Food poisoning is an unpleasant experience that many people encounter at some point in their lives. It occurs when we ingest contaminated food or beverages, often tainted with germs such as Campylobacter, E. coli, norovirus, Salmonella, or Vibrio. While most cases resolve with rest, hydration, and appropriate nutrition, understanding what to eat and avoid can significantly aid in recovery. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the ideal Campylobacter recovery diet plan, offering insights suitable for everyone from a 5th-grade student to a healthcare professional.
Understanding Food Poisoning and Campylobacter
Food poisoning, also referred to as a foodborne illness, is typically triggered by an infection. It arises from various sources, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins produced by microorganisms. Campylobacteriosis, caused by the Campylobacter bacterium, is a common culprit, particularly during the summer months. This bacterium is often found in raw or undercooked poultry, such as chicken or turkey. Infection can occur by cutting poultry meat on a cutting board and then using the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare other foods.
Symptoms of Campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, cramping, stomach pain, and fever, typically appearing within 2 to 5 days after exposure and lasting about a week. Diarrhea may be bloody, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all.
The Importance of Rehydration
When a person has food poisoning, they lose fluids and electrolytes via diarrhea and vomiting. Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain the balance of fluids in the body. Losing fluids and electrolytes can result in dehydration. For this reason, it is important to start the recovery process by consuming fluids.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends oral rehydration solutions to treat mild-to-moderate dehydration after vomiting or diarrhea. Severe dehydration requires emergency medical care. Examples of oral rehydration solutions include Ceralyte, Oralyte, and Pedialyte.
Read also: Recovery After Facial Fat Grafting
Drinks to Try
- Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS): These solutions, such as Ceralyte, Oralyte, and Pedialyte, are specifically designed to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes.
- Herbal Teas: Ginger tea can help calm the stomach, with evidence suggesting that consuming ginger can relieve nausea. Lemon tea may also provide relief; the scent of lemon essential oil was found to relieve nausea and vomiting during pregnancy in a 2014 study.
- Clear Broths: These can help with liquid intake and provide some electrolytes.
Drinks to Avoid
- Caffeinated Drinks: Beverages like coffee, dark sodas, and caffeinated tea can stimulate the colon and cause bowel movements, which should be avoided during recovery.
- Sports Drinks: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caution against using sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade because they are not designed to replace diarrhea-related losses and can contain high amounts of sugar, potentially worsening symptoms. If these are the only options available, dilute them with water.
- Alcohol: You should avoid alcohol when sick for several reasons. Alcohol increases water loss through urine. You may experience stomach irritation, and it also negatively affects gut health.
The BRAT Diet and Other Food Options
When reintroducing food after food poisoning, the goal is to eat foods that are easy to digest. A diet for an upset stomach typically contains bland, low-fat, low-fiber foods. One version of this is the BRAT diet.
The BRAT diet is one of the main dietary recommendations for recovery from diarrhea. People suggest this diet is ideal for helping a person recover because the four foods are bland in taste and high in starch. As a result, they help bind stools together and reduce the incidence of diarrhea. The banana in the BRAT diet contains some potassium, which may help replace lost electrolytes.
Foods to Try
- Bananas: Easy to digest and known to relieve stomach pain due to their natural antacid effect. Cooked green bananas have been shown to improve the length of recovery in addition to ORS and zinc supplementation.
- Rice: High in starch, which helps bind stools and reduce diarrhea. A study showed that rice soup with oral rehydration solution improved the length of diarrhea compared to placebo. Rice-based ORS, which replaces sugar with rice, has also been shown to reduce diarrhea.
- Applesauce: Contains pectin, a soluble fiber that can improve digestive symptoms.
- Toast: Easy to digest, especially white bread, and provides carbohydrates for energy. Bread is rich in carbohydrates and is easier to digest. Add it to soups or spread cottage cheese, nut butter, or jam.
- Clear Broths: Provide hydration and some nutrients. Broth-based soups are a great way to get more liquid and are easier for your stomach to tolerate when sick.
