The BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce, toast — is a good place to start. Bland foods like potatoes, crackers, and cooked carrots may also be gentle on the stomach. We often turn to plain congee, a savory rice porridge that's warming and nourishing.
Carbohydrates will be easier to digest in the initial phases of recovery. Avoid spicy or acidic foods, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol after food poisoning. Foods that are high in fats, protein, and fiber may also be hard to digest.
Well, fortunately, you'll usually recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Your goal should be to make sure that your body gets enough fluids so that you don't become dehydrated. Don't eat solid foods until diarrhea has passed, and avoid dairy products.
Gradually begin to eat bland, low-fat, easy-to-digest foods, such as soda crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas and rice. Stop eating if you feel sick to your stomach again. Avoid certain foods and substances until you're feeling better.
You may recover in a few days … or not
Most of the time, food poisoning will pass within 12 hours to 48 hours in healthy people. That's how long it takes for a healthy body to purge most foodborne infections.
In many cases, hydration and rest are the only recommended treatment. Most infections get better within 4 to 7 days. Severe cases or high-risk individuals, such as children, older people, and people with weakened immune systems, may be given antimicrobial medications.
Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are: Diarrhea. Stomach pain or cramps.
Drink only small amounts of liquids at a time. Don't force yourself to eat, especially if you are having cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea. Don't eat large amounts at a time, even if you are hungry. If you eat, avoid fatty, greasy, spicy, or fried foods.
Foods should be bland, low in fat, and low in fiber. Because fat is harder for the stomach to digest, avoid fatty foods as much as possible. Foods that are easier on the stomach include cereal, bananas, egg whites, gelatin, oatmeal, plain potatoes, rice, crackers, toast, and applesauce.
Most people will only require fluids to prevent dehydration. Since relapses can occur, some health care providers may treat mild cases with antibiotics. Generally, you will stop experiencing diarrhea within about a week. Antibiotics are only needed for patients who are very ill or who have weakened immune systems.
When you eat something toxic, your body reacts to purge the toxins. You may purge through vomiting, diarrhea, fever or all of these. The uncomfortable symptoms of food poisoning are your body's way of working to return to health. It usually works in a day or two.
The intestinal wall is designed to absorb nutrients and water from food. Bacterial toxins can cause pores to open in the wall, allowing water and other molecules to flood in. The excess fluid and electrolytes in the gut lead to watery diarrhoea, which has a beneficial role of flushing out the bacteria and their toxins.
Food poisoning can temporarily or permanently damage the lining of the gut, and result in long-lasting bowel dysfunction and inflammation in the body.
The good news is, food poisoning usually goes away quickly too. Most people recover in a couple of days with no lasting problems. In a few cases, severe food poisoning can mean a visit to the doctor or hospital. When people need medical treatment for food poisoning, it's often because of dehydration.
Conclusion: What To Eat After Food Poisoning
It is recommended to start with clear liquids and then move on to bland foods such as toast, crackers, rice and potatoes. Avoid dairy, fried or processed foods until you are feeling better. Adding probiotic-rich foods like yogurt can help support faster recovery.
Yogurt. You may have heard that it's best to avoid dairy during bouts of food poisoning. It is important to avoid sugar-laden yogurt, which may worsen symptoms. However, fermented foods like yogurt may be recommended after food poisoning to support gut health and help with diarrhea.
You should be able to start eating a more regular diet, including fruits and vegetables, within about 24 to 48 hours after vomiting or having diarrhea.
The strong anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-bacterial properties in lemons kill the bacteria causing food poisoning. Sip warm lemon juice to cleanse the system.
Consider probiotics
Food poisoning disrupts your gut's balance of good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are good bacteria that can improve gut health as you recover from food poisoning or foodborne illness by restoring the balance.