Part of Living It — living a whole life complete with mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and relational health — is time spent with friends and families. At this time of year, there are many such gatherings in celebration of the holiday season. Make sure there are no uninvited guests in the form of bacteria, viruses and toxins lurking in improperly prepared food. These can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever or chills, abdominal cramps, and weakness.
The Health Library at lomalindahealth.org offers several tips for keeping food poisoning at bay. These include frequent washing and disinfecting of hands, dish towels, cutting boards (make sure these have a nonporous surface), dishes and cookware, and spills in the refrigerator or microwave. Chipped and cracked dishes should not be used — germs love them.
Learn more about preventing food poisoning — proper food storage, cooking to the right temperature, which foods to wash and separate, and prompt refrigeration — from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.