5 Reasons You Quit Working Out and 5 Reasons to Start Back

By Jessica Kane

It may seem like every year, you are making the same old commitment, and every year, you are struggling to keep it. With the advent of the New Year, you might have submitted yourself to a New Year's resolution to establish a workout routine. But perhaps you are already reporting that you have not been able to keep your resolution. Perhaps you already quit the gym. There are a number of factors to this that you should consider. People make commitments for a lot of reasons and they quit those commitments for a lot of reasons. There are underlying psychological motivations that keep people from going to the gym, and often, they are simple.

5 Reasons You Quit Working Out

1 - You felt self conscious.

Sometimes when an individual goes to the gym for the first time, they will be overwhelmed by all of the machines. They do not know which one they are supposed to use or even how to use it. It can be rather embarrassing to sit on a machine and to use it improperly. You might also be a little self-conscious because all of the people there are fit and in shape, and you might not be. Of course, the very reason that you are at the gym is to develop a more fit physique. Also, the internet is a great resource. When you go home, you could just do a little research about the equipment.

2 - You had false expectations.

People sometimes go to the gym hoping that they would have a certain type of workout equipment. When they do not have it, they are discouraged and use that as an excuse to quit. Worse still will be when people say that if only they had access to an indoor pool or some sort of tech. Well, having that tech may be helpful, but you will still have to exert yourself and it will still be exhausting. You will still have to come up with excuses even if you had that tech.

3 - You kept telling yourself that it was okay to skip just one day.

A lot of procrastinators are familiar with this sort of behavior. It can set a dangerous precedent. After all, you could say that every day. You could eat one high calorie cheeseburger every day, and say "It's just one..." But before you know it, you are suddenly obese. Similarly, skipping one day over and over again eventually leads your gym life dying a slow death.

4 - The employees were rude.

While it is certainly an unpleasant experience when somebody is rude, if you use that as an excuse to stop going to the gym, then it is just an excuse. How long do you spend with the gym employees? They usually just scan your card and you walk passed them. They are probably not too big of a nuisance and if they are, you could always just tell their boss. Either way, allowing a rude employee to dictate your physical health is probably not the wisest approach and is probably just an excuse.

5 - You are not internally motivated.

You need to ask yourself what is drawing you to the gym. What are you getting out of it? Is your motivation drawn internally? Are you going to the gym so that you can feel better and that you can live a longer and more healthy life? If you are motivated for some other reason, like peer pressure or something external, you will not be properly motivated.

5 Reasons For You To Start Back

1 - You desire self-control.

You tell yourself that you are not going to have one of the donuts that your coworker brought in. But then you do anyway, and you regret it afterwards. Why did you do that? The temptation was just so powerful that you could not resist it. People who have willpower are focused on what they truly want rather than what their immediate desires are.

2 - It alleviates anger.

Perhaps the reason that you stopped going to the gym was that it was a frustrating experience. You could not bring yourself to work out every day and it was burdensome to spend so much time there. But going to the gym will actually reduce stress. During periods of exertion, endorphins are released in your brain and you will feel happier. That is not a coincidence. It is a direct result of exercise. That is why many people who have a workout pattern are content with their life.

3 - You can make it a social engagement.

There are not many opportunities in life when you get to spend time with your friends. Going to the gym can be an excellent social engagement. That will also prevent any slacking. If a group is going to the gym, it will be rather difficult to make up some lame excuse about why you cannot go. You could have a pact that you will encourage each other.

4 - Confidence.

Confidence is important in your professional life and in your social life. If you are single, you might not have the confidence to meet people. If you are unemployed, you need to exhibit confidence in your interviews. Confidence can be fostered when you take pride in your appearance. If you go to the gym on a regular basis, you will begin to look better and develop more confidence. Confidence fuels success.

5 - Sleep better.

Many people do not do much that is exerting throughout the day. Even if you work on your feet all day, you are probably not running and lifting. So, when you lay down, you might not feel as tired as you should. Exercise will provide natural exhaustion without resorting to pharmaceuticals. It is the most natural way to become tired enough to get to sleep.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who is trying to be healthier this year. She currently writes for AEDs Today, where aeds are for sale including models like Lifepak 1000 and Lifepak 15.

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Effects of Estrogen in the Water

Pink Water

Plastics, Pesticides, and Pills Are Contaminating Our Drinking Supply

By Holly Pyhtila

In September of 2007, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program in Norway released some startling statistics about birthrates in the globe’s northernmost reaches. The group found that twice as many girls as boys were being born in some Arctic villages, and that across much of Greenland, Canada, and Russia, a disproportionately high number of female births were occurring. In Sarnia, ON, home of one of the most extensive petrochemical complexes in the world, an unexpectedly large number of girls was also being born, according to Canadian census data. Nearby, a First Nation community had half as many boys as girls.

