Best Home Remedies to Recover from Food Poisoning
Feeling sick after a meal? Learn safe, science-backed food poisoning remedies and stomach care tips, what to eat, what to avoid, and when to see a doctor.
Written by Dr. Siri Nallapu
Reviewed by Dr. Shaik Abdul Kalam MD (Physician)
Last updated on 17th Nov, 2025
Introduction
Food poisoning can strike quickly and make you feel miserable—nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and exhaustion are common. It’s also very common: public health agencies report millions of cases each year. The good news is that most people recover at home with simple steps. In this guide to food poisoning remedies and stomach care, you’ll learn what to drink, what to eat, what to avoid, safe over-the-counter options, and the warning signs that mean it’s time to seek medical care.
Quick Action Plan for Stomach Care
Most foodborne illnesses improve within a couple of days. The first priorities are hydration, rest, and avoiding anything that could make symptoms worse.
Do this first:
• Pause solid foods if you are vomiting. Focus on fluids until you can keep liquids down.
• Rehydrate with oral rehydration solution (ORS) or diluted electrolyte drinks. Small, frequent sips are best.
• Rest. Your body needs energy to recover.
• Track symptoms: fever, blood in stool, signs of dehydration, and how long symptoms last.
• Keep hands, surfaces, and bathrooms clean to avoid spreading germs. Do not prepare food for others while sick and for 48 hours after symptoms stop.
Avoid early on:
• Alcohol, caffeine, and very sugary drinks (they can worsen diarrhoea).
• Spicy, fatty, or highly seasoned foods.
• Anti-diarrhoeal or anti-nausea medicines in children without medical advice, and in adults if you have fever or blood in your stool.
Top Food Poisoning Remedies You Can Use at Home
Here are some remedies for food poisoning you can try at home:
Rehydrate Smartly
Staying hydrated is the most important step in recovery.
What to drink:
• Oral rehydration solution (ORS): Available in packets at pharmacies. These contain the right balance of salts and sugar to replace what you lose.
• Clear fluids: Water, diluted oral electrolyte drinks, weak tea, clear broths.
• Ice chips or small spoonfuls of fluid every few minutes if nausea is strong.
Home ORS (if packets aren’t available):
• Mix 6 level teaspoons of sugar and ½ level teaspoon of salt into 1 litre (about 4 cups) of clean water. Stir until fully dissolved. Measure carefully; too much sugar or salt can be harmful.
Tips for better hydration:
• Take small sips every 5–10 minutes and increase as tolerated.
• Aim to keep urine pale yellow. Dark urine, dizziness, or very dry mouth are signs you need more fluids.
• For children and older adults, prioritise ORS. Sports drinks are not ideal for young children because the sugar and salt balance isn’t optimised; use ORS when possible.
What to avoid:
• Undiluted fruit juice, fizzy drinks, and energy drinks—they can pull water into the intestines and worsen diarrhoea.
• Alcohol and caffeine—they can irritate the stomach and contribute to dehydration.
Ease Nausea and Cramps
Gentle, low-risk comfort measures can help you feel better:
• Ginger tea or ginger chews: Ginger may help with nausea. Sip slowly.
• Peppermint or chamomile tea: Can be soothing for some people.
• Heat: A warm (not hot) heating pad on the abdomen may ease cramps.
• Fresh air and deep, slow breathing: Helpful if smells or motion worsen nausea.
Gentle Foods When You Can Eat Again
Once vomiting eases and fluids stay down, add simple foods in small amounts. Continue to drink fluids.
Start with:
• Dry toast, plain crackers, white rice, applesauce, bananas, oatmeal, plain potatoes, or simple soups.
• Then add lean protein such as baked chicken, turkey, eggs, tofu, or yoghurt (if dairy is tolerated).
• Soft, cooked vegetables (e.g., carrots, squash) can be added next.
What to avoid at first:
• Greasy or fried foods, heavy sauces, spicy dishes, and high-fibre raw vegetables.
• Large amounts of dairy. Temporary lactose intolerance can occur after gastroenteritis; reintroduce slowly if diarrhoea continues.
• Very sugary desserts and alcohol.
Portion and pace:
• Eat small amounts more often rather than large meals.
• Stop when you feel full or if nausea returns, and go back to fluids for a while.
Safe Over-the-Counter Options (for Adults)
Some over-the-counter products may help, depending on your symptoms. Always follow label directions and warnings.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (e.g., Pepto-Bismol): Can reduce diarrhoea and nausea. Not for children or teens due to risk of Reye’s syndrome. Avoid if you’re allergic to aspirin/salicylates, pregnant, breastfeeding, on blood thinners, have gout, ulcers, or kidney disease—ask a clinician first.
• Loperamide (Imodium): May reduce watery diarrhoea for adults who do not have fever or blood in the stool. Do not use if you suspect an invasive bacterial infection (fever, bloody diarrhoea) or C. difficile. Stop if symptoms worsen.
• Pain/fever relief: Paracetamol is gentler on the stomach than NSAIDs. Avoid aspirin in children and teens.
When in doubt, or if you have other medical conditions or take prescription medicines, talk with a healthcare professional before using over-the-counter remedies.
Probiotics: Can They Help?
Some studies suggest certain probiotics (for example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii) may shorten the duration of infectious diarrhoea for some people. Evidence is mixed, and probiotics are optional—not essential. If you choose to try them:
• Select reputable brands with clearly labelled strains and CFU counts.
