Foods Likely to Cause Food Poisoning

It can be difficult to tell what kinds of foods will give you food poisoning before you eat them. Usually, there is an ingredient in them that has gone bad or become contaminated. But there are still a few things you can do to avoid this type of illness altogether. Take a look at the most common foods likely to cause food poisoning before you plan your next dinner outing.

Leafy Green Vegetables

While they are some of the healthiest foods on the planet, leafy greens can be a common cause of food poisoning depending on how they are prepared. Raw greens are easily contaminated with Salmonella or E. coli, which are both harmful bacteria strains that cause poisoning and death. This can come from dirty water, bad runoff, or tainted soil where the vegetables are grown.

Poultry

Everyone knows that it is dangerous to eat raw or undercooked chicken. But have you ever wondered why? Chicken in particular is dangerous to eat without it being fully cooked as there is a high chance of raw meat carrying the Salmonella bacteria strain. This bacteria is often found in the feathers and intestines of birds. In fact, studies have shown that up to 80% of raw meat is contaminated with Salmonella before it is cooked. Thankfully, the bacteria dies as soon as the cooking process begins.

Deli Meat

Meat must be carefully prepared from the slaughtering process to the moment it arrives at the grocery store. Unfortunately, some deli meats like ham, salami, and hot dogs tend to be poisoned with bacteria if they are not properly processed. Contaminated raw meat can easily spread to other meat, so it’s important that you always pick the cleanest and freshest meat from the market. When you bring it home, make sure to cook and store it properly to further prevent infection.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning

If you eat food that has been contaminated with bacteria or waste, you will start to feel the effects right away. Food poisoning is a rapid onset condition that can leave as quickly as it arrives, but it is still important to keep track of the severity of your symptoms.

Common signs of food poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Stomach aches
• Intense stomach cramps
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or queasiness

In some cases, it can take a few hours for symptoms to appear. It is a good idea to always remember the last thing you ate in case you need to visit your doctor for a food poisoning emergency.

Get the Best Food Poisoning Care Today

Food poisoning is a scary experience, especially when you aren’t prepared for it. Any kind of food can become contaminated with waste or harmful bacteria when it isn’t safely processed. You should especially be on the lookout for poultry, deli meat, and raw leafy greens. To ensure that the food you prepare won’t make you sick, always cook it thoroughly.

Getting help for food poisoning is easier than ever. If your symptoms are starting to become severe, you shouldn’t suffer in silence. Get in touch with Dr. Tabib and schedule an appointment for personalized food poisoning treatment today. Symptoms may go away on their own, or they can get worse and cause debilitating medical issues. Take care of your gut and stay on top of your health with our treatment solutions ASAP!

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There are several different causes of excess gas, as well as various treatment options that can help to lessen symptoms and inspire better health in the gut. At the office of Dr. Siamak Tabib, a top gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, our specialists are equipped to deal specifically with issues affecting the digestive tract. Below, you will find some of the biggest causes and symptoms of gas, as well as the most viable treatments.

Symptoms of Excessive Gas

It is important to evaluate your symptoms before being able to figure out the causes of excessive gas. You’ll need to determine whether or not you do actually have excessive gas. The most common symptoms of gas typically include:

• Bloating and swelling of the stomach
• Passing gas between 10 and 25 times a day
• Excess pain in the abdomen
• Constant burping or belching

Everyone has gas from time to time. But if you are experiencing these symptoms non-stop, there is a clear indication that you need to see your trusted gastroenterologist.

Biggest Causes of Excessive Gas

What causes excessive symptoms of gas? While gas will always pass through our bodies as a normal part of the digestive process, too much gas or gas that does not properly exit the body can become a problem.

This can happen for many reasons, including:

Certain Foods and Drinks

Eating an excess of certain kinds of foods can cause a lot of gas. According to WebMD, the foods most commonly linked to gas include legumes, lentils, green vegetables, lactose, oats, sweet fruits, corn, potatoes, apple juice, milk, and artificial sweeteners.

Be especially careful with starchy foods, as soluble fiber can get stuck in the digestive system and can cause a backup. Whole grains and whole wheat products should also be looked at in moderation.

Swallowing Air

You may not think that swallowed air is much of an issue, but it can happen more often than you’d think. You swallow air every time you chew gum, eat too fast, have a smoke, suck on a candy, or drink a carbonated beverage. In most cases, these substances cause you to burp, but sometimes the gas can get stuck further along your digestive tract.

Intestinal Issues

Certain conditions may lend themselves to the development of excess gas. If you have been previously diagnosed with IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), lactose intolerance, or celiac disease, and your excess gas symptoms are bothering you, you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor ASAP.

Excess Gas Treatments

You can reduce your symptoms of excess gas through different lifestyle and habit changes. This is especially true if your gas is caused as a result of your swallowing air from smoking or drinking fizzy drinks. A change in diet away from starches and legumes can also help you reduce your gas symptoms.

If you are also dealing with a gastrointestinal issue such as IBS, you may need additional treatments. Dr. Tabib can prescribe lactase tablets, an alpha-galactosidase, or bloating medicine to help provide relief from your symptoms while you work on additional treatments to prevent excess gas from occurring again.

Get Your Gas Under Control!

