What You Will Learn
What is Food Poisoning
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Recent E. coli Outbreak
Food Poisoning and Gut Microbiota
How Food Poisoning is Related to IBS, SIBO and More
How to Relieve Food Poisoning Symptoms
What to Do to Feel Better After Food Poisoning
Food Poisoning Prevention
Have you ever gotten sick after eating out? Or maybe you are currently dealing with unpleasant symptoms of eating spoiled food?
No worries - we’ve got you covered! This article explains what food poisoning is, the most common symptoms, best ways to recover and heal, and many more.
So, without further adieu, let’s get into it!
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning, also called gastroenteritis, is a set of symptoms caused by harmful pathogens in food or drinks.
Food contamination can occur at any point during growing, harvesting, processing, handling, or storing.
While we know how important bacterial diversity is for overall gut health, it is important to remember that some microbes can be either in the wrong place doing the right thing, or the right place doing the wrong thing. Food contamination allows a large concentration of microbes to accumulate, which can have negative outcomes.
Food and drink contamination is most often caused by the following:
● Bacteria – Clostridium Botulinum, E. coli, Listeria
● Viruses – Norovirus, Rotavirus, Hepatitis A
● Parasites – Giardia Lamblia
● Molds
What are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
Depending on the type of microbe causing the illness, symptoms can start 30 minutes to 3 weeks after eating contaminated food.
While symptoms of food poisoning can vary depending on the person and the actual cause, some of the most common ones include:
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Stomach pain and cramps
● Diarrhea
● Fever
With vomiting and diarrhea, your body loses excessive amounts of fluid and essential electrolytes. That can further contribute to general weakness, confusion, and delay in recovery.
Recent E. coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots
The E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots is the most recent example of how dangerous food poisoning can be.
On November 16, 2024, carrot grower and producer Grimmway Farms initiated a nationwide recall of multiple sizes and brands of organic carrots due to potential Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121:H19 contamination.
The recalled product was available for purchase in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada retail locations between August 14 through October 23, 2024.
According to the CDC, 39 illnesses and one death have been associated with this specific outbreak.
E. coli is a type of bacterium that lives in the intestines of healthy people. E. coli is mostly harmless; only certain strains can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms such as severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, GI symptoms can turn into serious and fatal conditions.
The symptoms of E. coli usually start 3-4 days after consuming contaminated food products.
These types of outbreaks is not an argument against organic practices, it actually shows the dysfunction in our food systems that need to be repaired. Many times spraying farm fields with raw sewage is a practice that is quick, but comes at a price for human and environmental health.
Food Poisoning and Gut Microbiota
Did you know that food poisoning can lead to more severe gut issues like SIBO, IBS, IBD, IMO, SIFO, and many more?
A 2023 study by Vanderbilt Medical Center researchers has shown that Salmonella infections can result in gut microbiota breakdown and increase in amino acid aspartate which Salmonella uses to outcompete friendly bacteria during inflammation. In other words, food poisoning contributes to bacterial imbalance in your gut, putting you at risk of unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms that can linger on and cause long term conditions.
How to Relieve Food Poisoning Symptoms?
In most cases, food poisoning resolves on its own with rest and proper hydration. However, when the body is exposed to large amounts of toxins, it may need extra support to recover and heal.
The best way to combat food poisoning is the combination of charcoal binder and herbal medicine every 4 hours while symptoms last, for up to one week. Charcoal binds to food poisoning toxins, preventing them from being absorbed into the body. Another solution would be Bismuth subsalicylate, which helps ease nausea and diarrhea.
Want to see the supplements we recommend to hundreds of our patients? Click Here
What Can You Do to Feel Better After Food Poisoning?
Unpleasant symptoms of food poisoning combined with low appetite often lead to fluid
imbalance and electrolyte loss. When your body loses more water than you take in,
dehydration happens.
Since water makes up 60% of the human body, losing significant amounts of causes several symptoms ranging from mild to severe:
● Thirst
● Headache
● Fatigue
● Lack of urination
● Confusion
● Fainting
● And many more
Simply put, being dehydrated not only makes you feel worse, but it also slows down recovery. In some cases, dehydration can become a serious problem.
The first step you should take to feel better after food poisoning is replacing both fluids and electrolytes. Your first thought might be to drink lots of water. While this helps with fluid replacement, water does not have enough electrolytes to meet the increased needs after food poisoning. Also, drinking excessive amounts of water can dilute the concentration of electrolytes in the body, leading to a host of other issues.
For that reason, an over-the-counter oral electrolyte solution is a better idea. Remember to go slow and take small sips throughout the day to let your body and gut recover.
Food poisoning can wreak havoc on your gut and leave behind long-lasting side-effects. Remember that probiotics are your best friend when it comes to making your gut microbiome happy and healthy again. If you want to get more information on probiotics, click here.
Food Poisoning Prevention
The symptoms of food poisoning not only are unpleasant but can also cause serious medical conditions such as kidney damage, arthritis, nervous system and brain damage, and miscarriage and stillbirth.
You can enjoy your favorite foods and beverages without risking getting food poisoning by doing the following:
Avoiding unpasteurized milk and fruits juices that may contain harmful microbes
Keeping your kitchen clean
Washing your hands with hot, soapy water prior to and after cooking
Cooking foods thoroughly, paying special attention to safe cooking temperatures for non-plant proteins
Using separate cutting boards for raw animal proteins and fruits and vegetables
Rising fruits and vegetables with tap water
Keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, especially during long holiday gatherings and trips where foods may be left out for long periods
Making sure to consume cooked foods right after they have been prepared
Reduce factory farmed animal consumption and if you do eat animals, choose less less likely to have their own dysbiotic issues that they can pass on to you.
In Summary:
Microbes including viruses are not bad, but given a wrong/bad environment things can become bad.
Do not ignore food poisoning/GI symptoms.
Food poisoning can lead to greater GI inflammation and damage, leading more severe diseases like: IBS, SIBO, SIFO, IMO, ISO, etc.
Certain supplements and proper lifestyle can help treat and prevent severe food poisoning.
Loving your microbes can help you recover, prevent, and restore your gut function in many cases.
If you are having chronic GI symptoms and don't know what to do, take our Gut Health Action assessment.
We hope you continue to Heal with Each MealTM
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References
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Symptoms of food poisoning. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-
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What is food poisoning? Cleveland Clinic. July 9, 2024. Accessed November 25,
2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21167-food-poisoning.
How to avoid food poisoning. Paediatrics & child health. April 2001. Accessed
November 25, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2804545/.
Yoo W, Shealy NG, Zieba JK, et al. Salmonella Typhimurium expansion in the
inflamed murine gut is dependent on aspartate derived from ROS-mediated
microbiota lysis. Cell Host Microbe. 2024;32(6):887-899.e6.
doi:10.1016/j.chom.2024.05.001
Affairs O of R. Grimmway Farms recalls organic whole and select organic baby
carrots that may be in consumers’ homes due to potential E. coli contamination.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed November 25, 2024.
farms-recalls-organic-whole-and-select-organic-baby-carrots-may-be-consumers-
homes-due.
Kranz R. Symptoms of dehydration: What they are and what to do if you
experience them. Harvard Health. January 2, 2024. Accessed November 25,
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Aditya@karmasnack.com. Understanding the role of toxin binders in the detox
process. Functional Medicine Doctor Irvine. November 22, 2023. Accessed
November 25, 2024. https://rhealthc.com/restoration-healthcare-
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