• Avoid probiotics if you are immunocompromised or have indwelling medical devices unless your clinician advises otherwise.
• Stop if they cause gas or discomfort.
What Not to Do?
Avoiding a few common pitfalls can speed recovery and reduce risks. Here’s what to avoid:
• Don’t use antibiotics unless prescribed. Many causes of food poisoning are viral and won’t respond to antibiotics. In some bacterial infections, the wrong antibiotic can worsen outcomes.
• Don’t take anti-diarrhoeal medication if you have high fever or blood in your stool, unless a clinician says it’s safe.
• Don’t use activated charcoal for routine food poisoning. It’s not proven helpful in this situation and can interfere with medications.
• Don’t force solid foods too soon. Start with fluids, then bland foods.
• Don’t prepare food for others until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent spreading germs.
• Don’t ignore dehydration signs: very dark urine, little or no urination, dizziness, confusion, extreme thirst, or a fast heartbeat.
When to Seek Medical Care Urgently?
Most cases improve within 24–72 hours. Seek medical help promptly if any of the following occur:
• Signs of severe dehydration: very little urine, dizziness or fainting, confusion, very dry mouth, or rapid heartbeat.
• Blood in vomit or stool, black or tarry stools.
• High fever (38.9°C/102°F or higher), chills, or worsening symptoms.
• Severe abdominal pain, a swollen or hard abdomen, or persistent vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down.
• Symptoms lasting longer than 3 days or diarrhoea lasting more than a week.
• Neurologic symptoms such as blurry or double vision, muscle weakness, trouble speaking, or tingling (rare but serious causes like botulism require urgent care).
• You are pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised, or have chronic conditions (e.g., kidney, heart, or inflammatory bowel disease).
• Infants and young children: any signs of dehydration, persistent vomiting/diarrhoea, fever, or lethargy should prompt early medical advice.
If you suspect a severe foodborne outbreak (others who ate the same food are sick), contact your local health department.
Prevention Tips for Next Time
While not a remedy, prevention is powerful. Follow safe food and water practices:
• Clean: Wash hands with soap and running water before cooking/eating and after restroom use. Clean cutting boards and surfaces well.
• Separate: Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs away from ready-to-eat foods.
• Cook: Use a food thermometer. Cook meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs to safe internal temperatures.
• Chill: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if above 32°C/90°F). Keep your fridge at 4°C/40°F or below.
• Reheat: Leftovers should reach at least 74°C/165°F. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Travel/Outdoor: Use safe drinking water; peel or cook produce; be cautious with street foods if hygiene is uncertain.
Consult Top Specialists
Ms. Sushma Jaiswal
Dietician
42 Years • M.Sc.(Food & Nutrition)
Bengaluru
Swasthya Nutrition, Bengaluru
Ms Malabika Datta
Dietician
19 Years • Bsc (Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics), Msc (Dietetics & Food Service Management)
Kolkata
Malabika’s Diet Clinic, Kolkata
Ms. Neelanjana J
clinical nutrition
3 Years • Bsc., Msc. Nutrition and Dietetics.
Bengaluru
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Dr Darshana R
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MBBS, MD, DNB (Internal Medicine), Diploma in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology , Fellowship in Diabetes
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, JP nagar, Bengaluru
(125+ Patients)
Ms Chetu Singhi
Dietician
20 Years • MSC Dietetics & Nutrition
Kolkata
RB Diagnostic - Dietician Diet2fit Chetu Singhi, Kolkata
Consult Top Specialists
Ms. Sushma Jaiswal
Dietician
42 Years • M.Sc.(Food & Nutrition)
Bengaluru
Swasthya Nutrition, Bengaluru
Ms Malabika Datta
Dietician
19 Years • Bsc (Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics), Msc (Dietetics & Food Service Management)
Kolkata
Malabika’s Diet Clinic, Kolkata
Ms. Neelanjana J
clinical nutrition
3 Years • Bsc., Msc. Nutrition and Dietetics.
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, JP nagar, Bengaluru
Dr Darshana R
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MBBS, MD, DNB (Internal Medicine), Diploma in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology , Fellowship in Diabetes
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, JP nagar, Bengaluru
(125+ Patients)
Ms Chetu Singhi
Dietician
20 Years • MSC Dietetics & Nutrition
Kolkata
RB Diagnostic - Dietician Diet2fit Chetu Singhi, Kolkata
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How long does food poisoning last?
Many cases improve within 1–3 days. Some bacterial infections can last longer. If symptoms persist beyond 3 days, or you have red-flag symptoms (fever, blood in stool, dehydration), seek medical care.
Q2: What should I drink first if I’m vomiting?
Start with small sips of oral rehydration solution (ORS) or clear fluids every 5–10 minutes. Ice chips can help. Increase fluids as nausea eases. Aim for pale yellow urine.
Q3: Is the BRAT diet still recommended?
You don’t need to limit yourself to bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Start with bland foods, then add lean proteins and cooked vegetables as tolerated. Avoid greasy, spicy, and very sugary foods until you feel better.
Q4: Can I take anti-diarrheal medicine?
Adults with watery diarrhea and no fever or blood in the stool may consider loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate. Do not give these to children without medical advice, and avoid them if you have fever, blood in stool, or suspected bacterial dysentery. When unsure, check with a clinician.
Q5: When should I see a doctor?
Seek care for severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, blood in stool, high fever (102°F/38.9°C or higher), severe belly pain, symptoms lasting longer than 3 days, or if you are pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised, or caring for an infant with symptoms.