The accumulation of toxins such as PCBs, flame-retardants, and other artificial chemicals used in electronic equipment has been blamed for the shift in birthrates. These endocrine disruptors are carried by the weather to the Arctic, where they gather in the water and the food chain and concentrate in the bloodstreams of largely meat- and fish-eating communities. Studies of mothers’ blood indicated high levels of human hormone mimickers, leading researchers to conclude that man-made chemicals had triggered changes in the sex of unborn children in the first three weeks of gestation.

The Arctic birthrates, while exceptional, are not isolated. Across the globe, the gender balance of the human race appears to be changing. Historically, the number of male births has been slightly higher than the number of female births. But a 2007 study by the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that in Japan and the US, there were 250,000 fewer boys than would have been expected had the birth/gender ratio from 1970 remained unchanged.

The exact cause of this shift is unclear. What scientists do know is that estrogen mimickers and endocrine disruptors found in our drinking water supply can have profound effects on humans, interfering with the synthesis, secretion, binding, and action of natural hormones. They affect reproduction, development, and behavior in humans, and can decrease fertility, skew the gender ratio toward female, and feminize genetic males.

While North Americans can still boast of having the cleanest drinking water on the planet, big problems have developed with our water supply – and they’re not the old concerns about microorganisms or waterborne diseases. This new breed of contaminants is of our own making.

 

Plastics, Pesticides, and Pills

An Associated Press study released in March of 2008 finds trace amounts of estrogen, as well as more than 50 prescription drugs, in the water sources of 41 million people. The AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas, from Detroit and Louisville to Southern California and Northern New Jersey. Although most of the levels of the contaminants meet current drinking water guidelines, studies have shown that mutations and sex organ changes in animals still occur at levels far below those limits.

How do these hormones and chemicals enter our water supplies?

Chemicals leaching from plastic are a major source of estrogen compounds in the water supply. Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, is a central component in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, and over six billion pounds of it are produced in the US each year. This chemical has been used for decades in the lining of food cans, plastics, baby bottles, and dental fillings.

When plastic is discarded, it doesn’t biodegrade; rather, it photodegrades, which means it breaks down under sunlight. When plastic containing BPA photodegrades, it eventually releases estrogen mimickers that can leach into the water supply. When combined with chlorine used to purify municipal water, harmful estrogen-mimicking organ chlorides are also formed. Phthalates, also endocrine disruptors, are another widely used toxic chemical, used primarily to soften otherwise hard plastics. Canada, the US, and several countries in Europe and Asia have already initiated bans on phthalates and BPA, but both chemicals continue to circulate in municipal water supplies.

Dr. Fred Vom Saal, a biologist at the University of Missouri, is an outspoken opponent of the use of BPA. Based on more than three decades of research on the chemical, Vom Saal warns that “putting female sex hormones into a male’s body is a really bad idea. You’ll see lower sperm levels, male breast development, and changes in fat distribution. In females, you’ll observe damaged egg cells, repeated miscarriage, and genetic abnormalities in the embryos.”

Other side effects of BPA exposure include obesity, diabetes, early-onset puberty, prostate and breast cancer, hyperactivity, hormonal disruption, neurological damage, ADHD, and autism. Vom Saal adds that the use of plastic is so widespread that BPA levels sufficient to cause these health problems are present in municipal water supplies in every city in America.

Our industrial food system is also to blame for the hormone-mimickers found in our drinking water. For example, the hormones pumped into industrially raised livestock often eventually find their way into municipal water supplies. According to a paper published in the July 2004 issue of Environmental Science & Technology, the US’s 10 million cows and 43 million swine excrete a daily mix of 20 to 65 lbs of metabolites of estrogen, likely an order of magnitude higher than what the human population puts out. The hormones are dispensed to the animals to promote growth and to artificially continue lactation in dairy cows. Industrially raised cattle, swine, and poultry are also delivered daily combinations of steroids and antibiotics.

Pesticides are another problem. In a 1997 Residue Monitoring Report, the FDA determined that at least 53 carcinogenic pesticides are routinely applied to American food crops. Some of these, such as atrazine, have been found to cause gender mutations in amphibians and fish.

As the AP investigation finds, another major source of water contamination is all the pills we pop. The proportion of healthcare spending in North America devoted to prescription drugs, including estrogen-laced birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, has risen dramatically in recent decades. In the last five years, prescriptions grew by 12 percent. The human body can absorb only some of the medication, and the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. Discarded medicines often find their way there too.

The AP reports that sex hormones have been detected in San Francisco’s drinking water, that the water in Northern New Jersey contains the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine, and that anti-anxiety medications have been found in a portion of Southern California tap water. In Philadelphia, 63 pharmaceuticals or by-products were found in the city’s watersheds.

And it’s not looking like the “answer to pollution is dilution” theory works. After being ingested, excreted, and flushed down the drain, these drugs are not being filtered out by water treatment facilities. What that means is that people could be getting a small dose of thousands of different drugs with every glass of drinking water. The resulting health implications are just beginning to be realized.

