Remaining healthy requires more than working out and eating smart. In reality, it also often requires being aware of external and internal threats to your health. As of 2011, there are still 128,000 people a year who become hospitalized for food poisoning in the United States alone.
In addition to this statistic, which is from the Centers for Disease Control, we learn that about 3,000 of those people actually die from foodborne illnesses. That is why being careful in the kitchen is so vitally important, and it starts with knowing about the most common foodborne bacteria and how to avoid them.
What Are Foodborne Bacteria?
We all have bacteria in and on our bodies as a natural part of life, and often we can become exposed to small amounts of certain bacteria without suffering from any health problems. However, there are some common foodborne bacteria that can wreak havoc on your mind and body regardless of how much contact is made with them. The trouble begins when certain bacteria begin to multiply inside the body, causing serious health problems in their wake.
What Foodborne Bacteria Should I Be Concerned About?
There are a lot of common foodborne bacteria that are completely harmless to the average person, and some that are even essential to your overall health. Regardless, food poisoning, indigestion, and even death can occur when you are not careful. For starters, try to stay away from these bacteria:
- Salmonella
- E. Coli
- Staphylococcus aureus (staph)
- Clostridium perfringens
- Campylobacter
- Norovirus
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Toxoplasma gondii
If you or someone you love comes in contact with one of these common foodborne bacteria, symptoms could show in as little as a half hour. However, symptoms sometimes do not show for quite some time. For this reason, it best just to take precautions and avoid such bacteria altogether.
How to Avoid Common Foodborne Bacteria
Preventing illness from foodborne bacteria is easy if you know what you are doing. Handling uncooked foods (especially meats) is a surefire way to get yourself sick without proper safety measures. Make sure that you use more than your senses of smell, taste, and sight to determine whether something is cooked properly. On top of that, you want to make sure that you do not cross-contaminate your food prep area. Keep everything cleaned off with a safe yet effective anti-bacterial cleanser. As always, be sure to wash your hands frequently when you are working with food. Contact with, and illness from, common foodborne bacteria can be avoided altogether when you take the proper precautions.
