Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food, which can be due to bacteria, a virus, or a parasite. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and stomach cramps, and can begin hours, days, or weeks after ingestion, depending on the type of infection. If you suspect you have food poisoning, there are several things you can do to help ease your symptoms and speed up your recovery:

1. Rest: Simple rest is one way to help your body heal from food poisoning. Take it easy until you are feeling better. Additionally, do not eat or drink for a few hours after the onset of symptoms. Once you do start eating and drinking again, try gentle and bland foods, like crackers, and sports drinks. Suck on ice chips to stay hydrated.

2. Hydrate: Its important to replace fluids to prevent dehydration. Drink plenty of clear liquids, such as water, sports drinks, or electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte, Enfalyte, or Naturalyte. If vomiting is a problem, try sipping small amounts of clear liquids. Replacing lost fluids and electrolytes is the most important treatment for food poisoning.

3. Eat bland foods: 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 youre feeling better, such as alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, fatty foods, and spicy foods.

4. Try natural remedies: Ginger tea is known to help with nausea and vomiting, and mint is an herb that traditional medicine practitioners say can settle the stomach. Drinking tea can also help you stay hydrated while you are sick.

5. Seek medical attention: Most cases of food poisoning can be treated at home, but you should see a doctor if your fever goes above 100.4 degrees, you see blood in your vomit or stool, or your diarrhea lasts for more than three days. Children or people at risk for serious illness should drink rehydration fluids like Pedialyte, and you should talk to your doctor before giving rehydration fluids to infants. If your illness doesn’t improve, a visit to your doctor may be in order.

To prevent food poisoning, its important to handle food safely. This includes washing your hands before and after handling food, handling raw food, especially meat, in a sanitary way, refrigerating or freezing perishables that need to be stored promptly, cooking mea...