Dr. Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington, DC, warns that “anyone drinking tap water in most American cities is essentially taking hormones with their glass of water; and specific populations, including children, people who are pregnant or those with a heart condition, should be especially concerned.” She adds that “people should not be reassured by the miniscule levels these drugs are being detected at since they are absolutely within the range of levels where we know they are active in our bodies.”

 Gender Benders

Scientific studies done on other species have confirmed that the consequences of too many hormone-mimickers in the water can be profound. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows atrazine levels of 3 parts per billion (ppb) in our drinking water. Yet University of California research shows that when tadpoles are exposed to atrazine levels of only 0.1 ppb, they develop extra testes or ovaries. Atrazine promotes the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, which explains why male frogs often developed both male and female sexual organs. Scientific studies have shown exposure to low levels of estrogen can cause not only hermaphroditic frogs, but also alligators born with shrunken penises, and frogs with extra legs.

Two years ago, EPA-funded scientists at the University of Colorado studied fish in Boulder Creek, a mountain stream. Of the 123 trout and other fish they netted downstream from the city’s sewer plant, 101 were female, 12 were male, and 10 were “intersex” fish with male and female features.
A US Geological Survey team report released in February of 2008 found more evidence of feminized fish. In the Potomac River, seven out of 13 male largemouth bass caught had female characteristics. Some of them were even producing eggs.

Early in 2008, after an exhaustive seven-year research effort, Canadian biologists proved that miniscule amounts of estrogen present in water could decimate wild fish populations downstream. The research, led by University of New Brunswick Professor Dr. Karen Kidd, confirmed that synthetic estrogen used in birth control pills can feminize male fish and cause them to produce female egg proteins.

What this means for humans is uncertain – but there is cause for concern. While men have a small amount of the “female” hormone estrogen, when these levels are elevated due to an outside source such as drinking water, it can lead to serious health consequences, including the onset of feminization.

Waste Not

Sewage wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers, or lakes, and the water we drink is cleansed again at treatment plants before it is piped to consumers. Doug Doyle, senior engineer with the City of Vancouver Waterworks Department, says, “All municipal drinking water systems in North America follow the same American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards.” Conventional treatments do not remove many drug or chemicals residues, which is why these endocrine disruptors and hormone mimickers are still showing up in water supplies. 

Doyle explains that “chlorination remains the most common form of disinfection used, and while ultraviolet light or ozone can also be used, chlorine is favored due to its low cost, effectiveness, and relative safety.” The problem is that while chlorine is effective at killing waterborne bacteria and microorganisms and neutralizing effluents, it doesn’t eliminate other pharmaceutical chemicals or hormone compounds.

“More sophisticated technology like membrane filtration, activated charcoal/carbon systems, or reverse osmosis is required to do that,” Doyle says. “But these energy-intensive and expensive systems are not routinely used in municipal systems.” Researchers are looking to new cheaper catalysts and activators and nano-filtration as possible methods to remove these contaminants from wastewater in the future.

Complicating the current effort to remove hormones and chemicals from water supplies is a basic lack of data. Neither the AWWA standards nor the US Safe Drinking Water Act, which regulates drinking water supplies, requires testing for pharmaceutical contaminants, which means that there is not even a clear understanding of the scope of the problem. Of the 62 major water providers contacted by the AP for its investigation, only 28 test for pharmaceuticals and hormones.

Adam Scow with California’s Food and Water Watch says that the failure to measure and regulate chemicals in municipal water supplies leads to distrust of the government’s ability to guarantee safe water: “When stories come out about problems with tap water, it also promotes the privatization of drinking water and the consumption of bottled water, while we should instead be pressuring government to upgrade existing systems.”

The Clean-Up

Around the world, demand for fresh water is starting to outstrip supply. From Atlanta – a major city that relies on a relatively small water supply, the Chattahoochee River – to Las Vegas and Los Angeles – which are facing diminishing precipitation due to climate change – communities are struggling with how to keep the taps running. “Water wars are already brewing or are even at the court level in most of the US,” says Noah Hall, executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center. The diminishing water supplies make the chemical contamination of our water all the more aggravating. We need, as Hall says, to “take care of what we’ve got.”

Some positive changes are underway. Many of the farming methods that pump unwanted drugs into water systems are facing renewed scrutiny, and organic farming is on the rise. Bans on BPA and plastics that leach phthalates are already in place in some countries.
But if the contamination continues, and water laced with pharmaceuticals and estrogen chemicals continues to be consumed, our feminized populations may become severely ill and “reproductively challenged.”

Despite that threat, government agencies appear unconcerned with the risk. In April, Benjamin Grumbles, deputy administrator for water with the EPA, told a Senate subcommittee hearing that, “In the absence of reliable data indicating potential risks associated with pharmaceuticals in water at the very low levels at which they have been detected, it would be inappropriate to require monitoring and/or treatment that could carry significant cost, with no evidence of significant risk reduction based on currently available data.” Researchers and environmentalists disagree.

