 Parasites:
The Hidden Culprit
Fred loved the
outdoors. Camping, fishing, hiking, rafting – if it was
an outdoor activity, he had tried it or had it on his to-do list.
Then, during a summer hike along the Appalachian Trail Fred began
to feel ill. His boundless energy evaporated, and he had to
call a friend for a ride home.
At home, the fatigue just wouldn’t
quit. He had painful diarrhea. He was bloated. He couldn’t
jog, he couldn’t hike. He could barely get out of bed.
The first doctor Fred saw couldn’t figure out what was
wrong with him. Neither could the second. And then Fred’s
problems seemed to go away. His diarrhea cleared up; his energy
returned. But two weeks later, he developed flu-like symptoms,
including intestinal cramps. He saw more doctors and was examined
from head to toe, but no one could determine what was wrong.
That is, until one physician finally asked him if he had ever
been swimming in a fresh-water lake. When Fred explained that
every other summer he visited his parents’ lake house in
upstate New York, the doctor said, “giardia”.
Beneath
the Surface
Common in lakes and streams, giardia is a parasite
that inhabits the small intestine in humans, and according to
the Food and Drug Administration it is one of the most frequent
causes of water-borne illness. Although it is possible to contract
giardia from contaminated food, water is often a more likely
source.
 Fred rejected this new doctor’s diagnosis, saying
that he had already provided a stool sample for testing and the
results had been negative. Still, his doctor told him that one
sample is often not enough, and he was right. While the first
test did not reveal anything, subsequent samples revealed giardia
cysts in Fred’s stool.
Giardia, like other parasites, is
something that many health practitioners often overlook, yet
it can cause serious harm to the body if left untreated. Like
Fred, those with giardia may experience diarrhea, bloating, loss
of appetite, cramps, fever, nausea and other symptoms that only
camouflage the real problem: the parasite thriving inside their
digestive tract. Such organisms have developed remarkable survival
instincts, which undoubtedly contributes to the problem. Indeed,
says Dr. James Byers of the University of New Hampshire, “[a]
parasite’s life cycle is a really amazing strategy for
an organism that doesn’t have a brain.” What’s
more, while humans can be infected by more than 1,000 different
types of parasites, scientists and medical experts have created
dependable testing methods for only about 40 of those.
Natural
Ways to Lower Parasite Risk
Because a sluggish colon is vulnerable
to parasite infection, promoting healthy bowel function is essential
to lowering the risk of harboring harmful parasites. To accelerate
the elimination of toxins and potential parasites from the body,
increase your daily fiber intake. Fiber stimulates colonic peristalsis
(the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through your
digestive tract) and promote more frequent bowel movements. Plus,
fiber helps sweep parasites and toxic material from the colon
wall.
A natural cleansing formula can also promote
healthy digestive function. Herbs such as wormwood, garlic, rosemary,
marshmallow, thyme, orange peel and black walnut, along with
the use of undecylenic acid, bismuth citrate and grapefruit seed
extract, are recommended by many experts as a ways of supporting
the body’s natural
cleansing and detoxification processes.
Supplementing with digestive
enzymes as well as hydrochloric acid (HCl) may also prove beneficial,
as both work to reinforce the body’s anti-parasite defenses.
In addition, borage seed and bromelain, which reduce inflammation,
as well as butyric acid and flax seed, which help the gastrointestinal
tract repair itself, can help combat parasites.
Finally, simple measures such as
washing your hands frequently throughout the day and eating plenty
of high-fiber foods are excellent ways to reduce your risk of
parasite infection. As Rutgers University biology professor Ann
Cali, PhD puts it, “Prevention is so much better than cure.” And
in a world where parasites abound, you simply can’t afford
to ignore this growing risk. |
