Food Poisoning, how to avoid it, and what to do if it catches you!

We've all heard about the infamous and ubiquitous Delhi belly. Diarrhea, vomiting, feeling dizzy and nauseous, and no feeling like going anywhere near food, are all too familiar symptoms, especially during the monsoon season. If foods aren't cleaned properly or aren't fully cooked or properly prepared, they have a high chance of bringing foodborne illness. 

If you happen to have to eat at an unclean place, due to travels or otherwise unavoidable circumstances, you can safeguard against food poisoning by taking 2 tablets of oregano oil and/or taking a heaping teaspoon of activated charcoal in water. Take immediately prior or following possible food contamination. During this time, it's going to be especially important that you get plenty of sleep and keep stress to a minimum. Food poisoning and IBS are closely linked; to learn more about read our blog on IBS here.

Remedies for food poisoning

In this current hot and humid weather, it's inevitable that you'll be exposed to foodborne illness at some point this season. If you end up having to eat at a questionable place, and/or consume produce that hasn't been properly cooked and/or cleaned, it's also helpful to have some tricks up your sleeve to work preventatively.

Try these at home remedies to prevent and deal with the runs (diarrhea and/or vomiting), which is your body's natural purging response, naturally:

• Activated charcoal. This unique remedy binds to the toxic substances, powerfully expelling them from the body
• 1 teaspoon in water and/or 2-3 capsules, immediately after consuming the food and/or experiencing diarrhea
• Apple cider vinegar (raw and with the mother)
• 1 tablespoon in water, can be taken with the activated charcoal.
• Oregano oil, peppermint, or neem: these powerfully rid the cause for food poisoning
• In case you didn't dose preventatively (above), immediately start taking 2-3 capsules per hour until the symptoms abate, for up to 3 hours. Thereafter, continue taking 1-2 capsules before your meals.

Once you've been able to end the diarrhea that accompanies food poisoning, it's time to bind the stomach. You can do this with pectin and other gut binders:

• Apple sauce
• Super easy to make. Put a couple of sliced apples in the pressure cooker, and cook for a few whistles until soft. Allow this to cool, and have
• Cooked and cooled rice
• Full of prebiotics and resistant starch, this will help bind the stomach
• Psyllium husk (isabgol)
• Adds bulk; mix with warm water or into some yogurt and have.

Be sure to include good amounts of probiotics for now going forward for 2-3 weeks to safeguard the gut from unwanted bacteria. Remember that beneficial bacteria are our best friend and best safeguard against harmful bacterial growth. A glass of kombucha is a good dosing or a bowl full of yogurt. 

And finally, get lots of rest. Your body needs time and space to heal and restore, and while it's being thrown around, the best you can do to help the situation is to give it the much needed snooze time it deserves! Spend time in nature connecting (or reconnecting) to your soul's cry in this moment, listening to its deeper needs even as you support your body's pain during this time. Try journaling and/or meditating, practicing gratefulness and acceptance for where you are. Your body will thank you :)