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Starter

The Vacation Villain 😵‍💫

It kills around 2.2 million people globally every year.

And I caught it!!! 😭 

It’s that thing that makes you feel weak, slow, and useless.

Maybe you’ve been its victim too.

If yes, you know the feeling:

No energy.

No appetite.

No motivation.

In the best case!

Luckily, I didn’t get hit too hard.

I can still walk, eat, and function - all at a low battery mode.

But what exactly am I talking about? 👀 

Food poisoning - the biggest vacation cock-blocker of all time.

It can turn paradise into punishment and your dream trips into toilet tours.

But what actually happens inside your body?

And more importantly,how do you avoid this misery in the future?

Let’s digest the truth. 👇

🥙

Main Course

The Truth About Food Poisoning 🤢

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is an acute digestive illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. 🦠 

It’s fast, disruptive, and usually hits within hours.

How do you get it?

Most cases come from improper food handling or hygiene. 🧼 

Common sources include:

• Undercooked meat or eggs

• Unwashed fruits and vegetables

• Contaminated water or ice

• Food that’s been sitting out too long (buffets, street stalls & leftovers)

• Cross-contamination from cutting boards, knives, surfaces, or hands

And sometimes

just because of a risky choice you took or simply bad luck. 👀 

How does it affect you?

The symptoms are your body’s immune response at work:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stomach cramps

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite

It’s unpleasant, but in most cases, your body clears the problem on its own within 24–72 hours. ⌛️ 

But what happens inside your body?

Once pathogens or toxins enter your gut, your body reacts instantly:

1. Your stomach and intestines try to empty themselves (→ vomiting + diarrhea)

2. Water is pulled into your digestive tract to flush out contaminants

3. Inflammation increases, causing cramps and fatigue

4. Your immune system activates, raising body temperature

It’s a controlled process - uncomfortable, but protective. 🛡️ 

How to avoid it:

A few simple habits reduce your risk dramatically:

🍽 Eat where the food moves fast. Busy restaurants = fresher meals.

💧 Be cautious with tap water in certain countries. This includes ice cubes, salads, and drinks mixed with local water.

🔥 Choose fully cooked and boiled foods. Avoid anything that looks raw and undercooked.

🥗 Wash or peel fruits and veggies when possible. If you didn’t wash it yourself, someone else did - with water you don’t know.

🧼 Wash your hands before eating. Still one of the most effective protections.

🧊 Skip foods sitting at room temperature. Especially buffets, sauces, street food, and hotel breakfast eggs.

Chef Tip: Consume probiotics in advance (before the trip) to strengthen your gut.

🍰

Dessert

How to Treat Food Poisoning 🚑

Sometimes it just happens too fast.

Wrong dish, wrong place, or wrong moment.

One bite can result in an internal fight.

But what do you actually do when food poisoning hits?

Let me show you what I’ve found: 👇️ 

Rehydrate first 🚰

Water, electrolytes, coconut water, or salt.

This is the #1 priority if you are losing fluid. Everything else is secondary.

Give your stomach a break ⌛️

Skip solid food and fast for a few hours.

Then start with bananas, toast, crackers, and light soups.

Avoid dairy, greasy meals, and raw veggies 🥗

Your gut is inflamed. Heavy foods make symptoms come back instantly.

Use natural helpers 🌿

Ginger, chamomile, and peppermint calm nausea and relax your stomach.

ACV will increase stomach acidity, and activated charcoal (after fluid loss) will bind toxins.

Rest 🛏️

Your immune system is fighting a war.

Slowing down helps you recover faster.

When to see a doctor:

Blood in stool, high fever, severe dehydration, or symptoms lasting 72+ hours.

My tip: Hydrate hard, eat light, and chiiiiiiill.

Let your body do the work. 👷 

🥜

Snacks

Dad Joke of the Week

A Deep Question

What’s something you learned recently that you really should have already known?

A Friendly Reminder

🎁

Takeaway  

You aren’t satisfied yet? 

Here are my Ingredients and Recommendations for you:

🎙️ Podcasts

• How to stop diarrhea and what NOT to do | Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (ZOE)

• Podcast Episode 66: Probiotic Foods for Food Poisoning and Stomach Virus (Cultured Food Life Podcast)

📚️ Books

• Food Poisoning: Outbreaks, Bacterial Sources and Adverse Health Effects (Paresh C. Ray)

• Food Poisoning and Food Hygiene (Hobbs')

📺️ Videos

• Foods that are the most likely to give you food poisoning (Business Insider)

• Food Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (Dr. Berg)

• How to Tell if You Have a Stomach Bug or Food Poisoning: A Complete Guide (Medical Centric)

📑 Articles

• What You Need to Know About Food Poisoning (Healthline.com)

• What to know about food poisoning (MedicalNewsToday)

• Food Poisoning (Cleveland Clinic)

• Food Poisoning Treatment: What to Expect (WebMD)

Thank you for being here 💝 

Looking forward to serving you next week.

Much love from Java 🌋,

Benji