Five Tips for Avoiding Sickness while Traveling Abroad
Five Tips for Avoiding Sickness while Traveling Abroad
It was my last day in Colombia. I ate breakfast in the hotel that I had been staying in for more than a week. I felt an ache. Now, this was my fifth visit to Colombia. I would eat at many restaurants and never leave ill. However, this time something was different. On the plane on my way home to the U.S I was in pain. After returning home, I was bent over in pain. If I ate anything, I would be in the bathroom with diarrhea. Now both myself and my companion had eaten at the same locations, so I couldn’t figure out why I was sick. I have had food poisoning before but nothing like this. So, after a week of taking antibiotics subscribed by my physician I began to feel better. The only thing that I can figure that gave me the food poisoning was the salad that I had at a local restaurant. I had been craving a salad for the entire time that I was there. Finally, I found a restaurant with a salad and I believe that almost took me out.
Tips for avoiding food poisoning
Here are some tips for staying healthy while traveling:
1.Wash Your Hands
This should be practiced wherever you are in the world. As we walk around and touch different things, it's always important to wash your hands. If there is no water and soap, make sure to have some antibacterial wipes in hand to kill any bacteria that you may have touched with your hands.
2. Eat food that is properly cooked
Another suggestion that I was given when I began traveling is to not eat any food that is not properly cooked. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables. Because the fruits and vegetables may have been rinsed in the local water which can include unfamiliar bacteria which can cause you to become sick. It's suggested to only eat fresh fruit that has a thick skin such as a banana or orange. In addition, any fresh fruit or vegetable should be peeled by you.
Meat in many countries is left out and not refrigerated, so meat should also be properly cooked. Over cooked if needed.
3. Watch the street food
Eating street food can be a great experience in another country. However, check out the vendor before ordering. Make sure the food is made to order. You don’t want to consume food that has been sitting out for an extended period of time. Try vendors with a limited selection of items where they sell out often.
4. Beware of fresh fruit juices and drinks
While in Morocco, I had fresh fruit juice in the famous square in Marrakesh. This caused me to become ill and I spent the next two days in the bathroom.
The juice may have been prepared with the local water which could have been the culprit.
5. Do not drink the water and avoid the ice
As a reminder that you should not drink the water in foreign countries as your system may not be able to handle the bacteria that may exist in the water. This also goes for ice. Ice is made from the same water. So beware of using ice in your drinks. Most places will have chilled drinks. This may be a better option than having ice.
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