About ten years ago, there was a buzz when Park Myung-soo from Infinite Challenge suffered from gastroenteritis and food poisoning, leading him to the emergency room.

I recently went through a severe case of gastroenteritis myself, and I can honestly say I never want to experience that again.

At first, it was just a mild stomach ache. But within a few hours, I started feeling chills and had no strength left in my body. I kept running to the bathroom, feeling like my stomach was turning inside out. Anyone living in the U.S. knows that emergency room costs can be quite high.

So, I tried to tough it out at home for a day, drinking Gatorade, hoping I might feel better, but the symptoms persisted, and I eventually went to the Korea Town clinic I often visit.

After the examination, the doctor diagnosed me with gastroenteritis and advised me to stay hydrated and take the prescribed medication while resting for a few days. Fortunately, I recovered quickly, but at that moment, I felt completely drained.

I still remember the first thing the doctor said as I finished my appointment: "You always need to be careful with food in the U.S."

Honestly, it was a bit surprising to me, as I had naively thought that hygiene standards in the U.S. were quite strict.

In an effort to take care of my health, I had been buying fresh romaine and lettuce from the Farmer's Market to make salads every morning.

However, a few days later, I saw the news reporting that some fresh vegetables had been recalled due to potential E. coli contamination.

Of course, that doesn't mean the products I bought were affected, but it made me realize that fresh vegetables can indeed be contaminated.

This experience prompted me to research the causes of gastroenteritis.

Common causes of gastroenteritis include bacteria or viruses like norovirus, salmonella, E. coli, and campylobacter.

These are mostly transmitted to humans through contaminated food or water.

Especially since fresh vegetables are not cooked, if they are not washed thoroughly, there is a chance that bacteria may remain.

Crops are exposed to various environments during the growing process, including soil, agricultural water, wildlife, and livestock.

That's why the FDA and CDC continuously recommend washing fresh vegetables thoroughly under running water before consumption.

Many people think, "If I bought it at the Farmer's Market, it must be safer," but that's not necessarily true.

Whether from a big supermarket or a local market, the risk of contamination cannot be completely eliminated. In fact, the importance of washing may increase for produce grown naturally.

Especially in the summer, the high temperatures can allow bacteria to multiply more easily, so extra caution is advised.

Before making a salad, washing thoroughly under running water and maintaining good hygiene habits, like washing hands before and after preparation, can make a significant difference.

Gastroenteritis is a common illness that can affect anyone, but it can become dangerous if dehydration worsens.

If you experience persistent high fever, diarrhea with blood, severe abdominal pain, or dehydration symptoms that affect your consciousness, it's best to visit a medical facility without delay.

Don't go through what I did; make sure to wash fresh vegetables thoroughly before eating them.

Since the food we eat for health can prevent days of illness, even a small hygiene habit can make a big difference.