While the effects of most drugs and chemicals are immediate and don’t remain in the body like heavy metals do, the effects of repeated exposure do add up. NRDC scientist Sass believes that “the effect of low-level exposure to these hormones may never be measurable, since the penetrance must be very high in order for epidemiologists to take notice, and it’s also very likely that the effects in humans aren’t easily detected as many of them are pre-birth.

“There is virtually no research being done on this kind of low-level exposure to pharmaceuticals and estrogen compounds,” Sass says. “The only experiment we’re doing is the one in the drinking water.”
Holly Pyhtila is a Vancouver, BC-based freelance writer.

What You Can Do to Keep Your Water Drug-Free

Prevent more contamination

• Stop flushing outdated or unused medication (including those for pets) down the drain. There are programs in place across North America to accept old pharmaceuticals. If your local pharmacy doesn’t accept old medication, the EPA advises you contact your state and local waste management authorities. Also, consult your physician to determine which medications can be removed from your regimen.
• For women on hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, start looking at alternatives to these estrogen-based drugs. Health professionals agree there are often negative side effects to taking estrogen, and there are natural and alternative methods for both birth control and hormone replacement needs.
• Eat less meat and dairy, and eat only organic meat, poultry, and dairy products. Certified organic farming methods do not incorporate the use of hormones, antibiotics, or steroids.
• Reduce or eliminate the use of plastic in your home. Store food and water in glass or stainless steel containers. Choose soups and milk packaged in cardboard “brick” cartons, and if you must use plastic, choose items made with recycling # 2, 4, or 5 plastic only. Remember, cans are lined with plastic too, so choose fresh and local foods when you can.
•  Avoid herbicides and pesticides around the house. Check the labels of your hair products, cosmetics, and skin creams and discontinue using those containing placenta, estrogen, estriol, or estradiol. 

 Filtering the estrogen

Estrogen contamination from products such as birth control and estrogen therapy has led to possible health concerns when consumed from drinking water sources. It is unhealthy for the human body, animals, and the environment, causing feminization in humans and the birth of more females. In order to make the removal of estrogen more practical, multiple filtration methods where tested to determine which method was the most efficient and practical to use. From gathered research, graphitized carbon was hypothesized to be the most efficient and practical method of estrogen removal from water. It is both inexpensive and made of fine material. 

After three rounds of experimentation with the filters, GCB (Graphitized Carbon Black) was found to be the most effective filtration material for estrogen removal. Although it was not more effective than some of the filter that are speciall y designed to purify water (the Oasis products), it was the most effective and practical material that was used, removing 98-100 percent of the estrogen compounds on each of the tests. Therefore, GCB was found to be the most efficient and practical filtration material overall. 

Source:

http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/pink_water/

http://www.scientiareview.org/pdfs/169.pdf 

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6 Things In Your Home That May Be Leading To Your Weight Gain!

Sadly, our world is full of chemicals and toxins and some of them are absolutely terrible for your waistline. If you are struggling to lose weight and can’t explain why, a group of chemicals called obesogens could be to blame.

Present in many common household items, these chemicals can slow your metabolism, affect your hormones, thyroid and appetite, and cause a variety of other detrimental health effects. Even worse, they have been shown to have these effects even at very small doses. So instead of trying to exercise more or eat less, it may be worth your time to try to eliminate the following 6 chemicals from your daily life.

1. Bisphenol A (BPA)
Used in polycarbonate (#7) plastics, medical devices, in the lining of some canned foods, and in cash register receipts, BPA has been shown to increase insulin resistance and program cells to incorporate more fat. To avoid it, look for stainless steel or glass containers and eat more fresh, organic produce versus canned foods.

2. Phthalates
Phthalates are synthetic chemicals uses to soften PVC plastic (polyvinyl chloride) and are found in everything from toys, lunchboxes, shower curtains, fragrance and air fresheners. They’ve been shown to lower testosterone and metabolism levels, causing weight gain and muscle loss. Avoid plastics with a #3 resin identification code and replace synthetic fragrances with 100% natural essential oil alternatives.

3. Tributyltin (TBT) and Triphenyltin (TPT)
These obesogens preserve wood and act as antifungals in textiles and industrial water systems. Since studies reveal TBT and TPT accumulate in seafood and shellfish, it’s best to reduce your fish intake and stick with a plant-based diet.

4. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFOAs are used in non-stick and stain-resistance applications – think Teflon, waterproof clothing, stain repellent on carpeting and mattresses, and microwavable food items. Studies reveal that early exposure to PFOA leads to obesity in later life. It also affects thyroid glands, which are important regulators of hormones that control weight. Use cast iron or stainless steel for cooking and glass or earthenware for baking.

5. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
These are used as flame retardants in electronics, furnishings, building materials, and other applications. According to a 2011 UC Berkeley study, PBDEs are found in the blood of up to 97% of Americans and are known to interfere with hormone functioning, particularly thyroid hormones. Look for the new TB117-2013 tag on upholstery for furniture likely made without flame retardant chemicals and buy a mattress made after 2005. Also, invest in organic mattress that uses nontoxic Kevlar or wool as a natural flame retardant.

6. Atrazine
This nasty pesticide slows thyroid hormone metabolism and can be found in tap water. Pesticides have been linked to increased BMI in children and insulin resistance in rodents. Installing a home water filtration is essential to filter out pesticides and other contaminants in your drinking water.

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Source:

http://theheartysoul.com/weight-gain-toxins/
http://www.shop.truefitnessbootcamp.com/Weight-Loss_c2.htm

Preventing and Treating Food Poisoning with Probiotics

If you’ve ever suffered from food poisoning (sometimes known as “traveller’s diarrhea”) you probably know that absolutely horrible feeling when you’d do almost anything to stop the stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.
Food borne illness is caused when parasites, bacteria, viruses or toxins contaminate food through unhygienic food handling techniques, insufficient cooking, inadequate refrigeration or excessive age. Typical cases clear up within 24 – 48 hours, but in very serious cases the food poisoning can lead to organ failure, paralysis, neurological impairment, blindness, stillbirths and even death.
Even firm believers who avoid antibiotics whenever possible like me are usually more than happy to take them in the hopes of feeling better when hit with a bad case of food poisoning.  Although antibiotics can clear up many bacterial infections, they can also have side-effects, including nausea and longer-term diarrhea! This is generally not what you want when you are trying to get rid of a case of food poisoning.

The good news is that many incidences of food poisoning can typically be treated at home without the need for antibiotics. Probiotics and a healthy gut micro biome have been shown to prevent many cases of traveler’s diarrhea, taking probiotics can also treat food poisoning and help sufferers feel better quickly.

Note: When to Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
If you think your sickness has been caused by either eating a mushroom or some bad shellfish, seek medical assistance promptly and do no attempt to treat it on your own.  The toxins that may be associated with either of these foods can be dangerous and require a doctor’s evaluation and treatment.

Additionally, if you feel dangerously ill, develop a high fever, or feel extremely dehydrated or depleted, seek a doctor’s attention right away as this can be an indication of serious sickness requiring medical intervention and a strong antibiotic.

 

How Probiotics Assist the Immune System

Probiotics are the friendly or health-promoting microbes (including both bacteria and yeasts) that typically live in healthy person’s digestive tract. These health-promoting organisms assist in maintaining a strong intestinal lining.  This lining in turn helps to prevent harmful substances from crossing from the digestive tract and into the blood stream, where they can cause greater harm.

The large majority of the body’s immune cells are located in the digestive tract and are assisted by the probiotic microorganism that live there. Certain types of probiotic microorganisms can recognize the presence of harmful pathogens and communicate with the immune system, alerting it to the attack.  They can provoke or stimulate the body to initiate an immune response to fight off threats.

Furthermore, some probiotics support our immune system by directly harming the disease-causing pathogens with the anti-microbial substances known as bacteriocins they produce, thereby working directly to eliminate them from the body.

Probiotics also help us to eliminate harmful or pathogenic bacteria and viruses by outcompeting the harmful microbes for food and other resources.  They take up space within the digestive tract, making it harder for the bad microbes to take hold and cause harm.

 

Research on Probiotics to Treat or Prevent Food Poisoning

There have been a few medical studies that have shown that probiotics can help reduce the incidence of food poisoning as well as reducing the duration of the illness and the severity of the symptoms.

Salmonella enterica, a pathogenic bacteria, is a very common cause of food poisoning. Animal studies have shown that administering probiotics has great potential to both reduce risk of Salmonella infection and its severity.  In 2007, researchers reported on a study they undertook whereby they gave healthy pigs a mix of five common probiotic bacteria (two strains of Lactobacillus murinus and one strain each of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Pediococcus pentosaceous) for six days.

They then infected the pigs with Salmonella enterica and monitored the exposed animals for the next 23 days.  Those pigs that treated with the probiotic cocktail showed reduced incidence, severity, and duration of diarrhea as well as a reduced number of Salmonella cells in their feces, as compared to the control group that were not given probiotics.  The study appears to show that giving probiotics prophylactically (to pigs at least) seems to reduce the risk of getting Salmonella, a potentially food-borne disease, as well as reducing the severity of the disease for those that did get it.  We look forward to human studies looking at this issue.

 

Probiotics to Prevent Traveler’s Diarrhea

A significant percentage of people who travel internationally get persistent diarrhea, which is caused by contaminated food or water and is commonly referred to as Traveler’s Diarrhea.  From 5 to 50% of overseas travelers will develop this food poisoning, depending on the destination of their trip.

