Traveling Abroad? The first concern comes to many of us is, "What if I get food poisoning while traveling?". Many of us fear from eating local delicacies while being in a foreign country. But, if you follow these simple rules you can avoid food poisoning while traveling abroad and can give your vacation a happy ending and a remembrance throughout your life.

What causes food poisoning and what measures can be taken?: First, it is necessary to know what causes food poisoning because then only you will be able to take measures to stop it. It occurs when you consume toxins that are already present in the food and could not be destroyed by boiling or heating it. There are few tips, if you follow, can help you in avoiding food poisoning while traveling abroad.

1. Do homework: Before planning a travel abroad, make it a habit of drinking plenty of water, eat lots of vegetables, fruits and yogurt, which helps in building good bacteria naturally in the system that fight against bad bacteria anywhere, anytime.
2. Consult your doctor and health insurance company: Before traveling to a foreign country, discuss your travel plans with your doctor as well as the health insurance company. The doctor will update you about the immunizations you might need before traveling, warn you about specific medical threats, give necessary medications if you happen to get afflicted with   food poisoning. The medic will also update you about the symptoms of food poisoning, which can vary from muscle aches, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever or all of them together. The health insurance company will inform you whether or not it will reimburse the payments made in another country. It will also issue a confirmation letter, which contains information about the hospital/doctor from which you might take treatment while in a foreign country. Additional Tip: Carry plenty of cash or just keep a portion of your finances for emergency situations like this in case hospitals or doctors do no accept credit cards.
3. Before traveling abroad, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website (wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations) and know what foods you must avoid in a particular country. This site contains all information about what should be avoided or eaten while you are in a specific country. This might change your eating or drinking habits for a few days, but it is always better to take precautions than curing yourself from anything like diarrhea.
4. If you are traveling alone, as soon as you check-in the hotel, give your emergency contact numbers to hotel staffs in case an emergency occurs. Rely on hotel's advice on choice of restaurants where you can have good food. However, follow your instincts and never eat at a place you find dirty, unhealthy or unhygienic.

5. Avoid street foods, especially fried ones despite it being made in front of you. The oil they use might be old and may cause stomach upset and other problems. It is recommended to dine at restaurants, which get fresh deliveries of fresh seafood daily. Never hesitate to ask the source of food.

6. As a rule, drink plenty of fluids while traveling, it will naturally flush out bad bacteria, if any, from your body. Avoid beverages, which are not bottled, juices and even from dairy products like milk. Eat only cooked foods or fresh fruits like oranges, mangoes, particularly bananas, which helps in digestion.   

In the end, wash your hands with anti-bacterial frequently and liberally throughout your trip after a bathroom visit, dealing with currency notes or before eating. This surely will help you avoid food poisoning while traveling in a foreign country.
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