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.
Sleep on your side with your head elevated: If you find yourself vomiting a lot, then sleep on your side with your head elevated. Sleeping in this position will prevent you from choking on your own vomit if you happen to throw up while sleeping (which not only sounds gross but is also extremely dangerous).
Well, fortunately, you'll usually recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Your goal should be to make sure that your body gets enough fluids so that you don't become dehydrated. Don't eat solid foods until diarrhea has passed, and avoid dairy products.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are: Diarrhea. Stomach pain or cramps. Nausea.
Symptoms of food poisoning
While different types of pathogenic bacteria can cause different symptoms, food poisoning generally presents itself with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.
If you've been vomiting, the first step is to let your stomach rest. After you stop throwing up, don't try to eat or drink anything for 15 to 20 minutes so you can allow your stomach time to recover. Sit quietly and avoid lying down when you are having a vomiting episode; moving around can make nausea worse.
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 you're feeling better.
You may recover in a few days … or not
Most of the time, food poisoning will pass within 12 hours to 48 hours in healthy people. That's how long it takes for a healthy body to purge most foodborne infections. But your length of illness can vary based on several factors.
Take a shower: Showering can help cleanse your body of unhealthy bacteria due to food poisoning.
Food poisoning — by definition — is not contagious. It's an illness that someone gets from eating contaminated foods. And outbreaks can occur when many people eat the same contaminated food. So, in these outbreaks, the illness isn't spread from person to person like other infections.
You may use acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce pain and fever. Don't use these if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding. Talk with your healthcare provider first.
Eating bland foods to start, like rice, bananas, toast, and applesauce can help to resettle your stomach as you recover from food poisoning. It's also a good idea to avoid alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, and fried or high-fat foods or drinks during this time.
However, the key distinction is time: The symptoms of a stomach bug will take 12 to 48 hours to develop, while the symptoms of food poisoning typically develop much faster, usually with 6 hours of consuming an infected dish. Another common difference between the two is the length of illness.
You should drink plenty of liquids. 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. Eating saltine crackers can also help replace electrolytes.
Do not eat or drink anything for several hours after vomiting. Sip small amounts of water or suck ice chips every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Next, sip clear liquids every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Examples include water, sports drinks, flat soda, clear broth, gelatin, flavored ice, popsicles or apple juice.
Take a break from solid food, even if you feel like eating. Stay hydrated by sucking on ice chips or frozen fruit pops. Try drinking sips of water, weak tea, clear soft drinks without carbonation, noncaffeinated sports drinks, or broth.
When to visit the emergency department. For the most part, if you have uncontrolled vomiting for extended periods of time where you can't keep anything down, you should go to the emergency room. This is especially true for the very young, the elderly, or those with severe underlying health conditions, Dr. Lee says.
Not everyone will necessarily get food poisoning even if they eat the same thing. In healthy individuals, stomach acid kills food poisoning-inducing bacteria, while lactic acid bacteria in the intestines create an environment that prevents bacteria which cause food poisoning from multiplying.
Most of the time, food poisoning runs its course and people get better on their own. Occasionally, though, doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe types of bacterial food poisoning. Someone with severe dehydration may be treated in a hospital with intravenous (IV) fluids.