Food poisoning can affect almost anyone! In the majority of food poisoning cases, the technical term for your misery is gastroenteritis- an irritation of the stomach and intestines. It’s typically caused by bacteria (such as Salmonella, E. coli, or Campylobacter) or a virus (like norovirus). Food poisoning may cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, cramps and make you feel nauseated.
Here are the top home remedies for food poisoning. Also, do consult your doctor, especially if you have severe diarrhoea, vomiting, dizziness, or symptoms of dehydration.
BASIL
Basil is an excellent herb to soothe the abdominal discomfort caused by food poisoning. It also has antimicrobial properties that help fight the micro-organisms.
Remedy 1: Put a few drops of basil oil in four cups of drinking water. Drink it slowly throughout the day to kill bacteria causing stomach pain and other problems.
Remedy 2: Add basil leaves, some sea salt, and a pinch black pepper to three tablespoons of plain yogurt. Eat this three to four times a day until your symptoms are gone.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Though acidic in nature, apple cider vinegar has an alkaline effect due to the way it is metabolized in the body. Thus, it can alleviate various food poisoning symptoms. It can soothe the gastrointestinal lining and kill the bacteria, giving you instant relief.
How to use: drink undiluted apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon) several times a day until the symptoms go away.
WATER
If you are suffering from food poisoning symptoms, then it is very important to keep yourself hydrated as your body will be losing a lot of water due to diarrhoea. So, the best option for you is to drink lots of water so that you maintain the fluid level in your body. Also, the water will help to flush out the toxins and bacteria from your body and will help in early recovery from bouts of food poisoning.
YOGHURT+FENUGREEK SEEDS
Yogurt has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that help fight the bacteria causing food poisoning. Plus, fenugreek seeds help treat abdominal discomfort.
How to use: You can take one teaspoon fenugreek seeds along with a tablespoon of yogurt. You just need to swallow the seeds and need not chew them. The combining effect of fenugreek seeds and yogurt will give you an immediate relief from stomach pain as well as vomiting.
BANANAS
Banana helps in reducing the various ill-effects of food poisoning. Bananas are easy on stomach due to their soft texture. Plus, being rich in potassium, they help your potassium stores depleted due to vomiting and diarrhoea.
How to use: Eating just one banana will also help restore your energy level. You can simply eat a ripe banana or make a tasty and healthy banana shake and drink it two to three times a day.
HONEY
The anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of honey help in treating indigestion and other food poisoning symptoms.
How to use: Honey as a natural remedy can be taken in its pure form or added to tea. A teaspoon of honey three times a day can do wonders to heal an upset stomach. It also controls the formation of excess acid in the stomach.
ADDITIONAL REMEDIES
- Sipping on herbal teas of various kinds, like chamomile, ginger, green, lemon, peppermint, etc, helps in soothing your stomach and also avoids stomach cramping.
- Eat a fresh garlic clove every day. Garlic juice can also be consumed.
- Lemon contains anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial compounds, which kills bacteria that cause food poisoning. Lemon is sour in taste, and hence, a teaspoon of lemon juice can be consumed with a pinch of sugar.
- Eating chicken broth can pace up the healing process of the patient. When a person is gradually healing from the problem of food poisoning, he/she should be given chicken broth as it is mild and the body will not reject it immediately.
- Drink 3-4 cups of peppermint tea or eat anything that contains peppermint or menthol, like chewing gum or hard candies.
TIPS TO PREVENT FOOD POISONING
- If you are a non-vegetarian, make sure to cook the meat thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature that can kill the bacteria inside it.
- Do not risk your body by eating the food that is kept in the refrigerator from quite a long time.
- Wash your hands with antiseptic soap before and after having a meal, and whenever you step inside the house.
- Wash your dishes and utensils in warm water to kill the microscopic organisms, like bacteria.