The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately one out of every six Americans ends up sick as a result of food poisoning while thousands are hospitalized and even die every year. With increased levels of recalls and contaminations to the environment, it is important that you remain informed and on top of the matter to protect yourself and your family. There are ways to prevent and even treat foodborne illness for health conscious folks. Read on to know more:
Facts about Food Poisoning
According to one food poisoning attorney, food poisoning is commonly referred to as foodborne illness. Almost all foodborne illnesses are essentially infections derived from bad bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Several diseases can be transmitted through food including a very popular one known as salmonella. When consumed through food, this bad bacterium can cause symptoms that include diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, chills, dehydration and bloody stool.
Symptoms will usually develop within about 48 hours. If the symptoms are severe, or you believe you were poisoned at a public establishment, you will want to visit your doctor and also speak with an attorney to find out if you’re eligible to file suit.
Tips for preventing Foodborne Illness
While a lot of preventing foodborne illness comes down to how you prepare, store, and manage your food, there are other things you can do to try and minimize the chances of you getting sick. The best form of prevention would be to strengthen your immune system.
Good Bacteria
While foodborne illness is caused by the consumption of bad bacteria, there are good bacteria that you need in your body to remain healthy. They will ultimately protect your body from the bad bacteria. Microflora or probiotics (as they are called) help to colonize your intestine lining which can make it more difficult for the bad bacteria to thrive in your body.
Boost Your Immune System
Consuming more probiotics and increasing your immune system are ultimately the best solutions for preventing foodborne illness. Here are seven steps to incorporate into your daily routine.
- Drink Probiotics – You can try a lot of fermented drinks available on the market to increase the level of probiotics in the body. Start drinking at least one drink per day for the best results.
- Fermented Foods – Cultured vegetables are ideal for boosting your immune system. These fermented veggies are high in fiber and probiotics.
- Eat the Right Combination of Foods – Eating the wrong combination of foods can quickly lead to a toxic environment within your intestines. This environment then makes it easier for you to get sick from food poisoning. Small things like eating fruit on an empty stomach or eating proteins with non-starchy veggies are just one way to combine your foods correctly.
- Minimize the Refined Flour Products – To keep your digestive tract from becoming the prime environment for bad bacteria, it is important to cut back on the consumption of refined flour products. Try to eliminate a lot of processed foods made with flour, and refined sugars which can compromise on your immune system. Replace these items by buying organic alternatives.
- Eat Prebiotics – Prebiotics help to encourage the growth of probiotics. This way you’ll have a high level of good bacteria to fight off the bad.
While these are all great preventative measures to take, it is always best to seek medical attention if you’re already dealing with food poisoning or feel sick after having eaten something. You may need antibiotics to recover from the illness. If the illness was caused by no fault of your own, you should contact a food poisoning attorney to plead your case.
Article Submitted By Community Writer