A 2007 meta-review of research that had been done on this burdensome condition and that can really ruin a nice vacation, concluded that taking probiotics prophylactically appeared to be effective at reducing the likelihood of travelers developing diarrhea in the first place.

The authors noted that no adverse effects from taking the probiotics was observed in any of the studies they reviewed.  In particular, the probiotics Saccharomyces boulardii and a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum have been shown to be very effective.

With relatively little downside (other than cost) and the potential to increase the enjoyment from a journey, it seems worthwhile to give strong consideration to taking probiotics before and during travel, particularly if the itinerary includes destinations such as India or Mexico, which are known hot-beds of Traveler’s Diarrhea!

 

Self-care: Probiotics for Food Poisoning

Probiotics have been shown to be useful in preventing and improving cases of food poisoning and they are typically quite safe, except for people with compromised immune systems, who should avoid them.

Friendly microbes will assist your immune system to fight off the illness.  Additionally, the beneficial bacteria and yeasts in the probiotics will help your digestive tract return to normal faster after a bout of food poisoning. In some cases, an unexpected side effect of food poisoning is that the sufferer develops lactose intolerance ( a problem digesting milk and foods made with milk).   Probiotic Lactobacillus bacteria can help the body to digest milk and milk products while the digestive tract recovers.

If you have taken antibiotics for a bout of food poisoning, taking a probiotic supplement along with, or even after, the prescription medication can help return the healthy microbes to your digestive tract that may have been inadvertently harmed by the antibiotics.  One downside of antibiotics is that they kill beneficial as well as harmful microbes. Probiotics can help with antibiotic-induced diarrhea and improve digestion.

Although it may be difficult to consume food or liquids when suffering from food poisoning, eating probiotic rich foods, such a live-culture yoghurt, kefir or preservative-free fermented foods like miso and sauerkraut is one of the most effective ways to get a high dose of good quality probiotics. Be sure to eat and drink lots of these prior to travel to destinations known for a high incidences of food poisoning.

Anecdotally, we have heard people having very quick improvement from food poisoning symptoms after drinking kefir.

If you prefer to take probiotics for preventing or treating food poisoning in pill form, choose a good quality probiotic that contains some or most of these beneficial organisms that have been shown to helpful:  Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus pentosus, and/or Pediococcus pentosaceous.

Don’t forget to seek medical treatment if your bout lasts longer than a few days, you develop a high fever or you notice blood in your stool.

Signs and Symptoms

The typical signs of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, head or muscle aches, and fever. Specific bacteria may cause these signs and symptoms:

• Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum, or botulism): weakness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, double vision, paralyzed eye nerves, difficulty speaking and swallowing, paralysis that spreads downward, respiratory failure, and death
• Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni): fever, chills, and bloody diarrhea
• Escherichia coli (E. coli): hemorrhagic colitis (diarrhea with very little stool and large amounts of blood), occurring up to 3 days after eating contaminated food
• Mushroom poisoning: stomach upset, delirium (confusion), vision difficulties, heart muscle problems, kidney failure, death of liver tissue, and death if left untreated

Fish poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and headache. Specific types of fish poisoning can cause other signs and symptoms, such as:

• Ciguatera (caused by toxins in some fish, including grouper, snapper, mackerel, and barracuda): numbness or tingling around the mouth, feeling of loose teeth, impaired touch sensation of hot as cold and cold as hot, itching, muscle and joint pain, slow heart rate, low blood pressure
• Numbness or tingling around the mouth, trouble coordinating movement, difficulty swallowing, excess saliva, twitching, loss of ability to talk, convulsions, paralysis that spreads upward, respiratory failure, and death (Pufferfish poisoning).
• Numbness or tingling around the mouth or in the arms and legs, trouble swallowing, difficulty speaking (Shellfish poisoning, caused by toxins in algae that are eaten by shellfish).

What Causes It?

Usually bacteria and algae cause food poisoning, but poisonous plants and animals are other potential causes.
Common bacterial causes include:

• E. coli in undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized apple juice or cider, raw milk, contaminated water (or ice), vegetables fertilized by cow manure, or spread from person to person
• Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in cole slaw, dairy products (mostly soft cheeses from outside the United States), and cold, processed meats
• Salmonella spp. in poultry, beef, eggs, or dairy products
• Shigella spp. from raw vegetables or cool, moist foods (such as potato and egg salads) that are handled after cooking
• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in salad dressing, ham, eggs, custard-filled pastries, mayonnaise, and potato salad (usually from the hands of food handlers)
• C. jejuni in raw milk and chicken
• C. botulinum in improperly home canned foods (in children under 1 year of age, mostly from honey but also from corn syrup)
• Clostridium perfringens(C. perfringens) in meat and poultry dishes and gravies, mostly foods that were cooked more than 24 hours before eating and were not reheated well
• V. cholerae in bivalve (two shelled) shellfish (such as mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops), raw shellfish, and crustaceans (such as lobsters, shrimp, and crabs)

Common types of fish poisoning include:

• Scombroid poisoning from bacteria in dark meat fish (tuna, bonito, skipjack, mahi-mahi, mackerel) that are not refrigerated well
• Ciguatera poisoning in tropical fish (grouper, surgeonfish, snapper, barracuda, moray eel, shark) that have eaten toxic plankton
• Puffer fish poisoning from the organs and flesh of puffer fish
• Poisoning from shellfish that feed on certain algae

Mushroom poisoning occurs from eating poisonous wild mushrooms, especially Amanita phalloides.

