Bacteria Free Holiday Meals

An accepted way to observe holidays or any party event is to ask acquaintances and family to a buffet or to dinner. However, this type of meal where foods are un-refrigerated for long periods leaves the door wide open for unwelcome guests—bacteria that can cause food borne sickness.

Happy times for giving and sharing should not include sharing food that will cause illness. Here are some guidelines from the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline to assist in bacteria free holiday meals.








Good Food Handling
Be sure to wash your hands prior to and after touching food. As well, keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean. At all times serve food on clean plates, don’t use the plate that was the raw meat and poultry was on. If you do, bacteria from the raw meat juice can cross-contaminate the food being served.


Cooking Thoroughly
If you are preparing foods before the party, be sure to cook foods carefully to a safe minimum internal temperature for bacteria free holiday meals.

• Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts and chops should be cooked to 145 degrees F.
• All cuts of pork should be cooked to 160 degrees F.
• Ground beef, veal and lamb should be cooked 160 degrees F.
• All poultry should be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F.
  

Use The Right Containers For Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Separate cooked foods into shallow containers to put in the refrigerator or freezer until you serve them. This helps with rapid, even cooling. Heat hot foods to a minimum of 165 degrees F before serving. Put food on several small platters instead of one large platter. Keep other foods warming in the oven (set at 200 to 250 degrees F) or cold in the refrigerator until time to serve. This way food can be kept at a safe temperature for a greater period of time. Use a new platter instead of adding fresh food to one that already had food in it. Many people have been getting food from the dish and it has also been at room temperature for a time.

Two-Hour Food Rule
Don’t let foods be at room temperature for more than two hours. Pay attention to how long food has been sitting on the table and throw away anything that’s been out two hours or more.

The Hot and Cold of Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Hot foods need to be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer. You can keep these foods hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers and warming trays on the serving area. Foods that are served cold should be kept at 40 degrees F or colder. You can do this by putting dishes in bowls of ice or using small serving trays and replacing them.

Food borne Bacteria That Can Sabotage Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Bacteria can be everywhere but some really like to hang around parties. Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes cling to people's hands and steam tables. These are different from microorganisms that cause food to spoil; these harmful or pathogenic bacteria are odorless and tasteless. Preventing them requires safe food handling.

If after you have taken all these precautions and illness still occurs, make sure to contact a health professional and describe the symptoms. Have a safe and happy holiday and bacteria free holiday meals.

Superfoods to Combat Cirrhosis And Clean Up The Liver

Cirrhosis is described as the replacement of damaged liver cells by fibrous scar tissue which interrupts the liver's significant functions. Cirrhosis occurs as a result of excessive alcohol (most common), common viral hepatitis, obstruction of the bile ducts, and exposure to certain drugs or toxins.

People who have cirrhosis often experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weight loss, making them look gaunt. Diet alone does not add to the development of liver disease. Those who are well nourished, but drink large amounts of alcohol, are also susceptible to liver disease.

Adults with cirrhosis need a balanced diet rich in protein to let the liver cells rejuvenate. However, excessive protein will cause an increased amount of ammonia in the blood; too little protein can reduce healing of the liver. A doctor is the best to prescribe the correct amount of protein for a person with cirrhosis.

In addition to protein, a balanced diet with sufficient calories, fats, and carbohydrates can actually help the damaged liver to renew liver cells. In fact, in some liver diseases, nutrition becomes an important form of treatment.

Grains and legumes are great protein sources for those who suffer from cirrhosis. Red meat should not be eaten since the liver is not working to its most favorable capacity and most likely will have trouble dealing with fats. Nuts, seeds, and soy products are also good sources of low-fat protein.

Oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain breads and pastas are also a part of a healthy balanced diet, as they are all whole grain carbohydrates that provide a steady supply of energy, important for your body’s ability to heal.

Cereals, breads, potatoes and legumes are great sources for the B-complex vitamins. These boost metabolism, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, enhance immune and nervous system function, promote cell growth and division — including that of the red blood cells that help prevent anemia. As well, they also help combat the symptoms and causes of stress, which is important when you’re nursing your body back to health.

Citrus fruits, red berries, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, red and green bell peppers, cabbage, and spinach, are all great sources of vitamin C, which help to promote a healthy immune system. It’s vital to stay as healthy as possible during the healing process, so your body can focus on liver repair.

Together with plenty of rest and lots of fresh water to help flush the toxins from your body, a well-balanced nutrition plan should put you well on the road to recovery.