If you’re heading overseas on vacation or business this summer or anytime, it’s a good idea to steer clear of certain foods and drinks to keep from getting sick.

One of the joys of traveling is eating things that you wouldn’t normally try. Make sure whatever you consume, exotic or otherwise, is safe.

You can check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see what you need to be wary of.

The result of eating or drinking the wrong thing isn’t pretty. Contaminated food or water can produce diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever and these are just some of the symptoms. Some illnesses can be serious and life-threatening. They include viral infections such as hepatitis A, bacteria, intestinal parasites and dysentery.

She said you can avoid problems by remembering that, It all starts with the water. You’ve probably heard the expression, “Don’t drink the water.” The CDC advises that you shouldn’t drink it unless you know your water has been very thoroughly boiled or it comes in a factory-sealed bottle. The reason that bottled water needs to be sealed is so you know that it actually came from the factory. Otherwise, the bottle might have been refilled with water from a questionable source.

If you’re thirsty, you can drink the bottled water, as long as it’s sealed when you get it. Brush your teeth with it, too. Don’t risk using tap water. Other safe beverages include name-brand drinks that come in sealed cans or bottles, such as carbonated mineral water and soft drinks and, if you don’t overdo it, beer or wine. If you know the water in your cup has been boiled well, coffee or tea should be fine. One thing to know about beverages you drink from cans or bottles: If the outside of the container is wet, wipe the surface dry, just in case the source of that moisture is untreated water.

Ice cubes should also be on your do-not-consume list and some solid food is also of concern.

No matter how tempting certain raw foods may look, they also might make you sick, either because the location where they were grown or caught was contaminated, or because water used to grow, wash or prepare them is unsafe.

Shellfish or meat that’s either raw or undercooked can cause illness. The CDC also urges you to avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, and un-pasteurized milk products, including cheese. Vegetables should be hot.

If you eat fresh fruit, insist on peeling the fruit yourself, to be sure the part you’ll eat wasn’t contaminated after peeling. And whatever you feel like eating, avoid buying it from street vendors. You don’t know where it’s been.

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While most of the hotel rooms may look clean and you’d like to believe they are, the truth is they probably have germs everywhere.

A lot of travelers assume a hotel bathroom may not be as clean as their own, that germs may linger on the carpets or the bedspread, but few people think twice about the room’s light switch. That’s right, the light switch!

After all, who wants to get sick or bitten on vacation?

So, how can you combat these germs? Suggestions include bringing along a package of anti-bacterial wipes when you first walk into a hotel room, giving all surfaces, including the shower floor and sink faucets, a quick wipe down. Also, you can’t underestimate the importance of washing your hands regularly.

What about hotel beds? Many people assume that bedspreads in particular are teaming with germs. They are right. Bedspreads aren’t routinely washed, so you should take them off the beds and stash them in the corner. If you’re cold, ask for another blanket.

The other unpleasant issue you need to consider is bedbugs. Bedbugs were virtually eradicated in the United States after World War II, but they’ve returned to luxury and budget hotels alike. Bedbugs are hard to get rid of, and if you contract them in your hotel, you’re almost certain to carry them back to your home in your clothing and suitcases.

We recommend pulling back all the sheets from the bed and inspecting your mattress; be sure to closely examine the mattress seams. Look for little red or brown spots, which could be a sign that bedbugs have been there. Sometimes, you can see the bugs themselves; they grow to the size of apple seeds. A flashlight can make it easier to find these pests. Another great trick is to aim a hairdryer at a spot on the mattress for a couple of minutes. Bedbugs are attracted to heat, so if they’ve burrowed into your mattress, the hair dryer will draw them out. More and more hotels are encasing mattresses and pillows in plastic (this also helps stave off dust mites), which makes it impossible for bed bugs to take up residency.

Wear flip flops in the shower, to avoid any chance of contracting athlete’s foot. As a matter of fact, he thinks it’s smart to always wear socks or slippers around a hotel room.

To make sure that bedbugs don’t come home with you remember to use a luggage rack instead of putting your suitcase on the floor. Also you may want to take your own blankets with you instead of getting under the covers.

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Summer is here and more families will be spending time flying in planes getting to their destination.

Many travelers assume that the blankets and pillows in planes are clean but you may want to think about how many people cuddle up with those and how many hands they have gone through. The next time that you are traveling on a plane you might want to take your own travel blanket and pillow. These can be stored easily for travel.

We carry travel pillows and travel blankets.

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