Did you enjoy that spicy curry last night but have found yourself sitting on the toilet all day today? Maybe it was that icy cold lemonade on the promenade? Whatever the cause, you are likely facing a case of Montezuma’s Revenge, better known as traveler’s diarrhea. There is nothing worse than suffering an embarrassing bought of diarrhea while you on vacation or traveling for work.
Traveler’s diarrhea is a common ailment that strikes people most often when they eat or drink contaminated food or beverages. It is also common for clean food to cause traveler’s diarrhea when it comes from people whose hands are contaminated. This infection of the intestine is most commonly found in developing countries such as Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
There are varying levels of infection risk, the lowest coming from packaged food and freshly cooked hot food, while the highest comes from water, open drinks, and raw fruits and vegetables.
1. Tamarind
It may seem strange that the key to stopping diarrhea is to eat more exotic fare, but in the case of tamarind, that is exactly the case. Diarrhea causes stomach pain, and the bark from tamarind is an effective way to reduce the cramp and abdominal aches that come with traveler’s diarrhea. Tamarind paste mixed with black pepper and cumin works to aid healthy digestion and promote regular bowel movements. Tamarind also has lots of insoluble fiber which effectively bulks the stool which is essential for those suffering from watery diarrhea.
Tamarind has been used for many years as a treatment for people who are suffering from chronic diarrhea or traveler’s diarrhea. The hardy fruit also is rich in vitamins and minerals which will help replace the nutrients lost during long episodes of traveler’s diarrhea. Tamarind has a high concentration of iron, copper and vitamin C which also will help stabilize the body during traveler’s diarrhea episodes.