Who's Most At Risk?

 

Infants and the elderly are at greater risk for food poisoning. Other risk factors include:

• A pre-existing medical condition, such as chronic kidney failure, liver disease, or diabetes
• Taking antibiotic, antihistamine, or steroid medicines
• Sickle cell anemia and other problems with red blood cells
• A weakened immune system, pregnant women and people over age 65 are most at risk
• Traveling in an area where contamination is more likely

Listeriosis is most common in pregnant women, fetuses, and people with immune problems. When a fetus is infected with listeria, it may be born prematurely or die.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider will examine you for signs and symptoms of food poisoning, such as stomach problems, and dehydration. Your health care provider may also ask about foods you have eaten recently, where you may have traveled, and if you have had contact with people showing similar symptoms. Tests of your vomit, blood, and stool can identify the cause. In the case of botulism, your health care provider may request electromyography (a test to measure electric impulses in the muscles) to confirm the diagnosis. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may be done to check for signs and symptoms related to central nervous system disorders.

 

Prevention

These steps can help prevent food poisoning:

• Wash your hands and clean any dishes or utensils when you are making or serving food.
• Keep juices from meat, poultry, and seafood away from ready-to-eat foods.
• Cook foods to proper temperatures.
• Refrigerate any food you will not be eating right away.
• If you take care of young children, wash your hands often and dispose of diapers carefully so that bacteria can't spread to other surfaces or people.
• If you make canned food at home, make sure to follow proper canning techniques to prevent botulism.
• Do not feed honey to children under 1 year of age.
• Do not eat wild mushrooms.
• When traveling where contamination is more likely, eat only hot, freshly cooked food. Boil water before drinking. Do not eat raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit.
• Always refrigerate fish.
• Don't eat tropical fish caught during blooms of poison plankton.
• Eat pufferfish only in specially licensed restaurants with chefs trained to cook it.
• Don't eat shellfish exposed to red tides.

If others may have eaten a food that made you sick, let them know. If you think the food was contaminated when you bought it from a store or restaurant, tell the staff and your local health department.

 

Treatment Plan

Treatment for most cases of food poisoning involve replacing fluids and electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride). While experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, the person should avoid solid food but increase clear liquids. In more severe cases, a person may need help either breathing or stopping vomiting. Health care providers usually don't prescribe antibiotics because they may prolong diarrhea. If you have eaten certain toxins (such as from mushrooms or shellfish), your health care provider may take steps to clean out your stomach (a process called lavage, or pumping the stomach) and administer activated charcoal, which can help absorb the remaining toxin.

Drug Therapies

Depending on the symptoms, cause, and severity of food poisoning, a health care provider may prescribe drugs, including:

• Oral rehydration therapy
• Antibiotics
• Antitoxin to neutralize toxins from C. botulinum (only given within the first 72 hours)
• Amitriptyline to control the numbness and tingling from ciguatera poisoning
• Apomorphine or ipecac syrup to cause vomiting and help rid the body of toxins
• Atropine for mushroom poisoning
• Diphenhydramine and cimetidine for fish poisoning
• Mannitol for nerve-related symptoms of ciguatera poisoning

 

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

If you are suffering from severe food poisoning, seek conventional medical treatment. Complementary and alternative therapies are best used to strengthen the body and aid in the prevention of food poisoning. Animal studies have shown that certain vitamins and nutrients may protect against some food toxins while others may actually worsen the effects of toxins. Milk thistle is an herb commonly used in Europe as a primary treatment for mushroom poisoning. Homeopathy may help treat diarrhea in children (which is sometimes caused by food poisoning) in developing countries.

 

Nutrition

The following general nutritional guidelines may be helpful in the case of food poisoning:

• Drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration).
• Drink barley or rice water (to soothe inflamed stomach or intestine).
• Take probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, can help restore the balance of good bacteria in the intestine. If you are traveling to an area where the food and water may be contaminated, in addition to taking the precautions above, taking probiotics both before and during your trip may help maintain intestinal health. People with weakened immune systems should speak with their doctors before taking probiotics.
• Apple cider vinegar is a traditional remedy that, although it has not been studied scientifically, may have some antimicrobial properties. Mix 2 tsp. in one cup warm water and drink several times a day.
• Several studies suggest that a number of cooking herbs, including thyme, rosemary, basil, coriander, sage, spearmint, and fennel have strong antimicrobial effects against food borne pathogens, and may add an additional layer of protection when used in cooking.

