Food poisoning happens when food is contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, or Vibrio.
When having diarrhea or vomiting, the last thing you want to do is get out of bed, let alone eat.
While most cases are mild and can last only a few hours, others might last up to several days or weeks.
Common symptoms of food poisoning include:
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Headache
- Foggy brain
When you start to feel better after experiencing food poisoning, it’s essential to consider reintroducing food slowly. Consult a healthcare professional for guidance.
Food poisoning can cause massive water loss. This can lead to imbalances in water and electrolytes in the body.
So, one of the things you need to focus on when you are starting to feel better is to replenish those electrolytes and liquids.
Also, the foods you include not only can make the symptoms decrease but can also help replenish gut health and strengthen gut function.
Here, we’ll go over the best foods to eat after food poisoning and cover those foods that are best to avoid.
Foods To Eat And Drink After Food Poisoning
Here are some of the best foods and drinks to include when recovering from food poisoning:
1) Rehydrating Solutions
Specially formulated drinks have the right amount of electrolytes and calories to help replenish your energy and hydration.
Make sure you select a drink formulated for food poisoning instead of relying on options like sports drinks.
Sports drinks can have more sugar and electrolytes, increasing diarrhea and other symptoms.
2) Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are another great option to stay hydrated. Some options, like ginger tea, might even provide additional benefits besides allowing you to stay hydrated.
Evidence suggests that ginger might help reduce nausea and stomach cramps.
Another great option seems to be fennel tea, which, according to research, might help block the growth of some bacterial strains, such as E. coli.
3) Broth
Clear broths are a good way to increase the nutrient intake without putting too much strain on your stomach.
They are soothing and can become comfort food whenever you are feeling under the weather.
Make sure you choose broths that are as natural as possible. Some processed broths are high in fats and sodium, which can increase digestive issues instead of making them better.
4) BRAT Diet
The BRAT diet is an acronym for the foods that are best to eat when having digestive issues:
- Bananas
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
These easy-to-digest foods can reduce stomach cramps while providing enough calories and energy to help you feel better. Consuming a bland diet is ideal after food poisoning.
There are a couple of things to point out. For example, when having rice, make sure you cook it without any added fats or condiments. Otherwise, it might produce an upset stomach.
And, when choosing applesauce, select those that are as natural as possible, hopefully without any added sugars.
If you find the BRAT diet too restrictive, add other bland foods, such as:
- Saltine crackers
- Potatoes or sweet potatoes (without sour cream or butter)
- Oatmeal
- Watermelon
- Grilled (steamed or baked) chicken breast.
5) Fermented Foods
Finally, fermented foods are ideal to help replenish gut health. However, remember that these are best to include when you feel more than 50% better.
Including them during your early recovery might increase your chances of digestive issues.
Fermented foods are high in probiotics, which are living microorganisms that can help bring a healthy balance in the gut after food poisoning.
If you had to take antibiotics, the medication wipes out all bacteria (good or bad).
Adding a probiotic can help balance the gut and strengthen the immune system, meaning you are less likely to get ill again.
Great fermented foods include:
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Kefir
- Tempeh
- Kombucha
- Miso
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Foods And Drinks To Avoid After Foodborne Illness
Let’s review the foods you need to avoid after food poisoning. The following foods can irritate or cause more inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
1) Caffeinated drinks
Options like coffee, black tea, or energy drinks can stimulate the colon and cause an increase in bowel movements.
2) Sugary foods and drinks
While you want to replenish your energy, eating or drinking too much sugar can cause more water to be drawn to the intestines, increasing the risk of diarrhea.
Therefore, avoiding foods or drinks that are too high in added sugars is best.
3) Some dairy products
Certain dairy options are high in fat and sugar. These can irritate the digestive issues. Also, they might contain more additives or preservatives that are best to avoid while recovering.
4) Spicy foods
Since your gut might be irritated, it’s best to avoid that hot sauce you enjoy. Also, ensure you do not add too many condiments when cooking your meals.
5) High-fat foods
Fats are harder to digest. Since they take longer to digest, they can increase the risk of bloating and nausea.
You might want to introduce high-fat foods (avocados, nuts, seeds, oils, sour cream, and butter) slowly.
6) High-fiber foods
Fiber is tough to digest, so while recovering from foodborne illness, it’s better to avoid it or eat it in small amounts.
Once you feel better, you can start including them slowly, always ensuring you drink plenty of water.
7) Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of heartburn and diarrhea. Also, alcohol intake can cause dehydration, which can make the food poisoning symptoms worse.
| Foods to eat | Foods to avoid |
| Rehydrating solutions | Caffeinated drinks |
| Herbal teas | Sugary foods and drinks |
| Broth | Certain dairy products |
| BRAT diet | Spicy foods |
| Fermented foods | High-fat foods |
| Saltine crackers | High-fiber foods |
| Oatmeal | Alcohol |
Recovering From Stomach Bugs
Most episodes of food poisoning last 12 to 48 hours. If you are still recovering, there are some things you need to consider besides nutrition:
- Follow the doctor’s orders. Even though you might be feeling better, follow the doctor’s instructions thoroughly. If you still have 5 days left on your medication, continue to take it.
- Take it easy with the exercise. While exercise may be tempting, give your body a couple of days to rest before starting to exercise. And, once you start, take it easy.
- Get enough sleep. Rest is going to play a crucial role in recovery. Get at least 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep. But the more you can rest, the better.
- Stay hydrated. Consult with a health professional how much water you need to drink based on your current state.
Conclusion
Recovering from food poisoning can be challenging. But, once you know which foods to eat and avoid, it makes things easier.
In the end, the more natural and less processed, the better. Including foods high in chemicals, fats, and sugars worsens symptoms.
Remember always to consult with your doctor before you start returning to your normal life and follow the doctor’s orders regarding the medication.
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