Avoiding Delhi Belly
Discussion
If you want to be really anal about it, eat only piping hot, freshly cooked food. Nothing that's been sitting around for a while.
- No salads
- No ice cream
- No ice cubes in drinks
- No fruit unless you've peeled it yourself
- Drink bottled water only, and check the seal is intact. This includes for cleaning teeth
- Wash your hands frequently, and always before eating, or use alcohol hand sanitising gel
I've eaten street food the world over and have never been ill (following the rules above), but it's up to you.
- No salads
- No ice cream
- No ice cubes in drinks
- No fruit unless you've peeled it yourself
- Drink bottled water only, and check the seal is intact. This includes for cleaning teeth
- Wash your hands frequently, and always before eating, or use alcohol hand sanitising gel
I've eaten street food the world over and have never been ill (following the rules above), but it's up to you.
MC , hate to tell you this but the refilled water bottles do have a seal on them . This is a country where they refill disposable lighters .
When I go to India it is usually for a month or two . We normally eat food grown on my cousins farm , even the flour is milled from his own wheat . The water is pumped from their own well . The kitchen is as clean as you like . I still get a dodgy stomach for a week or so . When I come back to the uk , I get a dodgy stomach again .
People say that it is the change of water or something .
When I go to India it is usually for a month or two . We normally eat food grown on my cousins farm , even the flour is milled from his own wheat . The water is pumped from their own well . The kitchen is as clean as you like . I still get a dodgy stomach for a week or so . When I come back to the uk , I get a dodgy stomach again .
People say that it is the change of water or something .
I go with work alot and as yet have been fine.
Soon as I get in the hotel, I use antiseptic wipes to clean the door handles, toilet buttons and shower taps, sink taps and the TV remote control. I do the kettle and wipe the cups with the antiseptic wipes.
I only drink western brands of bottled water (from the bottle, not the glasses even if I have poured it myself). If its an unknown brand, ask them to change it.
I usually take loads of almonds for snacks and eat only hot freshly cooked food from VERY reputable places (5 star hotels etc).
NEVER swim in the hotel pools, no matter how fantastic they look and ALWAYS keep your mouth shut in the shower.
Seems like over kill, but I cannot risk getting the runs with a packed travel itinerary where there are no toilets. Its an interesting country, but you really don't want to get ill there. A colleague has had stomach problems for a year since he went.
Soon as I get in the hotel, I use antiseptic wipes to clean the door handles, toilet buttons and shower taps, sink taps and the TV remote control. I do the kettle and wipe the cups with the antiseptic wipes.
I only drink western brands of bottled water (from the bottle, not the glasses even if I have poured it myself). If its an unknown brand, ask them to change it.
I usually take loads of almonds for snacks and eat only hot freshly cooked food from VERY reputable places (5 star hotels etc).
NEVER swim in the hotel pools, no matter how fantastic they look and ALWAYS keep your mouth shut in the shower.
Seems like over kill, but I cannot risk getting the runs with a packed travel itinerary where there are no toilets. Its an interesting country, but you really don't want to get ill there. A colleague has had stomach problems for a year since he went.
I've developed this into a minor art.
The key thing which works for me is carrying around a small bottle of alcohol hand gel and using it very regularly- Always before eating, after handling money etc...
I wouldn't get too concerned about street food, if you look at the state of some of the kitchens in "nice" restaurants that's a far greater threat. If you can see the food being cooked in front of you it makes a big difference.
Always avoid ice cream. The electricity supply and supply chain isn't nearly regular enough to trust it. I would also avoid salads as they are invariably washed in dodgy water.
In India, I would strongly recommend doing what I did- Go vegetarian. This removes a major element of risk and India is very well set up for vegetarianism- In fact the quality of most of the meat dishes is pretty low. There are loads of "pure vegetarian" restaurants. On the coast you're fairly safe with fish, etc as it is caught daily.
I would echo the comments about bottled water in India. Having travelled for 3 weeks all across the country, on trains doing a very similar route to yours, I was only ever sick once and I know exactly why- A refilled bottle of water. You just have to be alert, I sensed as soon as I tasted it that it wasn't right but stupidly drank it anyway! No major stomach disturbance but the next few hours of camel trek weren't great
The main thing is not to worry too much. Enjoy your trip and take a few precautions, but there's no point in paranoia. Worst case scenario is a day or two of illness. If you need to travel loperamide is very effective, and over-the-counter antibiotics such as ciproflaxin clear up most nasties very quickly.
