Traveling to any foreign country is exciting and exotic, including travel to Thailand. Thailand has the draw of exotic climate and culture as well as the feeling of potential. This country offers tourists something to new to look at and experience.

Unfortunately, many tourists or travelers who visit this exotic location might find that they get very sick from eating foods that do not agree with their body or have harmful bacteria resulting in sickness. Fortunately, it is possible to eat food in Thailand without becoming sick provided a few considerations are made before eating.

Shots Before Traveling:

Like any exotic location, any traveling going to Thailand should get shots before leaving. For Thailand, travelers need to get a Hepatitis A shot.

Hepatitis A is transmitted via food and is found in Thailand, so any traveler planning to go to Thailand should ensure they have the appropriate vaccination to prevent the most serious sickness in the country.

Water in Thailand:

The tap water in Thailand is not considered safe to drink, though it is appropriate brushing teeth or washing hands.

When traveling in Thailand, carry a bottle of water instead of drinking the tap and avoid ice since freezing water does not kill bacteria or viruses.

Boiled water used in soups or cooking in Thailand is safe since the high temperature kills any bacteria and viruses found in the water.

Eating Street Vendor Foods:

Part of the travel experience of Thailand is a taste of authentic Thai foods. The best place to experience authentic Thai food is at the street vendors.

In general, food at a street vendor in Thailand is safe to eat, but requires observation and care to select the right vendor.

Eat food from a vendor who is selling to a large number of locals. The locals know which vendors not only produce tasty food, but also make safe food. A vendor with few customers is likely to have food that is less fresh and thus causes sickness. A crowded vendor uses fresher foods since he or she is selling more food.

Avoid any vendor whose stall has a large number of flies compared to other vendors. While some flies are expected in an outdoor location, excessive flies are a sign of rot and decay.

Select food items that were just grilled and are still hot. Never eat something that is cooled down, since the heat kills bacteria. A cooled down food item can have bacteria build up on it again. Also pick out the food item you prefer to eat rather than allowing the vendor to select it.

Avoid shellfish. While you might personally enjoy shellfish, it is one of the food items that make travelers to Thailand sick. Stick to other food options in Thailand.

Other Helpful Tips:

Eat something probiotic every day. Options like yogurt, which is full of probiotic bacteria, help keep your digestive system healthy. Adding a probiotic food item to your daily food intake will help keep your body regular and prevent sicknesses relating to food by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in your digestive track.

Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it before eating any meals. Thailand has several bacteria and viruses that might not be found at home, so killing the germs before eating will prevent sickness from bacteria on your hands.

Avoid meat if you have a sensitive stomach. While most Thai food stalls use fresh meat killed the same day, vegetarian food options are less likely to have unfamiliar bacteria that cause upset stomach than meat.

Avoid eating at places that seem touristy. Places that cater to tourists in Thailand might not use fresh food items. Stick to places where plenty of locals gather for tasty food and food that is well-prepared and completely cooked.

TravelReflex’s Writer: this article was written by wndbailey

Thanks to NeilsPhotography for the photo from Flickr!