Mingling with Montezuma's Revenge: 4 Tips to prevent Traveler's Diarrhea
- Nov 26, 2022
- 3 min read
When traveling abroad, especially to developing countries, you may be concerned about your risk of getting Traveler's Diarrhea (also known as Montezuma's Revenge.) Here are a few simple tips to help significantly decrease your chances of spending an all too intimate day with the toilet.
Tip #1- Don't drink the water!
If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times, and it's true. Don't drink the water. Always drink bottled water. Most places these days seem to pretty much have it figured out, good water and no problems means returning customers. They bring in their ice from a purified source and you will often see it in bags behind the bar or see it being delivered. This is a good sign. Steer clear of frozen drinks and keep en eye out for holes in the ice (Some people say that is a sign it came from a purified source. I'm not 100% sure it is true but I've had good luck with it.)
As far as brushing your teeth goes, it is probably okay to use the sink water and I usually do. If you are paranoid then go ahead and use bottled water but whatever you do, don't be a douche bag about it. Put the bottle of water in the bathroom and be done with it. If you are cooking in another country, as I like to do on longer trips, you don't have to use bottled water for everything. If you are going to be bringing the water to a good boil then it is okay to use the sink water and I almost always rinse the dishes with the sink water.
Tip #2- Pay attention to what you eat
When I went to Africa, they told me, "It's simple. Just don't eat anything that's not cooked, boiled, peeled, or skinned and you'll be fine." I have remembered that for all my travels through developing countries since then and it has served me extremely well. This is especially important to pay attention to when eating fruits and vegetables because they will wash them in the water then you turn around and eat it. Be mindful of lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Peel that apple before you eat it. If you need something right then, go with a banana. By the way, I eat "raw" foods along the way almost every day, ceviche still counts as cooked!
There's always exceptions to every rule and that leads us to our next tip:
Tip #3- Pay attention to where you eat
If I am in a beautiful, world class resort then I eat the salad without worry but if I'm at a down home local hole-in-the-wall restaurant and they pile up the lettuce on that shrimp taco, I'll just scrape it off and go on about my business.
Don't be too scared to try the street food but pay attention to which spots are the most popular and, please, look at the food before you buy it and dive in. If it looks funky then-
Tip #4- Follow your intuition
The last time I got Montezuma's Revenge was, oh, 3 weeks ago. Guess what I did? Ate something I knew I shouldn't have. I broke my own rule of thumb: Don't eat it if it's not cooked, boiled, peeled or skinned. While I was doing it, I thought "uh oh I'm breaking the rule, ehh it'll be fine." Don't do that. Two days later, I spent a not-so-lovely day with the toilet when I could have been doing, say, anything else. If it feels wrong, listen to your intuition.
Keeping these tips in mind should help you along your voyage to have a smooth, enjoyable trip without having to interrogate every waiter you meet along the way. A certain level of precaution is good but being overly paranoid just make you look like a complete tourist. Try to blend in and play it cool, it'll all work out. Remember, even if you do get it, think about it as a one day FULL body cleanse. :P
Don't worry, have fun, stay hydrated, and remember:
Traveler's Diarrhea is a only a concern, not a reason to not go.
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