Food poisoning or feeling sick, weak and nauseous? This drink will help you feel better
Food poisoning can make you feel absolutely miserable. Especially when you’re dealing with the double dragon – if you know, you know.. We experienced it while on holiday in Peru with our travel group. Luckily, I knew what my travel companion needed to take to get back on their feet.
Are you immediately thinking of ORS? Correct, that will eventually help you feel better too. But anyone who has ever taken the soluble powder knows that this stuff is impossible to stomach when you feel violently sick. When you’re in the heat of the moment , in other words. You simply can’t get that sweet taste down when you’re hanging over the toilet every five minutes. But you have to get fluids in if you’re losing everything. Because it’s precisely the lack of fluids that makes you feel so miserable. So what can you take when it seems like you can’t keep anything down?
Isotonic sports drink
The answer: isotonic sports drink. Isotonic sports drinks have the right balance of water, carbohydrates (sugars) and electrolytes. The ‘osmotic pressure’ of isotonic sports drinks is comparable to that of our bodily fluids. Your body therefore absorbs everything super quickly, which means you hydrate better and get more energy. Electrolytes restore your fluid balance and carbohydrates provide that energy. As a result, you’ll start feeling better faster when you’re ill. Initially, stick to one bottle of approximately half a litre and take small sips from it, spread over several moments. That’s what your body responds to best.
In principle, any type of isotonic sports drink is fine. The AA brand, for example, has an isotonic drink, as does Powerade. You can find both in the supermarket. Personally, I found the blue sports drink easiest to keep down when I had gastroenteritis. That’s a matter of personal preference; at that moment, I could tolerate that flavour best.
Food poisoning: this is what else you can do
Been struck down by food poisoning? Here’s what else you can do to fight it. Grandma’s (and Mum’s) tips still seem to help the most. Since, of course, you never want to feel this miserable again, we’ll also tell you what you can do to prevent food poisoning. And what your rights are if you became ill after visiting a restaurant. Believe it or not, but not all restaurants respond sympathetically to the fact that you’re battling the double dragon because of them…
Also read:
- It’s scientifically proven: this really helps against a hangover
- Good to know: this food makes you fart
- 8x ‘everyday’ foods that can make dogs very ill
Sources: Het Voedingscentrum, NutriSense, Runner’s World
