Eating and Drinking while Traveling

I was going to include this in the previous post, but it turned out to be a long enough aside to warrant its own attention.

Humans are basically the same, and variations within a population are bigger than variations between populations. Travelers Diarrhea and associated nasties seem to be caused by different bacteria entering the digestive tract that the body isn't used to, either from food or drink.

So, based on that information it seems safe to surmise that the food borne bacteria that cause Traveler's Diarrhea should affect locals just about as badly as tourists (though, perhaps not as strongly due to repeated exposure.) As a result, the 'food poisioning' or 'something not agreeing with you' that each of us have experienced at some point at home should be a mild version of the same phenomena that causes travelers diarrhea. As even locals will notice stomachaches and stuff from a bad local restaurant, it stands to reason that anywhere that could cause sickness wouldn't be packed with locals, and that the places that are packed must be pretty safe to eat at.

Places that sell only to a migrating population (places in tourist traps, or restaurants near big hotels) can actually be chancier, because they know they will have a steady inflow of new people regardless of their quality. A good way to tell if they're targeting locals or travelers is by what language their people speak, and if they're priced for travelers or for the local market. Really bad places will get shut down eventually, but tourists traps are full of expensive-but-mediocre places that are just not good for your taste buds, your stomach, or your wallet.

The one thing to be careful of is the water. Many locals 'live with' and eventually adapt to the effects of untreated water if they can't afford the alternatives (treated or bottled water). Like living with lice or worms, it probably won't kill you, but will probably make you uncomfortable for a long period of time.

 However, most places where this is a problem have figured out ways around it. Many homes have water purifiers built into the plumbing. Those that don't have plumbing or can't afford to put purifiers in the plumbing have storage tanks available somewhere. I've seen them on rooftops in India, and at the end of the hallway in Chinese dorms.) Some people get so paranoid that they brush their teeth with bottled water. I understand their concern, and my response is only that I've never done this, and never had a problem, even in places where I've known the water was bad, and even gotten sick from not boiling it long enough.

When going out, carry a bottle of water with you, or buy sealed drinks (ie soda or sealed water bottles) from a street vendor. (Places where water is an issue also have people who realize that you can make money from thirsty people.)  When eating out, always order hot drinks, and avoid ice. The restaurant will undoubtedly have a kettle of hot water on in the back somewhere for just that purpose, and chances are it has been hot long enough to kill anything in the water. Ice, on the other hand, doesn't kill a thing. 

So, a quick recap: To be safe, eat at places where you see lots of locals eating, and bring a bottle of water with you.