Nightingale Nutrition Practice Exam

When traveling outside the United States, how can you reduce the risk of traveler's diarrhea?

Avoiding water that has not been bottled and sealed.

Avoiding water that has not been bottled and sealed protects you from microbes that can cause traveler's diarrhea. In many countries, tap water, ice, and beverages made with local water may carry bacteria, viruses, or parasites your system isn’t prepared to handle. When you choose water that comes in a sealed bottle, you’re relying on a source that has been treated and kept uncontaminated until you open it, which dramatically lowers the chance of ingesting something harmful. This single habit addresses the most common transmission route for traveler's diarrhea and is practical for everyday use, including when you’re rinsing, brushing teeth, or making hot drinks where water quality matters. By contrast, drinking from taps, depending on street vendors, or consuming beverages that aren’t guaranteed to be sealed introduces uncertain water sources and increases risk.

Drinking water from local taps in foreign countries.

Relying on street vendors for beverages.

Only drink beverages with sealed bottles.