I don't mind skipping the salads and other raw fruits and veggies when I am traveling for 3-4 weeks at a time, but now that I will be living in Ecuador soon, I am very interested to know how others have dealt with acclimating the gut to the intestinal flora of EC vis-a-vis a long-term stay.
For example, can I boil tap water and use that, once cooled, to wash lettuce, cabbage, berries and other foods that I would like to eat raw and un-peeled? Are the fruit and veggie washes that I've seen in the groceries there worth anything? What do you do about the thin-skinned foods (potatoes, apples, carrots, etc.)
Should I just go ahead and brush my teeth with the tap water and risk a couple of bouts of TD to get adjusted? How long does it take before most expats get adjusted? Or do they?
Do you think from your own experience that eating live cultures in yogurt or taking probiotics helps prophylactically?
And what do you do or take when you do get intestinal upsets, the non-fever variety? I'm looking more for home remedies for self-diagnosed mild cases, not asking anyone to dispense medical advice, unless you happen to be a medical professional or are passing along advice from a medical professional.
Any tips or suggestions along these lines would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
JayRock
For example, can I boil tap water and use that, once cooled, to wash lettuce, cabbage, berries and other foods that I would like to eat raw and un-peeled? Are the fruit and veggie washes that I've seen in the groceries there worth anything? What do you do about the thin-skinned foods (potatoes, apples, carrots, etc.)
Should I just go ahead and brush my teeth with the tap water and risk a couple of bouts of TD to get adjusted? How long does it take before most expats get adjusted? Or do they?
Do you think from your own experience that eating live cultures in yogurt or taking probiotics helps prophylactically?
And what do you do or take when you do get intestinal upsets, the non-fever variety? I'm looking more for home remedies for self-diagnosed mild cases, not asking anyone to dispense medical advice, unless you happen to be a medical professional or are passing along advice from a medical professional.
Any tips or suggestions along these lines would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
JayRock
