In the summer we go out to eat more, and we try different foods and flavors that we may not be used to, so it’s easier get food poisoning.
It is also common to go for a picnic or to eat at the beach, so not storing food well can deteriorate it and end up causing poisoning. The truth is that high temperatures favor the development of microorganisms In food.
With this, the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) He wanted warn of danger which lead to food poisoning for our body, especially during the summer season.
Specifically, Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Marcos, Member of the Nutrition Area of SEEN, said that “microorganisms are living beings that need food, which serves as a vehicle and habitat, for their provide favorable conditions such as nutrient availability, adequate temperature and a non-aggressive environment”.
This is why food must always be properly stored, because, if they remain for a long time in difficult conditions, the micro-organisms can reproduce, reach infectious doses and produce toxins.
What is food poisoning and what are its symptoms?
Food poisoning is a disease that occurs in our body due to the ingestion of food with the presence of pathogenic germs or its toxins, by viruses or by parasites.
As the SEEN expert points out, the disease can have its origin in the ingestion of bacteria or viruses carried by food, being a infection; in the toxins produced by those previously formed in food, being a poisoning; or in parasitic forms in specific phases of its evolutionary cycle, being, in this case, a infestation.
The most common foodborne infections are salmonellosis and hepatitis A. In cases of poisoning, botulism and gastroenteritis are known; and, finally, in case of infestation, staphylococcal and parasitic enterotoxin, trichinellosis and anisakiasis are usually frequent.
From the SEEN, they ensure that the key symptoms of food poisoning are five in number: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps. On some occasions, the infection can also cause fever.
What can I do to prevent food poisoning?
To avoid suffering from food poisoning, it is important to always take into account the “golden rules” of the World Health Organization (WHO), cited by Sánchez.
First, it is essential to eat foods that have been processed or handled hygienically.
On the other hand, raw milk should not be drunk without prior heat treatment and, as with meat, fish and baked goods, all should be refrigerated or frozen.
Regarding catering establishments, the same professional points out that the use of egg products in the preparation of raw egg dishes such as mayonnaise, sauces, creams, etc., in which 75°C is not reached.
If we prepare these foods at home, we must always consume them immediately, and if we have leftovers, we must throw them away.
The endocrinologist stresses that it is essential to correctly preserve the cooked food and indicates that if they cannot be finished immediately or if leftovers must be saved, they should be kept refrigerated at a maximum of 5°C or frozen.
Ultimately, it is essential to heat cooked foods sufficiently, to avoid contact between raw and cooked foods, to use paper towels instead of rags or tea towels, and to practice good hygiene whenever we are going to handle food.
Respect to wateryou only have to use drinking water and we must avoid drinking in places that are unknown to us.
This information does not in any way replace the diagnosis or the prescription of a doctor. It is important to go to a specialist when symptoms appear in case of illness and never to self-medicate.
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