Tips on how to avoid being ill on your holiday in Goa.

If it is your first time to Goa, the last thing you want is to be ill or spending your holiday stuck on the loo or visiting the doctor!

I would like to stress, I have been coming to Goa for many years, twelve of them living here and I can count the number of times I have been ill on my fingers. Just keep in mind this is not home and you will have a wonderful holiday.

Therefore, I have put together a helpful few tips I give to friends when they visit MR R and I.

 “The intention of going on holiday is to relax in the sun by day and downing a few Cuba Libras by night with a good curry especially on that first night.  Great, but for the first few days allow your body to acclimatise to the combination of heat, alcohol and spicy, oily food.”

KEEP HYDRATED DURING THE DAY – I cannot stress this point enough.  And by this, I mean water.

So why just water? 

Fruit juices or fizzy drinks can be harsh on your stomach.

Drinks containing caffeine act as a diuretic and causes you to lose more fluids.

The intake of too many dehydration salts or energy drinks can increase your blood pressure.

Drink at least 2 litres per day in order to remain hydrated and healthy.

Drink only bottled mineral water.

The water supply can often be full of all kinds of pollution.

It is important to check the seal because occasionally crafty shop/ shack and restaurant owners will refill the bottles and try to glue the lid back on! 

Avoid salads and ice.

Reputable places will state on their menus, they use mineral /purified water for washing salads and for ice.

This goes for raw vegetables as well, less reputable places will use tap water, and sometimes I question if it has been washed at all.

Always ask if the ice is good! If it comes to you in hacked off chucks then don’t touch it.  

EATING

I am not guaranteeing you will not get the trots but consider these pointers.

Choose reputable restaurants or beach shacks that have a high turnover.  

Why?

Hygiene standards are not the same as you are used to at home; the less reputable places cannot afford to throw away food, especially meat, chicken and fish. Even though cooking kills most bacteria’s, you will still get sick from out of date meat, chicken or fish.  

Make sure your food is hot.   Particularly rice, this is the biggest source of bacteria. 

IF YOU CAN’T PEEL IT DON’T EAT IT

Only eat fruit that you can peel.

Like salad and vegetables, the chances are it will be washed (if at all) in iffy water.  I suggest you buy your own from the market, not only is it cheaper but you can wash it and cut it yourself. 

Eating from roadside vendors is an experience but only take foods that are fried in front of you, not reheated. 

Buying food from a supermarket

Always check the expiry date on all food purchases including alcohol, as stock rotation is very lax.

Regularly wash your hands to reduce contamination as silly as it sounds, more so after shaking people’s hands and touching money!

Loo paper!

This may sound silly but a Goan GP once told my BFF; always pull off loads of loo paper before you use it, as this is the worst source of viral disease. Better still take your own!