a few questions re: specific food/water

CFPhotoGrafie

ok we all know not to drink tap water and get bottled only

so I assume I should only use bottled water for brushing teeth?

how careful do I need to be when showering regarding getting water in my eyes/mouth?

also how safe is fresh fruit purchased at markets/groceries? such as bananas and other fruits inside an inedible peel?

hitanshu

Chill CFP,

It doesn't hurt no one! Don't get so mad over it.

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Hal

Lots of people get sick from bad water.

Definitely brush your teeth with bottled. Don't drink the shower water and unpeeled fruit should be OK.

As long as you're relatively careful you should be fine. Don't let worrying about it ruin your trip. I drank the water in the metal cups at restaurants on my last trip and didn't get sick. Your mileage may vary.

RPG

It's a matter of quantity. Washing your mouth or drinking a drop while showering is unlikely to be harmful, although some tourists become wild-eyed and obsessive. An entire glass is much more risky.

Everyone has e. coli and other bad germs in their system and in their food; some can be handled, but too much sends you voer the edge.

Brisso

Never used bottled for brushing, just don't swallow the tap water. Do avoid the situation where local people offer you a cup of water - I have acquiesed and got the squirts.

Keith H

Yo CFP,
I think of myself as a fairly cautious sort of chap and have always tried early in the trip to brush my teeth with bottled water, don't swallow in the shower, don't take ice cubes etc. I'm fairly sure that your internals will bed themselves in with the local stuff slowly over time and the occasional mouthful of shower water won't hurt. Touch wood, I have yet to suffer any sort of ill effects from eating in the local places.
Mind you, I wouldn't recommend going out onto the street first day and swallowing a glass of iced water or anything like that.
Try to approach with caution, not panic!

Nick-H

Tooth brushing? Just don't use water!

I stopped using it when I bought my first electric toothbrush, as it just means a mouthful of foam. What's more, the last time I read the information on a pack of paste, it said not to rinse it off the teeth after brushing.

There. That's one less problem


(Err, yes, I do rinse the brush, and then shake the water out. I use tap water here, in my house, for that; when travelling, I'd be inclined to use bottled.)

hitanshu

Guys,

Relax. Its just water.

Despite endless mummy tummy advise, I used Egyptian water all the time in my recent trip. Nothing happened. Don't work yourself into such a travel frenzy. Travel is to unwind not to stay on your guard for everything!

Keith H

It may only be water but I don't want my much looked-forward to Indian holiday spent strapped to a toilet with my eyes watering. Caution, my dear!

Nick-H

That would be nice!

nikhilsegel

CFPG,

Don't Panic. Take a few breaths. Its not the end of the world. Nobody wants a Delhi Belly. Yet Shit Does Happen !!!

Simple advice is as follows:

Drink Only Bottled Water, ensure that the bottled water is of a KNOWN brand and that the bottle is sealed. Procure your bottled water from established sources. Not from vendors on the street.

If you feel you are better off Brushing your teeth with Bottled Water do so.

You can bathe and Shower as you please as long as you don't consume the water orally. Your eyes and ears and other orifices won't ingest the water into your system.

Avoid Iced drinks and Food Items exposed to Ice

Eat only Well Cooked HOT food from clean establishments.

Avoid Salads and other uncooked foods

Avoid Milk and Milk Products that are uncooked / unboiled

Wash all fruits (peeled or un peeled) with adequate quantity of bottled / boiled water.

If you still get the shits LIVE WITH THEM!

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*jyoti*

Just water with a few giardia thrown in for good measure. No big deal.

Travel is also not meant for running to the bathroom as your stomach heaves yet again ...

I use tap water for brushing teeth, drink only bottled or aquaguard water, and just don't drink in the shower. As a friend told me, a tiny bit is good for building up immunity. I also eat fruits after thorough washing & drying w/o iodine.

BUT, I am also here long term. If I get sick, it doesn't ruin the whole trip, and two years is a really long time to be on high alert. It's worth being extra cautious for a few weeks, though not to the point of stressing, to avoid using what little time you have in India to spend on the toilet ... or in the hospital.

CFPhotoGrafie

thanks for the replies!

first off no one is in a panic, I was merely asking some questions for precaution...
I'm a real planner who likes as much info as possible BEFORE I leave for a destination
:-)

if we're gonna be graphic, my digestive system is touchy anyway and getting a bout of the runs, so to speak, is nothing new or devastating...
what I'm worried about is something which may last or cause vomiting in addition!

as tight as my budget is I expect I'll be buying a lot of fruit for breckie/snacks

Matthew Morris

I didn't think you were in a panic either CFP, and couldn't understand some peoples over reactions to your post.

And not everyone is the same, some have to be more careful than others when it comes to health issues.

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*jyoti*

Hmm... If you'd read any of the "What's wrong with tap water? I drink it all the time?" threads, or the "Help! I think I swallowed a drop of tap water! Should I rinse out my mouth with bleach!?" threads, you would understand the "Don't panic."