top or bottom of your body, the most important thing you can do when dealing with food poisoning while traveling is to keep yourself hydrated. Now, the cause of your food poisoning may have come from drinking water in the first place, so it’s important to find fresh water or a beverage high in electrolytes, like Gatorade or Pedialyte. If those types of drinks aren’t readily available, boil 1 liter of water and add 8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.
A popular drink to get rid of dehydration is called “Saudi Champagne,” which consists of half soda water and half apple juice. Try to let the soda water sit out so it’s not as bubbly as to not further upset your stomach.
Stay Uncontaminated
Whether you or your travel partner(s) is sick, it’s extremely important to keep yourself clean and uncontaminated. If you’re helping a travel partner with his or her food poisoning, always make sure you keep your hands and arms clean by washing them with warm water and soap.
Avoid antidiarrheal medication
One of the most common mistakes among travelers dealing with food poisoning is self-medicating with antidiarrheal or antiemetic medications. Your body is trying to flush out of all the intoxicating materials inside itself, and antidiarrheal medication typically blocks up your system. It’s best to just let the sickness run it’s course and stay hydrated!
