Parasite Cleanse

Should you do a parasite cleanse?

It’s easy to assume that parasite infections are a thing of the past—especially in modern America, where we have indoor plumbing, clean food and water, and advanced healthcare.

But the truth is, parasites are more common than most people realize, and their symptoms can be subtle and easy to miss.In this article.

I’m going to share some (non-graphic) insights from my recent parasite cleanse. While I’ll keep the details light, if you have a sensitive stomach, this might not be the post for you.

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What is a parasite?

By definition, a parasite is any organism that lives in or on another species and takes its nutrients and resources for its own benefit.

When most people think of parasites, they might imagine external creatures like fleas, ticks, or lice. However, there is an entire world of parasites that live inside the human body, primarily in the intestines. These parasites often consist of protozoa, single-celled organisms, as well as various types of worms, which are multi-cell organisms.

For this article on parasite cleanses, I’ll focus on the most common parasites found in the human intestines.

These parasites are typically contracted through exposure to contaminated environments such as lake water, undercooked meat or dairy, pets (especially cats and dogs), contaminated water, or even raw fish.

A parasite cleanse may be recommended for anyone who has consumed contaminated food or water, swims in lakes or stagnant water, or allows pets to sleep in their beds or lick their face.

Parasites can also be transmitted through sexual contact if one partner is infected.

Are parasites contagious?

When it comes to protozoa and worms that infect the human body, some of these parasites can live for an alarmingly long time while using your body as a host. In fact, it's possible that you currently have parasites that were transmitted to you decades ago.

Here’s a list of some of the more common parasites found in human intestines, how they are transmitted, and their typical lifespans:

▪Cryptosporidium (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Often spread through fecal-contaminated food or water.

⭕Lifespan: Can live up to 3 years in humans.

▪Entamoeba histolytica (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water, contact with pets, and sexual transmission.
⭕Lifespan: Can range from weeks to years in humans.

▪Giardia (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through ingesting or direct contact with standing water, which can bypass many filtration systems. Giardia can also be carried and transmitted by animals and is commonly found in childcare centers.

⭕Lifespan: Can survive up to 3 months in cold water, 6 months in soil, and up to 2 weeks on surfaces. In humans, they can live from weeks to months.

▪Blastocystis hominis (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water.
⭕Lifespan: Can live for weeks, months, or even years in humans.

▪Chilomastix mesnili (protozoa)

  ⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water.
  ⭕Characteristics: Considered non-pathogenic (does not cause disease) and is commonly found in the large intestine.
  ⭕Lifespan: Unknown.

▪Cyclospora cayetanensis (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water. Does not spread from person to person, except through fecal exposure. Often found on imported produce.
⭕Lifespan: Information not available.

▪Dientamoeba fragilis (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: The exact method of transmission is not well understood, but experts speculate it spreads through fecal-contaminated food or water.
⭕Lifespan: Unknown.

▪Endolimax nana (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water.
⭕Lifespan: Unknown.

▪Entameoba coli (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Not to be confused with E. coli, this organism is commonly transmitted through fecal-contaminated food or water and is considered non-pathogenic.
⭕Lifespan: Inside the host, it survives for days to weeks, although its larvae can live up to 3-4 months outside the host. Mature Entamoeba coli will not survive outside its host.

▪Pentatrichomonas hominis (protozoa)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water and carried by cats and dogs.
⭕Lifespan: Unknown within the human body, but outside the host, this parasite can survive for several days.

▪Ancylostoma duodenale and Necatur americanus (hookworms)

⭕Transmission: Spread through skin contact with or ingestion of contaminated soil. Can also be transmitted by cats and dogs.

⭕Lifespan: Ancylostoma duodenale can survive inside humans for up to 1 year, while Necator americanus typically survives up to 5 years in humans, though it has been recorded to live up to 15 years.

▪Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated food or water.
⭕Lifespan: 1-2 years in humans.

▪Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)

⭕Commonly transmitted through fecal-contaminated produce, and person-to-person contact.

⭕Lifespan: 1-2 years in humans.

▪Taenia species (tapeworm)

⭕Transmission: Commonly spread through fecal-contaminated and undercooked pork (Taenia solium) and beef (Taenia saginata).
⭕Lifespan: Taenia solium can survive in humans for 10-20 years, while Taenia saginata can live up to 25 years!

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why parasites are harmful？

It's important to note that this parasite cleanse article focuses on parasites that commonly reside in the human intestines. This does not include external parasites, such as ticks, fleas, or lice.

To start, intestinal parasites can cause a variety of symptoms. For example, they are known to release toxins that may lead to anxiety and disrupt neurotransmitter function. Additionally, these parasites can release inflammatory toxins into tissues and joints, often resulting in increased pain.

PARASITE INFECTIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO CAUSE:

Sugar cravings – Parasites feed off your nutrients, which can cause your body to crave sugar to fuel them. This can lead to more serious conditions like insulin resistance, weight gain, and even diabetes.
Chronic fatigue – Parasites are adept at evading the immune system, but their presence can trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to exhaustion, especially when your body isn't receiving the nutrients it needs.
Digestive issues – The symptoms of intestinal parasites often overlap with those of IBS, making them difficult to distinguish.
Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders – Parasites release toxins that interfere with neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Along with a heightened fight-or-flight response, this can contribute to anxiety and mood swings.
Skin conditions (rash, inflammation, eczema) – Parasites can trigger the release of immunoglobulins (IgE antibodies), which interact with mast cells in the lungs, digestive tract, and skin. These mast cells are responsible for allergic reactions, which means parasites can cause your body to react as if you have an allergy, even if you don't.
Anemia – If you’ve been diagnosed with anemia that isn’t improving with medical treatment or dietary changes, it could be a sign of a parasitic infection.
Malnutrition – Parasites consume your body’s nutrients to survive and reproduce, potentially leaving you malnourished and deficient in essential vitamins and minerals, even if you're eating enough food.

However, some experts argue that parasites may actually be beneficial in treating certain types of diseases. This theory holds some weight, as intestinal parasites are known to manipulate the immune system to avoid detection. Nevertheless, more research is needed to fully understand this potential.

That said, while this manipulation of the immune system may offer some benefits, it also comes with significant downsides – and plenty of them.

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common parasite symptoms

How do you know if a parasite cleanse is right for you?

COMMON PARASITE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

restless sleep or insomnia
increased anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders
itchiness
chronic diarrhea or loose stools
alternating constipation and diarrhea
mucus in stool
bloat or gasiness
IBS symptoms
abdominal cramps
intestinal ulcers
headache or migraine
hyperactivity or nervousness
food allergies or food sensitivities
been diagnosed with anemia
unexplained vomiting
sugar or processed-food cravings
loss of appetite
frequent cold, flu, or sore throat
menstrual problems
blurry vision
fatigue or lethargy

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does the full moon really increase parasite activity?

It's still hard to say for sure.

Scientists and researchers are definitely excited to explore this topic further, but so far, the research is quite limited.

Generally, experts speculate that parasites may synchronize with the host's natural rhythms to exploit its resources more effectively. For humans, our circadian rhythm is largely influenced by light exposure and moon phases.

This leads to a plausible hypothesis that parasite activity could increase during a full moon. While it's an interesting idea, it's important to take it with a grain of salt, as we haven’t seen any definitive evidence to support it yet.

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