Parasites can be picked up from a multitude of places, from walking around barefoot to drinking unfiltered tap water. And while sometimes they can go unnoticed in our body, other times they can wreck havoc and can cause long term chronic illnesses.
I’ve come across many stories of people who have suffered for years with abdominal pain only to find that they’ve been unknowingly living with an intestinal parasite. Once treated, people have managed to eliminate many severe symptoms and reoccurring illnesses and the relief has been phenomenal.
Common symptoms of parasitic infection include:
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Bloating
- Fatigue or weakness
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- IBS
- Anemia
- Sleep disturbances
- Allergies
- Weight loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Skin rashes
- Nervousness or anxiety
If left untreated, parasites can also contribute to a whole host of different diseases, including arthritis.
It’s increasingly more common for people to have one or more of the above symptoms and if you do notice that you have a few, you may want to think about having a comprehensive stool test and/or booking a consultation with a nutritionist.
The good news is if you do have an infection, antibiotics are not the be-all-and-end-all treatment. Research has even found that antibiotics may kill off the parasite but not necessarily all the eggs and so the problem can reoccur, with many side effects also arising from taking the medication.
Natural treatments for removing the parasites involve killing the pathogen, flushing out the toxins, and restoring the gut. The following steps can be taken to aid this process:
1) Remove or reduce all sources of sugar
Sugar is what feeds the parasites and harmful bacteria in the gut. The pathogens use sugar sources like glucose and fructose in fruits and carbohydrates to multiply, and so removing this should help to starve and therefore kill them.
2) Try to remove other antagonising food
Animal products (including dairy) and processed foods can be difficult to digest, putting extra pressure on the whole digestive system. Eliminating these can help unclog the intestine and free up much needed energy to expel pathogens.
3) Add more fiber in the form of vegetables
Fiber will help move the bowels and eliminate the parasites from the body. As carbs and other starchy foods are off limits, vegetables are a great source of fiber.
4) Consider alternative birth control methods
The contraceptive pill can reduce beneficial bacteria in the gut, which is needed to keep the parasites under control. Switching to a more natural and less invasive method of birth control can help restore the balance of gut bacteria, providing a less hospitable environment for parasites.
5) Get sweaty!
When the parasites start to die off they can release toxic by-products, which need to be released from the body. This can be done through the sweat and so exercise, going to a sauna, or taking up hot yoga can be extremely beneficial in speeding up this process.
6) Take probiotics
Probiotics help to increase the beneficial bacteria in the gut, swinging the balance to a more functional gastrointestinal tract. Again this will provide a less hospitable environment for the parasites to live.
7) Consume nature’s antibiotics
There are many amazing foods, including herbs and spices, which are provided by nature and should help eliminate the parasite. Taking a combination daily will have a whole host of benefits.
Here is my list of the top natural anti-parasitic foods and supplements:
- Raw garlic
- Oregano oil
- Psyllium husk
- Black walnut
- Wormwood
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Pumpkin seeds
- Cayenne
- Coconut
- Papaya
- Olive leaf extract
While some of these can be taken in their whole form or with other foods, they can also be used in teas, as tinctures in water or your favorite drink, or taken in supplement form. It’s also fairly important to rotate a selection of the foods daily so that your body doesn’t build up a tolerance.
As always, on undertaking any form of cleanse, especially if potential pathogens are concerned, it’s really recommended that you seek advice from a healthcare professional and allow yourself to be guided by a nutritionist or herbalist.
