It is said that travel actually makes us healthier as human beings, this comes as a result of being exposed to different types of bacterias throughout the world and the new defenses which our bodies create as a consequence. Whilst us travelers may be healthier in the long run, those new bacterias can also cause us a bit of trouble in the short term.
One such illness that many travelers run into is food poisoning, this happens either as a result of our stomachs not being accustomed to new foods, or poor cooking practices throughout the world. If you want to do your bit to try and avoid food poisoning, then here are some of the best ways to do it.
Ice Cubes
Ice cubes may appear pretty innocent but they are one of the biggest causes of food poisoning throughout the world. The reason for this is that there are only a handful of countries in the world with good enough filtration systems that allow us to drink water directly from the tap. Many bars and restaurants will use tap water for their ice cubes and then us unsuspecting foreigners order a drink with ice. The best way to avoid this is to simply ask whether the ice is made with tap water or not, or alternatively, say no to ice altogether.
Salad
If you are buying salad from markets around the world then you have to spend the time on thoroughly washing it. Food poisoning from fresh salad can either come directly from the dirt where the salad was grown, or from the treatment which the salad receives on its way to your plate. Lettuce in particular offers bacteria the perfect conditions to thrive and if you are not careful then you could easily be struck down with painful food poisoning, from a simple salad.
Street Food
Most street food vendors around the world are not exactly well versed when it comes to food hygiene and if you look carefully you will see many ingredients sitting out all day, which should be refrigerated. If you are worried that this is happening then avoid the food altogether, alternatively, the best way to stay safe is to go to the busiest street food vendors, if it isn’t making the other people sick, you should be alright too.
Trust Your Instinct
No matter whether you are eating on the street or in a fancy restaurant, it is important that you trust your instinct regarding what you put in your mouth. If the food which you are eating doesn’t look good or smell great then you shouldn’t eat it. Food poisoning can take you completely out of the game for many days and it will be painful and uncomfortable, for that reason you need to do all that you can to avoid it and if any food is giving you doubts, do not put it into your mouth.