- Saltine Crackers: High in starch, absorb gastric acid, and help settle an upset stomach. Crackers are generally salty, which helps replace the salt lost during vomiting and diarrhea.
- Other Bland Options: Instant or quick-cooking oatmeal, plain boiled potatoes, baked chicken without skin, and turkey.
- Egg Whites: Low in fat and easy to digest, providing protein and carbs needed for energy. Scrambled or boiled eggs might slow bowel movements while providing protein and carbs needed for energy.
- Honey: Shortens the duration of diarrhea in people with bacterial gastroenteritis and prevents the stomach from producing too much acid.
- Gelatin (Jell-O): Gentle on the stomach and can provide energy, helping to regulate blood sugar.
- Low-Sugar Oatmeal: Another bland option that is easy to digest.
- Plain or Mashed Potatoes: Starchy and easy to digest, especially when mashed to break down the fibers. Applesauce: Apple is rich in pectin. Pectin is a type of fiber shown to improve the gut barrier. Other pectin-rich foods include oranges, apricots, peaches, and bananas.
Foods to Avoid
- High-Fat Foods: Fried foods like fried chicken and french fries are difficult to digest and can contribute to bloating and nausea. Dietary fat delays gastric emptying, which slows digestion.
- High-Fiber Foods: Many vegetables and fruits (such as avocado, broccoli, and apples), beans, whole-grain breads, and brown rice can be tough to digest and may increase symptoms.
- Spicy Foods: Can irritate the stomach while recovering from food poisoning.
- Certain Dairy Foods: Cheese and ice cream are typically high in fat, which may upset the stomach. Some people may choose to temporarily avoid drinking milk after having food poisoning. It is possible to develop a temporary lactose intolerance after a gastrointestinal infection.
- Acidic Foods: Foods with high acid content can irritate the stomach and worsen vomiting. Examples include pickles, apple cider vinegar, citrus fruits, grapes, and berries.
Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Research has shown that people can prevent and recover from food-borne illness with foods and supplements containing probiotics or healthy bacteria. Eating fermented foods may help replace the beneficial gut bacteria lost during the illness.
Fermented Foods to Try
- Yogurt with live cultures
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Miso soup
- Tempeh
- Kombucha
Preventing Future Episodes
Preventing future episodes of food poisoning involves practicing safe food handling, ensuring proper cooking temperatures, and being cautious when consuming raw or undercooked foods.
- Shop Safely: Bag raw meat, poultry, and fish separately from other food items.
- Prepare Foods Safely: Wash your hands before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water.
- Store Foods Safely: Cook, refrigerate, or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and ready-to-eat foods within 2 hours.
- Cook Foods Safely: Use a clean meat thermometer to determine whether foods are cooked to a safe temperature. Reheat leftovers to at least 165°F (74°C).
- Serve Foods Safely: Follow labels on food packaging.
When to Seek Medical Attention
A person can often treat mild to moderate food poisoning with at-home care. However, if a person has severe symptoms such as the following, they should see a doctor:
Read also: Overcoming Binge Eating
- Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
- Bloody diarrhea
- Dehydration symptoms, such as urinating less than usual, dry mouth and throat, or dizziness upon standing
- Fever above 102°F (38.9°C)
- Vomiting that prevents a person from keeping liquids down
- Fever and flu-like symptoms during pregnancy
If a person has any of these symptoms, they may need intravenous fluids to re-hydrate them. They can also receive medications to reduce nausea and slow movement in the gut to reduce diarrhea. Sometimes, a person may need to take antibiotics to reduce levels of bacteria in their stomach.
Additional Tips for Recovery
- Let Your Stomach Settle: Avoid food and drink altogether for a few hours when symptoms are at their peak.
- Delay Brushing Your Teeth: Stomach acid expelled during vomiting can damage tooth enamel. Rinse your mouth with a mix of water and baking soda instead.
- Get Plenty of Rest: Sufficient rest can help you feel better faster.
- Avoid Irritants: Steer clear of alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, high-fiber foods, dairy products (except yogurt), fatty foods, fried foods, nicotine, and seasoned foods.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
tags: #campylobacter #recovery #diet #plan