Overview
When people suffer from illness because of eating contaminated food, one can say that they are suffering from food poisoning. The most general causes of food poisoning are parasites, bacteria, and viruses. Nausea, Diarrhea, and vomiting are the symptoms of food poisoning which can begin within a few hours of consuming the contaminated food.
People experience food poisoning due to gastroenteritis and it is caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasites. Loose stools, stomach cramps, feeling sick or queasy, Diarrhea, Headaches, increased body temperature, chills, weakness and fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, and vomiting are the common symptoms of food poisoning.
There are several economical ways to treat food poisoning from different elements that are easily available in our kitchen.
Apple cider vinegar
A dash of vinegar that is made from apples is usually known as apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar had several health benefits, most significant of them include treating the food poisoning. Because of its alkaline effect, this is one of the best treatments to treat food poisoning. While having the apple cider vinegar, the best way is to mix 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. It is important that you intake this drink before eating your meal. However, if you’re still experiencing this problem, have 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar without diluting it, for improved outcomes.
Ginger
Also to mitigate the symptoms of food poisoning, ginger plats a vital role. It is advisable to place the grated ginger in a cup of water and boil it. Also, we can use honey or sugar as per the taste. In an alternative manner, you can have pieces of ginger directly. If you are still experiencing the condition, you are recommended to have the two times every day till it gets reduced.
Yogurt and Fenugreek Seeds
To treat food poisoning this is one of the cheap, efficient and convenient procedures. Having one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and yogurt can reduce the symptoms of food poisoning. Also, it is recommended that instead of chewing, direct consumption can treat food poisoning in a faster manner.
Lemon
When it comes to food poisoning, lemon is regarded as the King of Remedies. Taking one teaspoon of lemon juice and having it directly can assist in reducing the symptoms. Also, we can dilute this with lukewarm water.
Bananas
Because they are very light and easy, bananas are regarded as good treatments for food poisoning. Consuming a banana shake or having one ripe banana every day is advisable.
Garlic
Well-known for its cardiac and antipyretic features, garlic is also regarded as an effective digestive agent. Having one clove of garlic with a glass of water every day is recommended to treat food poisoning. Some people cannot bear the odor of the garlic, in such cases drinking garlic juice is advisable. In other cases, massaging the stomach with a mixture of soybean oil and garlic is recommended.
Honey
One of the most efficient treatments of food poisoning is honey, due to its antifungal and antibacterial features. Consume a teaspoon of honey in its pure form three times a day is recommended to reduce the symptoms of food poisoning. Also, consuming it with lemonade or tea can is advisable which are reduce the effects of food poisoning.
Apples
Apples are considered to have a significant role in curing the food poisoning, as per the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Also, with the help of apples, acid reflux and the heartburns are decreased. It prevents the development of bacteria which leads to Diarrhea and stomach ache.
Cold milk
Medical experts also recommend to consume a glass of cold milk to treat food poisoning. For quick relief it advisable to have plain cold milk, instead of adding any flavor for taste.
Rehydration Mixture
People suffer from food poisoning due to the lack of water content in their bodies. This mixture will provide the necessary fluids and slats that are required to the body. One can prepare this mixture with the help of lemons.
It is a very simple method and all you need is one liter of water and two teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice by adding sugar and salt in it. We would advise people to drink this mixture on a daily basis in order to stay hydrated. We would advise people to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Water
Sometimes, all you need is water and you need it especially when you are suffering from food poisoning. Drinking plenty of water can help you to get rid of all the toxins and bacteria which is present in our body. Water is considered as the best natural remedy for reducing the symptoms of food poisoning. It has the capability of flushing out all the types of bacteria and toxins from the body.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds is one of the most effective home remedies for treating the symptoms of food poisoning. You can create a mixture with the help of cumin seeds. In order to prepare this mixture, you need a cup of water, cumin seeds, and freshly extracted coriander. As you have everything you need follow the below steps to create a mixture.
- Take a cup of water
- Add cumin seeds into the water
- Boil it for a few minutes
- Add freshly extracted coriander juice in it
To get rid of the symptoms of food poisoning, drink at least two times in a day.
Basil Leaves
Tulsi or basil leaves are considered as the best herbs to fight against the symptoms of food poisoning. It is a very simple method and all you need is basil leaves and honey. Prepare basil juice with the help of tulsi leaves and add honey for taste. Consume it for two to three times a day or until you feel better.
Peppermint
Peppermint or menthol present in some foods. These foods include
- Hard candies
- Chewing gum
Consume the above foods to ease the symptoms of food poisoning. If you want to go naturally, then we would advise you to strain mint leaves in a cup of boiling water and drink it 3 times a day.
Basil and Cardamom
Basil leaves has a long history and people used leaves for treating various medical problems. To get rid of the symptoms of food poisoning, we would advise you to consume basil leaves along with elaichi (cardamom).
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea will keep an eye on your digestive system and ensures that it is functioning normally. There are varieties of herbal teas available all over the world. Following are the variety of herbal teas including
- Licorice tea
- Green chamomile tea
- Meadowsweet tea
- Comfrey root
To experience the benefits of herbal teas, we would advise people to try the above remedies as they have the capability of treating the symptoms of food poisoning.
Coriander Leaves
Indians use these leaves to increase the tastiness of the food. But, you may not know its secret powers. It has the capability of soothing your stomach and protect you from getting diagnosed with stomach infection due to its medicinal properties. It is available in powder also or you can eat it fresh. Antibacterial properties also present in coriander oil and it will help you to reduce the symptoms of your disorder.
Over the Counter Medications
If you are unable to ease the symptoms of food poisoning even after trying all the home remedies, we would advise you to go to a pharmacist and he may give you the following drugs. These include
- Imodium
- Pepto-Bismol
The above drugs have the capability of treating the symptoms of food poisoning such as Diarrhea and nausea. Dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, dizziness, nausea, exhaustiveness, headache are common side effects with the use of Imodium. Unable to breathe properly, severe rashes present in some parts of the body, abdominal cramps and swelling of the face or arms are considered as the serious side effects associated with the use of Imodium.
The following are the side effects people usually experience with the use of Pepto-Bismol. These include
- Black stool
- Black tongue
- Hairy tongue
- Ringing in your ears
This drug can cause mild symptoms and usually goes away on its own after you stop taking the medication.
Conclusion
It is an easy task for you to deal with the symptoms of food poisoning. Most of the people recover from this disease within forty-eight hours of its occurrence. Sometimes, it can be fatal but it will happen in rare scenarios. You need to stop drinking alcohol and consuming spicy and fried foods especially when you are suffering from food poisoning.
If you are not feeling well or unable to get rid of the symptoms of food poisoning, then we would advise you to consult your physician, then he or she will rule out the exact problem and prescribe you some medications based on your condition. If you are experiencing any difficulties due to the side effects of those drugs, then we would you to have a word with your physician regarding the issue, then he or she may reduce the dosage of the drug or switch you to other medications.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17175601
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0733862707000296
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3810/pgm.1998.06.509
Sirisha B