Question:
When you have certain food poisonings
why does it cause throwing-up or stomach pains?
Replies:
The body tries to get rid of anything that could be
harmful. Humans, like animals, will through up
anything that the stomach does not like. It is a
response to limit the damage by toxins and
micro-organisms.
Biologists have studied the eating habits of
scavengers, like hyena's, who often eat dead animals
in various degrees of decay. These animals are
probably more tolerant to bacterial toxins, but an
important safety feature is that they will nibble at
something, and very rapidly will through up anything
that does not go down well. In this way they prevent
being poisoned.
Unfortunately, this biological response is not as
strong in humans, so that we may eat something that
really makes us sick and it is normally digested. But
in most cases where you feel sick, be glad to be rid
of the stomach content that otherwise would cause you
even more trouble!
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