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Summer sometimes can serve up stomach upset. At picnics, family reunions, barbecues and the ballpark concession stand, it's easy to overdo it. If you indulge in second helpings of brats with relish or chili cheese fries — and suffer the consequences — read this handy guide to discover what simple steps you can take to treat yourself and stay comfortable.
In general terms, nausea, heartburn and stomach upset can be brought on by many things, including overeating, eating the wrong combinations of foods and contaminated food.
What Can You Do When Symptoms Hit?
Sometimes a home remedy can calm an upset stomach. But other occasions will call for an over-the-counter remedy such as Pepto-Bismol®, which treats nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, upset stomach and indigestion.
So What's Happening When You Experience Symptoms?
You can blame stomach acid for your discomfort. When you eat, tiny acid pumps in your stomach produce an acid that helps you break down your food. At the top of your stomach is a valve that opens to let food in, then closes to keep acid down in the stomach. When the valve isn't working properly, acid can reflow back into your esophagus, where you don't have a protective lining to protect the area from the acids. Because certain foods cause that muscle to relax, approach those foods with caution when filling your plate. Particularly, look out for:
- Caffeine
- Citrus fruits and tomatoes
- Fatty/spicy foods
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
How Do You Keep Food Safe Outdoors?
At summer picnics in particular, special care must be taken to make sure hot foods stay hot and cold foods stay cold to prevent foodborne illness. According to Food and Drug Administration guidelines, hot foods should be refrigerated as soon as possible, within two hours after cooking.
- Keep cold food cold. Use insulated coolers that are chilled with ice or chemical cold packs. Pack your cooler so it's filled with 75 percent perishable food and 25 percent ice or freezer packs. Keep the cooler closed as much as possible, and store it in the shade (not the trunk of the car!) until you're ready to eat.
- Keep your hot food hot. Wrap hot dishes you've prepared ahead of time in an insulated container and wrap with several layers of newspaper for extra insulation. Hot foods should be 140° F or hotter, because harmful bacteria grow in lukewarm food.
- Be sure all food is tightly sealed. This is particularly important for any meat you may be taking to prepare on the grill — you don't want meat juices to leak and possibly contaminate other foods.
- Throw away any food that's been standing out for more than two hours.
Take these precautions, eat sensibly, stock up on over-the-counter medications in case of stomach upset and really enjoy that summer outing.
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