Dealing with a lot of gas is a miserable experience. In some cases, the pain or discomfort is so severe that it prevents you from going about your day. If you are struggling with excess gas, get in touch with Dr. Tabib right away. You can contact us online or call us at 310-683-4911 to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

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Whether you grew up aware of your intolerance or are only now discovering your symptoms as an adult, it’s essential to notice the warning signs of being lactose intolerant so that you can treat it right away.

At the office of Dr. Siamak Tabib, we find it important to recognize some of the warning signs of lactose intolerance as early as possible. Doing so can drastically change your life for the better. Here are some steps you can take to recognizing your symptoms.

When the Signs Appear

If you do happen to be lactose intolerant, you may start seeing the signs and symptoms within 2 hours of drinking a milk-based product. However, the symptoms can start showing as early as 30 minutes after drinking milk.

Most Common Symptoms

The most common symptoms of lactose intolerance include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating, cramps, and pain in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Rumbling in the stomach

Everyday Health warns against mistaking certain symptoms for the usual milk-related ones. Additional symptoms such as hives, itching, and wheezing may indicate a more serious allergic reaction. If you experience any of these, the best option is scheduling an appointment with your physician.

Lactose Intolerance Vs. Milk Allergy

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can sometimes indicate that you are allergic to milk, rather than being lactose intolerant. The main difference concerns the enzyme lactase.

If you are lactose intolerant, you lack enough of the enzyme. Without this, you will have a hard time breaking down lactose in your body, making you feel sick. But, if you are allergic to the proteins in milk, you have a milk allergy. This may present more severe issues than lactose intolerance.

Diagnosing Your Problems with the Digestive System

Lactose intolerance is best diagnosed by a gastrointestinal professional, like Dr. Tabib. An expert can check to find what exactly lactose is doing to your digestive system. There are several different tests that we can perform to see whether you are lactose intolerant or dealing with a milk allergy.

Some of the tests may include:

• Stool Acidity Test
• Hydrogen Breath Test
• Bloodwork
• Lactose Intolerance Test

Physicians can look at the way the enzyme interacts with lactose in your body and what the lactose breaks down into. Either can be great indicators to Dr. Tabib if you are dealing with an allergy or intolerance.

Genetic Tests

Some cases of lactose intolerance are genetic. Many of the tests that we perform can indicate if your lactose intolerance is a product of genetic makeup or is due to other factors. Regardless, we can offer treatments and preventative measures to help relieve you from the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Schedule Your Consultation ASAP

There are a lot of symptoms that can contribute to an unhealthy digestive system. If milk or other dairy products don’t sit well with you, there are tests you can take to make sure you get on track with a treatment plan that works for you.

At the office of Dr. Siamak Tabib, we offer advanced treatment techniques and professional testing to help you feel healthier in no time. Get a consultation today or contact our experts for more information regarding your gastrointestinal care. You can find us online or give us a call at (310) 683-4911 to speak with one of our friendly representatives.

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Acid Reflux Diet Guide

Foods to Avoid

There are many trigger foods that have been determined over the years that acid reflux sufferers should avoid. Making this dietary change may seem annoying if there’s food you enjoy on this list. However, omitting these foods will make you feel much better. It will be worth the sacrifice for those that have chronic acid reflux. One of the biggest culprits is meat, specifically red meat. It is high in cholesterol and fat, which are two things that trigger acid reflux every time. Stay away from using too much oil, butter, and salt when preparing your foods due to their high-fat content. Many dairy products will cause trouble because of the amount of calcium. The biggest troublemaker is anything with cow milk since it is a harder substance for our body to digest. There are so many alternatives to cow’s milk now. Switching to one of those will show significant improvement. It goes without saying that acidic foods will cause your acid level to rise. Try to avoid acidic citrus fruits. Tomatoes and spicy food tend to cause trouble as well. Caffeine is something not usually associated with acid reflux, but it is a big trigger. Avoid chocolate, coffee, soft drinks, and tea. Finally, any carbonated beverages can cause discomfort.

Foods to Add

Having to keep track of all the foods you can’t eat may be depressing. So here are some foods that you should add to your acid reflux diet to help.

Vegetables are great to balance out the acid in your stomach because they are low in fat and sugar. Adding vegetables into your acid reflux diet has many other benefits as well.

Ginger is a natural remedy for heartburn. Use ginger root in your cooking, or drink ginger tea to feel the positive effects.

Fiber-rich foods are great to counteract the acid in your stomach.

Eating oatmeal in the morning, having whole-grain toast, or eating whole grain rice are all great options.

Although saturated fats are not good for you, healthy fats are beneficial. Avocados, healthy nuts, and a small amount of oil olive should be included in your daily diet.

If you love fruit, you can still enjoy noncitrus fruits. In fact, things like bananas and apples can actually help with your acid reflux.

For that protein boost, low-fat sources of protein are encouraged. Fish, almonds, beans, and lentils are all great options.

Other Things to Consider

Although having a proper acid reflux diet will not outright cure your acid reflux, it can make it much more manageable. It is important to remember not to overeat, even if you are eating the foods that should help acid reflux. Overeating will almost always exacerbate the symptoms of acid reflux. When you eat is just as important as how much you eat. Do not eat for a few hours before bed to minimize any possible flare-ups. It is also important to maintain a healthy weight. Coincidentally, having a healthier diet should help you maintain a healthy weight.

If you are suffering from acid reflux and want to know more about what you can do, be sure to talk with a professional. Dr. Tabib is extremely experienced with acid reflux cases and can help guide you to a much better quality of life.

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