For specific types of food poisoning:

• Alpha-lipoic acid -- Several reports indicate that alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant commonly found in broccoli, spinach, and beef, may help treat Amanita (mushroom) poisoning, especially when combined with milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Seek medical treatment if you suspect mushroom poisoning. Do not self-treat.
• Vitamin A -- Studies on rats show that vitamin A offers some protection against salmonella. Rats infected with Salmonella appeared to eliminate the bacteria from their bodies faster when pretreated with vitamin A rather than with placebo, according to one study. They also gained more weight and had a greater immune response than rats that didn't receive the vitamin.
• Calcium phosphate -- One animal study suggests that rats receiving calcium phosphate supplements may be protected from Salmonella poisoning. Researchers think calcium phosphate helps boost Lactobacillus, the good bacteria found in the intestine, which helps fight off Salmonella.

Supplements to avoid:

• Fish oil -- In a study of mice infected with the bacteria Listeria, animals that regularly consumed diets rich in fish oil had significantly more bacteria in their spleens than animals that consumed diets rich in lard or soybean oil. Until researchers can determine what these results mean to humans, people with Listeria infection should avoid foods containing fish oil.

 

Herbs

Various herbs have been used traditionally to treat different types of food poisoning. More research is needed. The following herbs should not be used in place of conventional medical care and are listed only for the purposes of discussion.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is often used for liver disorders and is widely used in Europe to treat Amanita mushroom poisoning. Studies show that patients with Amanita poisoning can be effectively treated with pharmaceutical silibinin (the primary active component of milk thistle) up to 48 hours after eating the deadly mushrooms.
Animal studies of Chinese and Japanese combination herbal remedies used for Listeria suggest they may be effective for food poisoning. Active ingredients include:

• Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
• Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus)
• Chinese cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum aromaticum)
• Ginger root (Zingiber officinale)
• Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Peony root (Paeonia officinalis)
• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Seek the advice of a trained and licensed herbalist or practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine who will guide your individual treatment. Do not self-treat with herbs. Some herbs should not be taken if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, or if you take blood-thinning medication. In addition, some herbs interact with other herbs, supplements, and prescription medications, so it is important to make sure all your health care providers know what you are taking.
Laboratory (test tube) studies suggest that the following herbs have antibacterial or antimicrobial properties, although there is no evidence they are effective for treating food poisoning in humans. Do not use these herbs without speaking to a physician or knowledgeable herbal practitioner. Some side effects can be dangerous:

• Bittervine (Mikania micrantha)
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
• Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) has also been used traditionally to treat diarrhea from infectious causes such as E. coli and V. cholera. Berberine, the active ingredient in barberry, can cause brain damage in newborns. Speak to a physician before using berberine-containing herbs with children of any age.

 

Homeopathy

Studies examining the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies for food poisoning are lacking. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual. Below are some more common remedies for food poisoning or diarrhea:

• Arsenicum album -- for foul-smelling diarrhea from food poisoning or traveler's diarrhea with burning sensation in the abdomen and around the anus. This remedy is most appropriate for individuals who feel exhausted yet restless and whose symptoms tend to worsen in the cold and improve with warmth. Vomiting may also occur. Practitioners may also recommend Arsenicum to prevent diarrhea when traveling.
• Chamomilla -- for greenish, frothy stool that smells like rotten eggs. Used primarily for children, especially those who are irritable, argumentative, and difficult to console.
• Calcarea carbonica -- for children who fear being in the dark or alone, and who perspire heavily while sleeping. Stools have a sour odor.
• Podophyllum -- for explosive, gushing, painless diarrhea that becomes worse after eating or drinking. Exhaustion often follows bowel movements, and the individual for whom this remedy is appropriate may experience painful cramps in lower extremities.
• Sulphur -- for irritable and weepy children. May have a red ring around the anus and diarrhea with the odor of rotten eggs.

Prognosis/Possible Complications

Most cases of food poisoning are mild and clear up on their own within 4 - 7 days. However, with mushroom poisoning, up to half of people may die. With botulism, less than 10% die, and some people may need help breathing for months afterward. More than half of poisonings from pufferfish are fatal. Death is rare in other fish poisonings, but nerve-related symptoms can continue for months.
The following are some possible after effects of food poisoning:

• After shigellosis, white blood cell problems and kidney problems
• After E. coli infection, kidney problems and bleeding problems
• After botulism, long hospital stays (1 - 10 months) with fatigue and difficulty breathing for 1- 2 years, or muscle weakness followed by respiratory failure
• After salmonellosis, Reiter syndrome (an arthritis-like disease) and inflammation of the heart lining
• After campylobacteriosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (a nerve disease) 

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