The key thing which works for me is carrying around a small bottle of alcohol hand gel and using it very regularly- Always before eating, after handling money etc...
I wouldn't get too concerned about street food, if you look at the state of some of the kitchens in "nice" restaurants that's a far greater threat. If you can see the food being cooked in front of you it makes a big difference.
Always avoid ice cream. The electricity supply and supply chain isn't nearly regular enough to trust it. I would also avoid salads as they are invariably washed in dodgy water.
In India, I would strongly recommend doing what I did- Go vegetarian. This removes a major element of risk and India is very well set up for vegetarianism- In fact the quality of most of the meat dishes is pretty low. There are loads of "pure vegetarian" restaurants. On the coast you're fairly safe with fish, etc as it is caught daily.
I would echo the comments about bottled water in India. Having travelled for 3 weeks all across the country, on trains doing a very similar route to yours, I was only ever sick once and I know exactly why- A refilled bottle of water. You just have to be alert, I sensed as soon as I tasted it that it wasn't right but stupidly drank it anyway! No major stomach disturbance but the next few hours of camel trek weren't great
The main thing is not to worry too much. Enjoy your trip and take a few precautions, but there's no point in paranoia. Worst case scenario is a day or two of illness. If you need to travel loperamide is very effective, and over-the-counter antibiotics such as ciproflaxin clear up most nasties very quickly.
I'd go with MC's advice, but it's also true that Delhi Belly can be very hard to avoid, however fastidious you are.
The best thing is to go prepared: take some Dioralyte with you, and possibly Loperamide if you want / need to stop the runs. You'll also find some Motilium or another antiemetic handy to have in your kit, as well as Paracetomol to make you feel better. You can buy all these drugs in India, and cheaply, but you won't know the purity / authenticity of what you're being sold...
I had rotten food poisoning in Cochin, and Dioralyte was a lifesaver for me. By Western standards India is filthy, and I would say contamination is pretty much unavoidable.
The best thing is to go prepared: take some Dioralyte with you, and possibly Loperamide if you want / need to stop the runs. You'll also find some Motilium or another antiemetic handy to have in your kit, as well as Paracetomol to make you feel better. You can buy all these drugs in India, and cheaply, but you won't know the purity / authenticity of what you're being sold...
I had rotten food poisoning in Cochin, and Dioralyte was a lifesaver for me. By Western standards India is filthy, and I would say contamination is pretty much unavoidable.
I was in Mumbai on business a few years ago and despite taking all the precautions possible I still managed to get the runs about a week into my trip, only lasted just over 24 hours and I didn't get it again during the trip.
No matter how careful you are i think it's pretty much unavoidable.
No matter how careful you are i think it's pretty much unavoidable.
carreauchompeur said:
I've developed this into a minor art.
The key thing which works for me is carrying around a small bottle of alcohol hand gel and using it very regularly- Always before eating, after handling money etc...
I wouldn't get too concerned about street food, if you look at the state of some of the kitchens in "nice" restaurants that's a far greater threat. If you can see the food being cooked in front of you it makes a big difference.
Always avoid ice cream. The electricity supply and supply chain isn't nearly regular enough to trust it. I would also avoid salads as they are invariably washed in dodgy water.
In India, I would strongly recommend doing what I did- Go vegetarian. This removes a major element of risk and India is very well set up for vegetarianism- In fact the quality of most of the meat dishes is pretty low. There are loads of "pure vegetarian" restaurants. On the coast you're fairly safe with fish, etc as it is caught daily.
I would echo the comments about bottled water in India. Having travelled for 3 weeks all across the country, on trains doing a very similar route to yours, I was only ever sick once and I know exactly why- A refilled bottle of water. You just have to be alert, I sensed as soon as I tasted it that it wasn't right but stupidly drank it anyway! No major stomach disturbance but the next few hours of camel trek weren't great
The main thing is not to worry too much. Enjoy your trip and take a few precautions, but there's no point in paranoia. Worst case scenario is a day or two of illness. If you need to travel loperamide is very effective, and over-the-counter antibiotics such as ciproflaxin clear up most nasties very quickly.
Good advice. I forgot to mention that I take 10 little bottles of hand sanitizer for a 5 day trip!!The key thing which works for me is carrying around a small bottle of alcohol hand gel and using it very regularly- Always before eating, after handling money etc...
