Great, you’re about to set off for foreign climes. You’ve packed your bags, picked up your foreign currency and checked your passport isn’t about to expire while you’re away. But have you given any thought to avoiding stomach problems while out of the country. 

Six out of 10 Brits fall ill while on holiday every year and while it’s impossible to be completely safe there are a number of things you can do to reduce the chances of you becoming one of the statistics, and a lot of them are just common sense.

​

* First of all stick to bottled water when abroad, particularly in a hot climate. While the water is safe to drink in a number of European destinations it’s not the water you drink back home and simply the change of water or elements within the new water can cause upset stomachs so play safe.

* Avoid ice in drinks for the same reasons as above unless you can be sure it’s been made with bottled water.

​

* Always make sure you wash your hands after a visit to the toilets and then use a tissue to open the door leading from the toilet. If you can, get a hand sanitizer to take with you; they don’t have them liberally scattered around the world’s leading cruise ships for nothing.

​

* Be careful where you eat. If a restaurant is popular then the chances are the food will be turned over quickly and fresh produce brought in. If an eatery is lacking in customers you can’t be sure how long the food has been on the menu.

​

* Be careful with buffets, and be especially careful with fish on buffets. If it’s a hotel buffet arrive relatively early so the cooked fish is still hot. If in doubt leave it out.

*It’s a nice touch when you get a bowl of fruit in your hotel room but if you are particularly susceptible to stomach upsets make sure you run it under the tap and or peel it before eating it.

​

* Make sure you use your own towel. It may seem a bit extreme but using someone else’s towel can mean viruses are passed on.

​

* If you do develop diarrhoea you can ease the symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration but it’s better to avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks which can make matters worse.

​

In addition make sure you pick up some sachets of an oral rehydration system from your pharmacist before you leave home. They contain the minerals and salts that your body will be depleted of as a result of diarrhoea and or sickness. These normally have a long shelf life and are well worth leaving in your suitcase for future trips.

​