Holidays are meant to be full of fun memories. Sometimes, those memories include a less than desirable bout of food poisoning. In Australia, when I get sick it is often due to eating meat that was not handled properly. However, it seems the opposite is true in Asia from what I have experienced.
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| An innocuous plate of fried morning glory |
by mmmyoso
On my last few trips to SEA, I have had food poisoning from vegetables. It seems rather ironic that something we order as a 'healthy' sidedish to balance out our massive intake of delicious curries is the very thing that makes us so sick. In Phenom Penh, Cambodia, a plate of Chinese spinach made me throw up hours before my family and I had to board the bus back to Vietnam. More recently, in Thailand we ordered a side of fried morning glory at the Krabi street food market. A few hours later, both me and my fellow traveler, woke up at the same time around 5am feeling extremely nauseous and sick before we started throwing up in the bathroom. The following day, we could hardly get out of bed. My father recently was also in Vietnam and similarly came down with food poisoning lasting up to 4 days after eating a salad roll.
I love vegetables and it is a good thing to balance out your diet even on your holiday. However, I hope that people will be a bit cautious about eating vegetables, raw or cooked, in addition to other foods. Usually the main issue is because these veggies and fruits have been washed, if they've been washed at all, in tap water which may not be suitable for foreigners to consume. In the case of cooked foods, there are possibilities of dodgy kitchen preparations and cross contamination. Sometimes it can also be related to pesticide residue still lingering in the foods. Of course, food poisoning can still occur back at home but it is still important to be vigilant to avoid ruining your holiday if you get sick overseas, especially if you are travelling alone.
What to do when you get food poisoning
Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches and bad tummy cramps. One of the most important things to do when you are sick is to stay as hydrated as possible and get plenty of rest. You should also try taking rehydration salts to help avoid dehydration, in addition to water.
According to the UK NHS and Australian Institute of Food Safety, it is recommended to eat mild foods such as rice, toast, crackers and bananas at first until your tummy starts to recover. Avoid greasy, spicy and fried foods. Better options are clear soups, grilled chicken, and eggs. If you're Asian, you're probably familiar with eating delicious congee when you've been sick in the past. However, try not to force yourself to eat either because your body may still be trying to recover and may lead to diarrhea or nausea even if you're feeling better. It is also important to avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine during your recovery period.
If you still feel unwell or you have any doubts, please consult a doctor ASAP about your condition to seek further treatment.
Have you ever gotten sick while travelling? Leave a comment about the most memorable time you got sick on holiday!
Thanks for reading!
Jo
Sounds kind of weird, as long as it's cooked well there should be no dangerous bacterias. I love that dish and have eaten it like 100+ times over many trips to Vietnam and I never got sick. I think it's more likely that it's the plate that have not been clean. But that's not to say it's healthy to eat, as it depends on where it's grown. That is imposible to know i Vietnam and the rest of asia, except maybe in Taiwan or if they grow it in South Korea or Japan.
ReplyDeleteIt's usually the water you get sick from, that's why I almost never eat fresh vegetables when traveling places like that and if I get sugarcane drinks I always get them pure, then place them in the fridge till they are cold or add some really cold bottled water.
DeleteBoth you and your father most like got sick from something else at the same time as you aet it.
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