Pest Control:
How to Avoid Parasites in a Parasite-Friendly World
A parasite is a potentially harmful organism
that lives off of another organism, such as an animal or a human.
Parasites travel throughout our bodies and live off the food
we eat. They leave their waste behind, and because they feed
off our metabolic processes and drain our inner resources, they
can leave us feeling fatigued and debilitated. Persistent skin
problems, digestive difficulties, constipation and a wide range
of other complaints have been linked to parasitic infection.
The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) estimates that 76 million Americans contract parasites
from food every year, and by the year 2025 scientists estimate
that half of the world’s population will be infested with
some type of parasite. Thanks to global warming, which makes
the general environment more parasite-friendly, and increased
global travel, parasites are now more common in North America
than ever before. Other factors spreading parasites include pollution,
overcrowded schools and daycare centers, military personnel returning
from infested areas, household pets, the overuse of antibiotics
and other drugs, infected food and water, exposure to multiple
romantic partners and infected community swimming pools.
 Because
doctors are not trained to recognize parasite problems, and because
so many of their symptoms can mimic infection from bacteria or
virus, parasitic infestations are often neglected and patients
are treated for the wrong disorder. Complicating the issue, testing
for parasites is of limited usefulness. While more than 1,000
parasites can inhabit the human body, diagnosticians have only
devised tests for 40. Though most parasites make their home in
the nutrient-dense small intestines, they can migrate throughout
the body. Because of the irregular life cycles of these pests,
tests are often ineffective or misleading, and a thorough examination
may require numerous tests over an extended time period.
Because
a build-up of toxins and waste material in your colon increases
your risk of parasitic infection, the first step toward lowering
your risk is the speedy elimination of such wastes. Daily helpings
of fiber can stimulate the colon’s muscular contractions,
known as peristalsis, that remove the contamination on which
parasites thrive. Fiber sweeps the intestines clean of toxins
and even pulls parasites from the wall of the digestive tract.
If you are concerned about parasites, you may
want to use an internal cleansing program designed to rid the
body of harmful intestinal microbes. A quality product will provide
a broad spectrum of ingredients including herbs and nutraceuticals
to address the greatest number of organisms. During the cleansing
process and for ongoing daily maintenance, enzyme supplements
should be used to support a parasite management program. Taken
with food, an effective enzyme supplement will assist your body’s
own digestive processes, helping to break down foods that, left
partially undigested, can provide food for parasites in the digestive
system.
If your stomach acid is low, your may wish to
include hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your supplement regimen. HCl
helps to sterilize the food we eat, so without sufficient acid,
harmful organisms are able to thrive and cause problems. You
will also benefit from the amino acids L-glutamine, N-acetyl
D-glucosamine (NAG) and gamma oryzanol, all of which support
a healthy intestinal lining. Butyric acid, a common byproduct
of fiber fermentation (by probiotics) in the large intestine,
is also available in supplement form and can be of particular
benefit to individuals concerned about parasites. |
