However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caution against using sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade, because they are not designed to replace diarrhea-related losses. These drinks can also contain high amounts of sugar, which can be stimulating to the bowels and could worsen symptoms.
Diarrhea and vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration, Dr. Feckoury says, so getting plenty of fluids is key. You can drink water or try Gatorade or Pedialyte.
Replace lost fluids and electrolytes
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.
You can take fluid replacements that contain electrolytes, such as Gatorade or PowerAde, for both food poisoning and flu.
Replacing both fluid and electrolytes will make the sick person feel better quicker. There are excellent over-the-counter oral rehydration solutions (ORS), such as Gastrolyte & Hydralyte, which can be purchased in a variety of formats such as in powder or tablet form.
Avoid chocolate, tea, hot cocoa, coffee and alcoholic beverages while you are suffering from food poisoning. Instead, focus on rehydrating yourself with clear broth, clear sodas, water or sports drinks that do not contain caffeine. You can also try sucking on ice chips if it is difficult for you to keep down liquids.
Drink water, broth, or an electrolyte solution, which will replace the minerals that you lose with vomiting and diarrhea. Eat when you feel ready, but start with small amounts of bland, nonfatty foods such as toast, rice, and crackers. Get plenty of rest.
Foods should be bland, low in fat, and low in fiber. Because fat is harder for the stomach to digest, avoid fatty foods as much as possible. Foods that are easier on the stomach include cereal, bananas, egg whites, gelatin, oatmeal, plain potatoes, rice, crackers, toast, and applesauce.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are: Diarrhea. Stomach pain or cramps. Nausea.
If you think someone has food poisoning, advise them to lie down and rest. If they're vomiting, give them small sips of water to drink as this will help prevent dehydration. If they have accompanying diarrhoea or diarrhoea only, it is even more important to try to replace lost fluids and salts.
Most people fully recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Some types of food poisoning can cause serious complications. Death from food poisoning in people who are otherwise healthy is rare in the United States.
You can also drink sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade) or rehydration drinks (Pedialyte) to replace lost electrolytes. Some people find clear sodas or ginger ale to be soothing. If you try a soda, drink it at room temperature, without ice.
It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses. If you have a stomach virus with vomiting, diarrhea or both, you might lose a large volume of fluid and electrolytes within a short period. Doesnt have to be Gatorade.
Stay hydrated
It's also important to replace the electrolytes lost through dehydration. This can be done with sports drinks or rehydration solutions. If you choose a sports drink, be sure to dilute them with water—the sugar and sodium in these drinks can sometimes lead your body to further dehydrate itself.
“Most of the time, food poisoning will set in within a few hours of eating contaminated food,” Dr. Lee says. “The severity of your symptoms and how long it will last is mostly dictated by what strain of germs you ingested, how much you were exposed to and how strong your immune system is to fight it off.”
Some foods are more likely than others to contain germs that can make you sick. These foods include: Raw and undercooked foods from animals, including meat, chicken and other poultry, eggs, raw (unpasteurized) milk and products made from it, and seafood.
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.
It is not safe to induce vomiting to treat poisoning. When a person vomits some poisons, such as acids, this increases the risk of burns and other injuries to the esophagus, throat, and mouth. In addition to poisoning, there might be other scenarios in which a person wants to induce vomiting.
Sleep on your left side: Did you know that sleeping on your left side can promote better coordination between your digestive system and GRAVITY? Well, it's true! The reason for this has to do with the position of the digestive tract.
Sip clear liquids such as Gatorade, ginger ale, water, Pedialyte, or soup broth. Bland diet In small amounts as tolerated for 24-48 hours after last vomiting episode – bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, jello, crackers, chicken noodle soup. Avoid alcohol, greasy foods, dairy products, citrus juice.
Drink plenty of clear liquids
Water, clear soda (stir it well to release more carbonation), herbal decaffeinated tea, broth or over-the-counter electrolyte replacements are great ways to avoid dehydration when you have a stomach flu with frequent diarrhea or vomiting.
While it's important not to overtax your stomach, it's also important to avoid becoming dehydrated as a result of vomiting. Drinks such as carbonated sodas and milk should be avoided until you are able to begin eating your normal diet.