Yet Another Summer Outbreak

 Summer is supposed to be the time for good eating and healthy harvests. Unfortunately there are some summer s that re overwhelmed by an unwanted visitor - a  nasty little parasite. This year cyclosora makes an appearance  - right when vacation time kicks in.

This little bug has been bothering stomachs and plans for the past few weeks.It's been hitting the US hard however thankfully it's avoided Europe, Africa and South America.Asia has been spared as well along with Australia It may seem into Canada and Mexico so be careful when visiting those neighboring countries.This is not the first outbreak.There have been several over the years, usually. coming out every two years or so. What is this bug?It's a microscopic organism usually spread through contaminated food or water. It can easily be contracted by swimming as well as eating.It spreads fast through berries, lettuce and cilantro. The symptoms are downright nasty, resembling those of stomach flu.There are bouts of watery and explosive diarrhea, along with stomach cramps, bloating and gas. Sometimes there is also low grade fatigue and fatigue . Weight loss and lack of appetite is also common too.Keep in mind that the parasite doesn't go into effect right away. It does take two to three weeks after ingesting contaminated food for it to kick in. Focus on the BRAT diet, bananasa,rice applesauce and tea. Drink plenty of fluids to replace what fluid has been lost.

How to avoid it. Stay away from lettuce ,especially the bagged kind and salad kits. Go for the heads of fresh lettuce  but remove the outer layers first. Usually handpicked veggies  and fruits may have  it, thanks to workers having poor sanitary conditions while picking.Wash all store bought produce in hot or warm water for twenty minutes and then thoroughly dry. Should you use apple cider or white vinegar  to wash them? Contrary to popular belief ,this was not help. It has the same efficiency as hot water. Another good idea is to have the veggies cooked. Forget the gazpacho  - as delicious as it is_ and go for the ratatouille. This is an easy bake or saute of tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. It;s perfect served with thick slices of French bread. Grilled veggies are another way to go. Brush them in olive oil and pop on the grill. As for fruit, stick to rind or peel  ones like bananas, avocados and oranges. If you do have a hankering for berries then think frozen ones .These are cleaned thoroughly then treated with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and then frozen. You could also cook fruit and create compotes and crisps.Also try baking fruits into pies or bread if you truly crave them/

Yet another bug to ruin the summer. Be smart . Be savvy in what you eat. Avoiding cylospora is avoiding major trouble.