Eat Right and Avoid Botulism
- By Destry Masterson
- Published 12/12/2011
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
Walking down the cold sidewalk to your mail box, you begin to notice that your stomach ache has started getting worse. You try to take in a breath to relax and compose yourself but it comes short and a shot of pain riffles through your lungs.
The mail box looks distant, the numbers are blurred, you're seeing in doubles, vomit comes streaming ruthlessly from your mouth, and now you are just a decrepit mess lying paralyzed out on the walk way in front of your cul-de-sac. This is botulism and it happened because you didn't properly store your canned foods.
Usually people do not get botulism if they buy their foods from an FDA approved food storage provider. There are many people think they can do it themselves without any experience or now how and they get themselves into trouble.
If you are concerned your family may be suffering from an undeveloped form botulism check for the signs: impaired speech, droopy eyelids, decreased gag reflex, decreased nervous reflex, and paralyzed bowels. So if your son or spouse meanders into the kitchen looking for something to eat with droopy red eyes, mumbling something about "hungry enough to eat an
elephant" then giggling.
Don't automatically assume he is high on drugs, because he is probably just suffering from a slight form of botulism. With bad eating habits botulism is a very prevalent possibility, and it is not to be taken lightly or to be debased to anything as juvenile as drugs when someone's life could actually be at stake.
Take them to the doctor and get an exam done, a professional will be able to determine whether he is on drugs or if he just has a severe disease. If caught in the early stages you will be given a botulism antitoxin, but if the more severe symptoms are contracted you may need to stay at the hospital on a respirator.
The best thing to do is to prevent botulism from ever entering your home. That means check your food storage containers and make sure they are sealed tightly.
If you notice a leak in a container throw it out, there is no reason to take a risk with bad food. Other ways to determine if your food storage has gone bad include rotten smells, vile taste, despicable fungus growing in places that it shouldn't, unpleasant textures, perhaps bug infestation.
Do the smart thing and keep your food stored in a safe place. Do not eat foods you do not know about.
The mail box looks distant, the numbers are blurred, you're seeing in doubles, vomit comes streaming ruthlessly from your mouth, and now you are just a decrepit mess lying paralyzed out on the walk way in front of your cul-de-sac. This is botulism and it happened because you didn't properly store your canned foods.
Usually people do not get botulism if they buy their foods from an FDA approved food storage provider. There are many people think they can do it themselves without any experience or now how and they get themselves into trouble.
If you are concerned your family may be suffering from an undeveloped form botulism check for the signs: impaired speech, droopy eyelids, decreased gag reflex, decreased nervous reflex, and paralyzed bowels. So if your son or spouse meanders into the kitchen looking for something to eat with droopy red eyes, mumbling something about "hungry enough to eat an
Don't automatically assume he is high on drugs, because he is probably just suffering from a slight form of botulism. With bad eating habits botulism is a very prevalent possibility, and it is not to be taken lightly or to be debased to anything as juvenile as drugs when someone's life could actually be at stake.
Take them to the doctor and get an exam done, a professional will be able to determine whether he is on drugs or if he just has a severe disease. If caught in the early stages you will be given a botulism antitoxin, but if the more severe symptoms are contracted you may need to stay at the hospital on a respirator.
The best thing to do is to prevent botulism from ever entering your home. That means check your food storage containers and make sure they are sealed tightly.
If you notice a leak in a container throw it out, there is no reason to take a risk with bad food. Other ways to determine if your food storage has gone bad include rotten smells, vile taste, despicable fungus growing in places that it shouldn't, unpleasant textures, perhaps bug infestation.
Do the smart thing and keep your food stored in a safe place. Do not eat foods you do not know about.
Destry Masterson
Destry Masterson is a health and nutrition expert. She publishes articles about health, nutrition, and Daily Bread Food storage. Contact Info: Destry Masterson - MyOnlineArticleWriting@gmail.com - Twitter: @DestryMasterson
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