Friday, October 19, 2007

FOOD POISONING

Food Poisoning – Reasons
Food poisoning refers to poisoning that occurs due to eating foods contaminated with toxins or poisonous substances secreted by some bacteria. Food poisoning is more common in areas with poor sanitation or living conditions (often occurs in community feasts, cooked and served under unhygienic conditions or food stored under such conditions for several hours).

Food Poisoning - Occurance
Food or water can get contaminated due to its handling by a person infected with or carrying micro-organisms causing food poisoning. Improper cleaning and washing of fruits and vegetables, and improper cooking of food can also cause food poisoning.

Food Poisoning - Symptoms
Food poisoning generally occurs within 2 to 3 hours of eating or drinking infected food or water. The symptoms include nausea (a feeling of vomiting), vomiting, pain in the abdomen and diarrhoea. Other symptoms are fever, cold sweats, weakness, headache and dehydration.

Food Poisoning - Diagnosis
For diagnosis, the doctor reviews the symptoms, examines the patient and suggests laboratory testing of a sample of stools and the suspected food if available. A very important symptom for diagnosing it is that all the people who ate the same food get infected. In such cases, a careful analysis of food, to correlate symptoms to the food items consumed by those affected and those unaffected helps to pinpoint the most likely item which might have been infected.

Food Poisoning - Treatment
The treatment is mostly supportive i.e. treatment of dehydration and replacing salts. Some patients may need treatment of symptoms like drugs to treat vomiting. Occasionally antibiotics may be required if the organisms are demonstrated on laboratory examination; however most of the time these are not required because patients improve soon after initiation of supportive measures.The doctor may prescribe medicines such as metronidazole, diloxanide, fluroate or norfloxacin. All the medicines should be taken as prescribed by the doctor even after the symptoms are gone, as the infection may return due to the presence of the organism causing the disease in the body.Self care measures include drinking clean or boiled water with some salt and sugar at frequent intervals to prevent the patient from getting dehydrated because of diarrhea and vomiting.

Food Poisoning - Prevention
Drinking water should be clean and safe. Food should be kept covered while stored to avoid flies and insects from sitting on it. Buying food from roadside vendors should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables should be washed properly before eating. Food should be cooked properly.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Organic Foods and Health

Toxins are contaminants that assault us on a daily basis in a timely manner. These toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the foods we eat. Eating organic food greatly reduces the toxins which we consume in our food. The health Conscious people are making Organic food more popular. The government has set certain regulations for growing organic foods commercially. The very best example is eggs which bear an organic certification label.

What is organic food? Organic food is food that is grown naturally without the aid of commercial fertilizers and chemicals like insecticides, herbicides, and anti-fungal substances. Organic growers use only organic fertilizers and remedies for growing plants. These foods are natural and unrefined. Feeding the animals food that has no chemicals added to it in turn produces organic animal products such as meat, poultry and eggs.

Advantages of organic food: There are several advantages for us in eating organic foods:
• There are considerably less toxins in the food as it is grown without the aid of chemicals and Fertilizers
• It is often better tasting
• Better for you-there are more nutrients in organic foods and Omega 3 is often found in organic eggs.

How Organic food will improve your health: A natural diet consisting of unrefined foods, more fiber less chemicals and toxins will improve your overall health in several ways:
• More fiber from fiber rich foods and those that are unrefined will help your digestive system and allow your whole body to function better.
• Some organic eggs are produced from chickens that are fed on vegetarian feed. This will cut down trans fat and animal fat in the eggs. Omega 3 is found in organic eggs, this substance can be good for the heart.
• There is more iron in the yolk of an organic egg.
• Due to the absence of refinement in organic food it is more satisfying and will help you with any weight loss program by encouraging you to eat less.
• Organic fruits and vegetables have more nutrition than commercially grown ones so you will be feeding your body with better food and improve your overall health.

Organic foods are the wave of the future as more people become more educated about their health and the foods that are good for them. At present, prices are a little higher for organic products but it is worth it when you consider the benefits. By switching to organic food you will improve your health and wellbeing and you will also be able to boost your immune system and help your body fight off diseases and toxins.