Keeping Yourself Properly Hydrated When Recovering From Food Poisoning

 Posted on September 08, 2017 in Food Poisoning

When you are suffering from food poisoning, putting your health first will help you make a timely, complete recovery. One of the most important ways to keep yourself healthy is to drink enough water to keep yourself fully hydrated. There are benefits to being properly hydrated all the time, regardless of your health status. When you are ill, these benefits are magnified.

Staying Hydrated Combats Nausea

Food poisoning nearly always causes the victim to experience nausea. Nausea can make it difficult to eat, which can make it impossible to consume the necessary nutrients to fight an illness. Drinking water while you are recovering from food poisoning can reduce your feelings of nausea and keep you from vomiting.

For a man, a gallon of water per day is an appropriate amount of fluid intake. For a woman, about three quarts of water is appropriate on a daily basis. Keep track of the amount of fluid you lose to vomiting and diarrhea and put it back accordingly.

Food Poisoning Symptoms Can Lead to Dehydration

Vomiting and diarrhea are often part of a bout of food poisoning. They can cause the victim to lose body water, which puts him or her at risk of dehydration. Dehydration can be dangerous. It can cause the victim to suffer kidney damage and put him or her at risk of hypovolemic shock, which occurs when the victim experiences a dangerous drop in blood pressure that reduces the amount of oxygen in his or her body.

What to Drink When You are Recovering From Food Poisoning

To stay hydrated and healthy when you are suffering from food poisoning, it is important that you drink the right fluids. Water is always your best choice. Consume it at room temperature, hot with a slice of lemon, or in the form of ice cubes to consistently put water into your body.
Tea can also be a great way to keep yourself hydrated while you are recovering from food poisoning. Choose decaffeinated tea to avoid the dehydrating effects of caffeine.

While we are on the subject of caffeine, avoid coffee while you are recovering from food poisoning. Coffee has diuretic effects that will only put you at greater risk of dehydration. Other beverages to avoid for this reason include sodas and alcoholic beverages.

Another way to add fluid to your body is to eat clear soups. Make meals of soups like miso and minestrone soup. Avoid creamy soups and soups with complicated, difficult-to-digest ingredients like beef.

Work with an Experienced Libertyville Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or your child suffered financial damages after experiencing food poisoning due to another party's negligence, consider working with an experienced food poisoning lawyer to pursue monetary compensation for those damages. To learn more, schedule your initial consultation with a member of our team at Newland & Newland, LLP today. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Athena Lam)