You have all already suffered from indigestion, food poisoning or digestive disorders following the consumption of certain foods. The symptoms are unpleasant and we can't wait to get rid of them. Let's discover some tips on how to beat food poisoning.

But first, what is food poisoning?

It is adigestive infection due to the consumption of water or food contaminated with pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, ...) or toxic substances (pesticides, weed killers, poison, heavy metals, ...), releasing toxins into the body and causing the following symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, fatigue, ... These symptoms arriving a few hours after ingestion of the contaminated food.

The causes of these digestive infections can be varied (expired products, break in the cold chain, poor storage conditions, cooking, ...) and the products at the origin of these intoxications are often meats, eggs, deli meats, fish, seafood and dairy products.

Natural tips for overcoming food poisoning

In the first few hours, make sure to rest your gut, consuming mainly liquid products like broth or even soup.

Then make sure to well hydrate. Because diarrhea causes a significant loss of water and minerals, it is important to not drink only water.

You can:

• add 4 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to your liter of water.
• make yourself a tea with honey.
• prepare a vegetable broth, salted.

Remember to drink plenty but in small amounts to avoid vomiting.

Food poisoning: what precautions should be taken?

For the next few days, rest, gradually return to solid food starting with the foods that are most easily digested and contain the least fiber, such as white rice, potatoes, fish and chicken. Avoid whole grains, legumes, fruits and raw vegetables, as well as coffee and dairy products, as the latter speed up transit.

Avoid antacid-type medications, as they lower immune resistance to bacteria, and antidiarrheal-type medications that prevent toxins from leaving the body.

Don't force yourself to vomit as the stomach juices may irritate the throat and esophagus.

Natural remedies and beneficial foods in case of food poisoning

• White clay helps fight dehydration. It acts as a digestive dressing, allowing you to retain water and limit diarrhea.

Simply dilute a tablespoon of white clay in a glass of water. Repeat for 2-3 days.

• Cider vinegar, alkaline, soothes the digestive mucosa, regulates transit, preserves intestinal flora and kills bacteria. Dilute two tablespoons of cider vinegar in 250 ml of warm water. This blend is to be consumed before each meal.
• Ginger, an essential plant in Ayurvedic medicine, is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it beneficial to the gut. In addition, it calms nausea, vomiting, reduces intestinal pain, reduces the toxicity of certain foods and reduces gas.

It allows the body to absorb lost nutrients and stimulates the immune system.

Boil one teaspoon of fresh ginger in 250ml of water and add one teaspoon of honey. Repeat two to three times a day.

For the brave, you can also nibble on pieces of fresh ginger.

Breathing in a few drops of ginger essential oil helps calm down vomiting.

• Beware, as a reminder, essential oils should be avoided if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant, are breastfeeding and in children under 3 years old.
• Lemon, an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, relieves pain related to intoxication. You can drink a teaspoon of lemon juice, pure or diluted in a little water, two to three times a day.
• Garlic, meanwhile, is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. It eliminates the microbes responsible for diarrhea and abdominal pain.

You can eat a clove of fresh garlic, drink garlic juice or massage your stomach with a few drops of essential oils two to three times a day.

• Drinking tea, will help you maintain good hydration and soothe your digestive system.

You can infuse fresh mint to relieve stomach cramps, licorice or chamomile to reduce inflammation and calm symptoms of poisoning, or comfrey root to treat infection.

• You can also eat bananas. It is not a remedy per se, but it helps balance the gut flora. Rich in potassium, magnesium and probiotics, banana preserves good gut bacteria and fights infection.

You can mix the banana with almond milk!

Other natural remedies to treat food poisoning

Made from double-calcined coconut shells, vegetable charcoal traps unwanted molecules in its micropores. In case offood poisoning, so it will clean upthe bowels. It is also very effective in relieving intestinal gas, theaerophagiaand heartburn.

Mix 20 to 40 g of charcoal powder with water or a little yogurt, i.e. 2 to 4 tablespoons. Repeat in 3 to 4 hours if necessary.

Beware, never swallow it at the same time as a medication, birth control pills included. It would annihilate its effects.

Probiotics, microorganisms found in the gut flora, are in charge of driving the production of immune cells. These good bacteria, fight against the increase of pathogenic bacteria and help in the digestion of certain foods. They are therefore good allies in the fight against food poisoning or to restore the balance of the intestinal flora after poisoning.

If symptoms persist for more than 48 hours or worsen, if the diarrhea is bloody or profuse, and in children under two years of age and the elderly, medical attention is recommended.