If you have a PULSE, you have a PARASITE! 🐛

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

✨Anxiety & Moodiness

✨Bloating & Stomach Pain

✨Brain Fog

✨Chemical & Food Sensitivities

✨Fatigue

✨Itching

✨Skin Rashes

✨Teeth Grinding

✨Joint and Muscle Pain

✨Weight Loss or Gain

Well then, you may have parasites! (Theel, E. S., & Pritt, B. S., 2016)

Parasites are typically more active during the night, potentially leading to increased symptoms while people sleep. However, symptoms can occur at any time of the day and some may persist.

Additionally, it's important to note that symptoms of parasite infections may not manifest immediately. While some infections could cause digestive issues within a day, others might not show noticeable symptoms for weeks or even years.

Parasites can also serve as hosts for other pathogens like mold spores, Lyme bacteria, and viruses, adding complexity to identifying the root cause of symptoms.

Types of Parasites

A parasite is an organism that lives and feeds on a host organism. You can see some parasites with the naked eye, like most worms. But many others are microscopic, like the protozoan Giardia.

Broadly speaking when it comes to looking at parasites in the digestive system, there are 2 types:

🦠Protozoa - Clinically, two of the most common protozoa we see on testing are Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis

🦠Nematodes (worms) - I think you know how these look like, there are many pictures of them around the internet. They also lay eggs and multiply, particularly active around full moon.

How do you get a parasite?

Getting a parasite is easier than you think and is not only a 3rd world problem. Sources of parasites include mainly contaminated water and food, but also include lakes, swimming pools, and sexual contact. Additionally, that shrimp cocktail or sushi roll could be your ticket to a parasite infestation. Any raw fish or under cooked meats that you eat can lead to potential exposure!

Here are the most common ways you can get a parasite:

👉Food: Undercooked meat (beef tartar) and seafood (think sushi!) can be sources of parasites. Raw food, including fruits and veggies, can also be tainted with parasites.

👉Other people: If someone is infected and doesn’t wash their hands well after using the restroom, they could pass parasites to others. Fyi, some parasites are transmitted sexually, including T. vaginalis

👉Pets: Animals can also give you parasites, especially if veterinary care is overlooked. For example, you could get a T. gondii infection from handling contaminated kitty litter. Please, wash your hands well after touching pets because parasite eggs can stick in their fur.

👉Soil: You can pick up parasites from the soil, such as by walking barefoot outside. Ascaris, hookworm, and whipworm commonly contaminate the soil and may linger for years. Wear shoes when walking in questionable areas, including where animals poop.

👉Toilets: Pinworms can stick to toilet seats and can contaminate other objects in the restroom. If you must sit on a public toilet seat, create a barrier first. Some restrooms supply paper liners for seats, but you can also use toilet paper.

👉Water: This includes water you drink — even some municipal water. You may also encounter parasites like giardia in water handled by an infected restaurant worker with unclean hands. And you could contract parasites like cryptosporidium if you swim in contaminated lakes, streams, and swimming pools (Ryan, U., Lawler, S., & Reid, S., 2017).

Remember, some individuals may unknowingly harbor parasites, which can still be transmitted. Individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with chronic infections like Lyme disease, are at a greater risk of acquiring parasites (Knutie, S. A., Wilkinson, C. L., Wu, Q. C., Ortega, C. N., & Rohr, J. R., 2017).

How to test for parasites?

There is a way to check if you have parasites and if they are in higher than acceptable levels for your intestinal health!

In my practice I use a functional stool test called GI MAP which uses DNA technology to detect parasites which offers a number of benefits:

✔️The GI MAP relies on DNA analysis which more closely represents the actual microbial population of the GI tract at the time of collection.

✔️The GI-MAP gives quantitative information about the pathogens giving us information on how much pathogenic DNA is present.

If your GI MAP results show that you have a parasite, I come up with a personalized pathogen eradication protocol via specialized professional high grade supplements which can wipe out the nasty critters for good and restore your GUT health for good! On average, I spend about 4 hours coming up with an individualized protocol to address your GI issues and choose the best dietary, lifestyle and therapeutic supplements support. If you’ve been battling with leaky gut for a while, it’s time to implement a personalized approach for lasting relief and optimal well-being.

References:

Theel, E. S., & Pritt, B. S. (2016). Parasites. Microbiology spectrum, 4(4), 10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0013-2015. https://doi.org/10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0013-2015

Ryan, U., Lawler, S., & Reid, S. (2017). Limiting swimming pool outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis - the roles of regulations, staff, patrons and research. Journal of water and health, 15(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2016.160

Knutie, S. A., Wilkinson, C. L., Wu, Q. C., Ortega, C. N., & Rohr, J. R. (2017). Host resistance and tolerance of parasitic gut worms depend on resource availability. Oecologia, 183(4), 1031–1040. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-017-3822-7

Disclaimer: This post is intended for inspirational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your routine.