How to stay healthy and live better

When you plan your vacation the intent is not usually to stay anchored near the toilet in your accommodation and lose some of your valuable vacation time. It is important to avoid any of the risks which can lead to food poisoning when vacationing and if you are travelling on a package holiday or organized vacation abroad then you should know that it is perfectly unacceptable if your travel representative or guide advises that you are likely to become ill from the local food.

They are simply trying to deflect attention away from their company’s responsibilities to ensure that the accommodations they provide meet adequate hygiene standards. Of course what you can pick up from eating independently you do at your own risk but if you succumb to food poisoning whilst in a hotel or on a cruise then the company which organized the trip is accountable and you should report it whilst there and see your own doctor when you return to back up any complaint you choose to take forward for compensation.

The main things which travellers succumb to through unhygienic food are salmonella, E coli, shigella, gastric viruses, and cryptosporidium. None of them are pleasant and will typically leave the traveller struck down with nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.  It can even result in your losing time of work when you return from your vacation, and in some instances cause long term illness and doctors bills.

One of the biggest problems in some countries is simply the poor quality of the water. Avoiding tap water is the easiest way to avoid stomach problems and travellers should stick to bottled water in areas where the water is not advisable to drink. Ensure that bottled water is sealed and not open with the possibility it has been filled from the tap, and beware of ice cubes in drinks. Salads and fruits can cause potential problems and should be peeled and washed in bottled water prior to consumption.

Buffet tables can look incredibly tempting when laid out with exotic looking foods, but ask yourself how long it has been sat out exposed to the hot temperatures which entice bacteria to breed. If it is sat around in the open attracting insects and birds it should be avoided and a complaint made about the lack of basic hygiene. If salad bars are used they should be packed with ice, and ensure that all food which is meant to be hot is piping hot, and not luke warm.

Some of the worst countries for contracting food poisoning in are the Dominican Republic, India, Peru and Kenya. If in doubt about something then simply don’t eat it. Simple precautions can mean the difference between succumbing to food poisoning and travelling safely, and one should not presume that local places which cater to locals rather than specifically tourists are not fine. One is more likely to be struck down by at the type of establishments which cater specifically for tourists but fail to adopt proper hygiene rules.