I wouldn't get too concerned about street food, if you look at the state of some of the kitchens in "nice" restaurants that's a far greater threat. If you can see the food being cooked in front of you it makes a big difference.
Always avoid ice cream. The electricity supply and supply chain isn't nearly regular enough to trust it. I would also avoid salads as they are invariably washed in dodgy water.
In India, I would strongly recommend doing what I did- Go vegetarian. This removes a major element of risk and India is very well set up for vegetarianism- In fact the quality of most of the meat dishes is pretty low. There are loads of "pure vegetarian" restaurants. On the coast you're fairly safe with fish, etc as it is caught daily.
I would echo the comments about bottled water in India. Having travelled for 3 weeks all across the country, on trains doing a very similar route to yours, I was only ever sick once and I know exactly why- A refilled bottle of water. You just have to be alert, I sensed as soon as I tasted it that it wasn't right but stupidly drank it anyway! No major stomach disturbance but the next few hours of camel trek weren't great
The main thing is not to worry too much. Enjoy your trip and take a few precautions, but there's no point in paranoia. Worst case scenario is a day or two of illness. If you need to travel loperamide is very effective, and over-the-counter antibiotics such as ciproflaxin clear up most nasties very quickly.
http://www.bimuno.com/ that is all!
Amazing stuff - works for most people, but not all. I used it in Central America last year, eating what and where I fancied, didn't suffer at all (unlike other people who ate the same!). Even surprised the tour guide who guaranteed that we would "all" suffer. Nope, he was wrong! lol
Amazing stuff - works for most people, but not all. I used it in Central America last year, eating what and where I fancied, didn't suffer at all (unlike other people who ate the same!). Even surprised the tour guide who guaranteed that we would "all" suffer. Nope, he was wrong! lol
Bec said:
One other tip is if your tummy feels a bit off, but not outright ill drink coke - it's apparently quite good at killing germs inside you!
I'd second that. Coke is pretty useful for a general pick-me-up and you can get it everywhere, helps when recovering from a spot of the trots though...Take some antibiotics with you - http://www.doctorfox.co.uk/travellers-diarrhoea/az... was best when I went out last year (to Bangalore) and make sure you pack some immodium or similar.
Maybe consider going veggie. I went vegetarian for a week before thinking screw it. I didn't get sick.
Avoided ice cream, ice in drinks and ensured I only drank bottled water (reputable brands), coke and beer.
Maybe consider going veggie. I went vegetarian for a week before thinking screw it. I didn't get sick.
Avoided ice cream, ice in drinks and ensured I only drank bottled water (reputable brands), coke and beer.
Coke is definitely your friend - it can etch metal so it's damned good at killing stomach bugs!
Another tip I picked up after many trips to West Africa, always wipe the top of a can, be it beer or coke, very thoroughly before opening it and drinking.
As already commented above, no ice cubes and never eat peanuts out of bowls on the bar.
Don't know if he was right but I recall the company doctor telling me to try to get some real Indian beer to drink before going, the idea being that your body gets to meet some of the local bacteria when they're nicely weakened by the alcohol. Nice theory, but I don't know if it's possible to get Kingfisher or Singha in Europe that hasn't simply been brewed under licence locally rather than imported.
Have a good trip and never trust a fart.......
Another tip I picked up after many trips to West Africa, always wipe the top of a can, be it beer or coke, very thoroughly before opening it and drinking.
As already commented above, no ice cubes and never eat peanuts out of bowls on the bar.
Don't know if he was right but I recall the company doctor telling me to try to get some real Indian beer to drink before going, the idea being that your body gets to meet some of the local bacteria when they're nicely weakened by the alcohol. Nice theory, but I don't know if it's possible to get Kingfisher or Singha in Europe that hasn't simply been brewed under licence locally rather than imported.
Have a good trip and never trust a fart.......
I`ve traveled everywhere in the world for years and the last time I had MEGA!Delhi Belly was after eating in a posh restaurant on the French riviera.In other words it can hit you anywhere.
One tip to think about that someone gave me the last time I was in Egypt was money? Just imagine how many people have handled the cash in your holiday pocket? I was told that most Egyptian taxi drivers keep cash in their underpants!!!
One tip to think about that someone gave me the last time I was in Egypt was money? Just imagine how many people have handled the cash in your holiday pocket? I was told that most Egyptian taxi drivers keep cash in their underpants!!!
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