In Reply to: Bali Belly posted by footy on Sunday, 31. December 2006 at 12:52 Bali Time:
I have always used acidopholous tablets and I have been in Central Arfrica, a few SE Asia countries and also some Pacific Islands where there is a low standard of hygiene . I believe that the hand mouth contact is the "crucial spreader" of these germs. I do not eat from any open buffet arrangements where every man & his dog dips in. I was on the Pacific Sky when the dreaded ecoli virus took over the ship. My hubby & I didn't get sick and I watched them continually wipe every thing over & over again esp all the hand rails on the stair ways. They also stood at the restaurant doors and squirted everyones hands before they entered
Then I discovered BTF and all the Rasberry Juice hoo-ha. I think it can help kill the common food borne pathogens so I'm sold on it too and take it to Bali with the acidopholous tablets. Raspberries like blueberries are very high in antioxidants and contain Ellagic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Quercetin and Catechins. There were laboratory experiments at Charles Sturt University and they discovered that a range of common stomach bugs such as e-coli are actually killed off by raspberry juice or raspberry juice cordial diluted to as low as 10 per cent strength. The one I use is Maraska - 65% raspberry and made in Croatia . I think lots of people think they have "Bali Belly" but its often too much Bintang and a change of diet especially eating more fruit. Last trip I took Inner Health tablets because they contained more acidopholous than the tablets I usually take. The more good bugs the better .
There have also been reports on here about cleaning staff in hotels using the same cloth to wipe the toilet and the benches and the glasses. So a bit more care may be needed like putting cups and glasses away. I do not leave tooth brushes out at home in our bathroom - they are in the vanity and well away from the sink where we all wash after using the loo. Just a few things to consider - I am not a fuss pot and my home is far from tidy but I hope its as free as possible from the "nasty " germs
I always eat salads at selected restaurants. I NEVER eat from salad bars etc and even fruit at breakfast where its a "free for all" to serve yourself. I am concerned about the "other" consumers who may not have washed hands ( I have watched children & adults select something and then put it back. I often purchase snacks/lunch from the carts and the local markets . I take acidopholous tablets for a week before I leave and one everyday when away.
Finally I recently saw a documentary on Fox about the germs on paper money. What an eye opener that story was. The notes contained thousands of germs and some nasty types amongst them . When you think about the amount of times we exchange notes in Bali our hands must really be an incubator for the thousands of germs.
There are many cures ' for the runs' mentioned on BTF and many people who develop serious problems need to see a doctor and have an injection . I just carry Imodium and usually give them away before I leave.