Diarrhea after eating salad

Almost everyone will be familiar with diarrhea from person experience. The runny, watery stool is often accompanied by some abdominal discomfort and a need to get to the bathroom immediately, and often repeatedly. What causes diarrhea, though?

Diarrhea usually occurs when you have a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection in the gastrointestinal tract. It can also be a result of taking certain medications, or of ingesting foods with laxative properties (even if you didn't get food poisoning). In some people who suffer from intestinal diseases, like Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea may be a frequent problem.

Normal diarrhea does not last for more than a couple of days, but in cases of more severe infection or underlying medical conditions, it can last for quite some time. A person who suffers from diarrhea for longer than a few days can easily experience fatigue and dehydration and may end up being ill for longer than normal.

There are various other ways a person may end up with diarrhea than just infection or an intestinal disease. People often end up with diarrhea after eating certain foods like eggs or red meat. Some people even suffer from diarrhea after eating salad. For a lot of people, it remains a mystery why that happens because everyone knows that fresh and raw vegetables are good for the digestive system.

Causes of diarrhea after eating salad

Nearly every person likes to eat fruits and vegetables, and everyone needs them for plenty of reasons that ultimately come down to maintaining your health. Apart from eating them raw, people usually eat vegetables in the form of salads. The dressings and coatings used in salads contribute to the taste, and salads are usually quite delicious. Even though salads are both tasty and healthy, some people still suffer from diarrhea after eating salads. There are a couple of causes behind diarrhea after eating a salad.

Diarrhea after eating salad: Are unhygienic preparation methods to blame?

It is essential that any person who prepares food follows healthy and hygienic habits. Unhygienic preparation and preservation of salads can damage a person’s health. The ingredients need to be properly washed and a person should avoid leaving the salads open for a longer period because that will contaminate it with bacterial growth, and a person will end up with diarrhea. Fruits and vegetables get contaminated faster than other foods, and should not be left out of the fridge for any length of time.

Food poisoning

If the salad is prepared without taking care of health and hygiene, a person is highly likely to introduce various bacteria and parasites into his or her system from the salad. That is the main reason for food poisoning. There are several bacteria that are present on raw vegetables and fruits and in certain dairy products that cause the poisoning, like E. Coli and salmonella bacteria. Apart from diarrhea, a person with food poisoning will experience vomiting and nausea.

Medical conditions

Gallbladder disease and hemorrhoids can also cause diarrhea after eating salad. People with these diseases have a weak digestive system.

Handling diarrhea after eating salad

The best way to "treat" diarrhea after eating salad is to prevent it from happening. Washing your hands, vegetables, and kitchen utensils properly will keep the bacteria away. A person should avoid eating too many high fiber foods. It is sometimes better to cook the vegetables. Eating salads from fast food and unhygienic restaurants should be avoided.