Preventing "Delhi belly" aka "old wives tales for preventing delhi belly"

[JonF]

Originally Posted by BelArgUSA

You are more likely to be sick eating a badly cooked hamburger than a local specialty, which these people know how to prepare perfectly. If the local folks eat it... must be good...

I always remember whilst doing the obligatory 'backpacking trip' in my early 20's, my travel companion(now my wife) decided to try that well know Nepali dish 'quiche lorraine' in a 'restaurant' in Katmandu......lets just say the bed sheets needed changing half way through the next night

and lets hope she hasn't signed up to Pprune recently as she will kill me if she reads this

[beamender99]

A vote for a shot to start with

Rince with whisky. Johhnie Walker is good antiseptic.

I would endorse the JW as a useful aid.
A close friend swears that all their team, when working in far flung places, always start a meal with a JW or any similar brand ( local customs permitting) and have not suffered any problems with "the bottom dropping out of their world"

[BelArgUSA]

Hola JonF...
xxx
Verifies my theory, dont try their concept of "European food"...
In Asia/Africa - Eat local food. Never got sick on that.
Except I refuse to eat dog brains like in Mandarin Chinese cooking -
I would bark all night long.
xxx

Happy contrails - waf - waf...

[joniveson]

Totally agree with BelArgUSA and others, stick to the local dishes that people know how to cook properly and avoid western dishes. I lived and worked in India for four months a couple of years ago and had no problems.

I always carried a little bottle of antiseptic handwash with me to use before meals (buy it there for about 20p) and otherwise had a great time trying the weird and wonderful foods.

I also seem to remember the Goans recommending Fenni, their local fire water as a cure for everything. Personally I'd rather drink toilet duck but each to their own!

[computer jockey]

I've been working in India for 3 years and really only had 1 bad case of stomach upset which I put down to brushing my teeth with Mumbai tap water. I thought that as I didn't swallow it, I would be ok - mistake!
I've had the runs occasionally and sometimes a dry f@rt seems like a luxury, but on the whole I've managed to keep out of trouble by using bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth, ensuring food is well cooked, avoiding too much chili and washing my hands regularly especially before meals. I stay clear of the drugs mentioned, except for a packet of anti-diarrhoea tablets which I keep with me in case I get caught short while travelling.
You will be most susceptible if you are visiting India as your digestive system will be dealing with unfamiliar foods and to be honest, the food in the hotels can be a cause of grief.
And as someone said above, if you can't drink the water, the whisky is quite palatable!