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Parasites and Toxins - Better Health Through Periodic Colon Cleansing
We're Not Alone! You may have them in your body and not even know it! Fact: An estimated 85 percent of all adults in North America have at least one form of parasite living in their bodies. Fact: They can remain in the body for as long as 30 years. Fact: Parasitic infections are a major cause of illness in North America. Sources: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition FAQs About Parasites Parasites are organisms that derive nourishment and protection fromother living organisms, called hosts. That could be you! The eggs are transmitted from host to host through the consumption ofcontaminated food and water, or, by putting anything in your mouth thathas touched the stool of an infected person or animal. It sounds gross, but even if you are very conscious of washing your hands and staying clean, your kids or pets or the friend you just shook hands with may not be as clean. They can harm their host in a number of ways. They can:
Toxins and parasites place a heavy burden on the body's systems,weakening them and making them vulnerable to a variety of health concerns. If you think being infected is something that happens only to people in under-developed countries or to those who live in unsanitary conditions, the following information might shock you: Parasites are everywhere. What may be more alarming is the fact that they are commonly transmitted to humans.They are organisms that feed off a host -- and that host may be you. These uninvited guests thrive within your body, affecting various tissues and organs, and often without your realizing it. In fact, parasitic infection frequently is undiagnosed because symptoms can be confused with a variety of conditions and diseases. But as they steal your nutrients and feed off your cells, they damage your body by creating such health problems as diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, joint and muscle aches, suppressed immunity, chronic fatigue, and brain or nervous system dysfunction. According to Ann Louise Gittleman, nutritionist and author of "Guess What Came to Dinner," there are six ways parasites can harm you. They can:
Point of entry How do these invaders get into your system in the first place? It's easier than you may think. If you walk barefoot outdoors, get an insect bite, or pick up pet waste, you may become infected with a parasite. But the most common sources of parasitic infection, notes Gittleman, are food and water. "Since most of us eat three times a day and drink water frequently throughout the day, our exposure to these sources is constant," says Gittleman. "Tap water is often contaminated with parasitic organisms. Both plant and animal foods carry them, and cleaning and cooking methods often don't destroy them before ingestion." According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 9000 people in the U.S. die each year from contaminated food. Even if you drink filtered or bottled water, you probably use tap water to wash fruits and vegetables, so if you eat fresh produce you increase the risk of parasitic infection. Most food-borne parasites, however, are from undercooked meats and fish. Gittleman recommends using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, and emphasizes that it's important to refrain from sampling a dish before it's thoroughly cooked. But it's not just eating food that causes problems; parasites can be transmitted during food preparation. Cutting boards and other food preparation surfaces, as well as utensils used in food preparation, should be disinfected with scalding water or bleach after each use. Is it a parasite? Do you have an illness you just can't seem to shake off? Are you chronically tired or lethargic? Do you have a vague feeling of ill health that can't be identified? You might assume it's the flu, or that you're simply in need of more rest. And while that may be the case, these symptoms can indicate a parasitic infection. The problem, says author Gittleman, is that many physicians "hardly ever suspect parasites as a current American health problem," and so symptoms are attributed to any number of other diseases. And if parasite infection is not treated, these unwelcome guests can remain in your system for decades. Certain factors place you at greater risk of exposure to parasites. The more factors that apply to your lifestyle, the greater your risk, but Gittleman stresses "it may take only one exposure to tainted food, water, or the bite of an infected mosquito for infection to take place." Some of the ways you risk exposure are:
One of the best ways to rid your body of parasites is to "cleanse" it. Herbs have been used to cleanse and strengthen your body's systems. Garlic is a proven antimicrobial agent that is effective against many species of parasites. Licorice root is a mild detoxifier, and ginger is known to protect the intestinal lining and has a wide range of actions against intestinal parasites. Cinnamon has anti-fungal activity. While any one of these herbs may be beneficial, especially effective are supplements that contain a number of herbs known to promote cleansing. Getting rid of all parasites would be absolutely impossible using clinical medicines that can kill only one or two parasites each. These medicines are poisons and as such have the unpleasant side effect of making you quite ill. Imagine taking 10 such drugs to kill a dozen of your parasites! Good news, perhaps, for the drug makers but not for you. Yet three herbs can rid you of over 100 types of parasites! And without so much as a headacheor nausea or any interference with any drug that you are already on! They are natures gift to us. The herbs are: Black Walnut Hulls (from the black walnut tree) Wormwood (from the Artemisia shrub) Common Cloves (from the clove tree) These three herbs must be used together. Black walnut hull and wormwood kill adults and developmental stages of at least 100 parasites. Cloves kill the eggs. Only if you use them together will you rid yourself of parasites. If you kill only the adults, the tiny stages and eggs will soon grow into new adults. If you kill only the eggs, the million stages already loose in your body will soon grow into adults and make more eggs. They must be used together as a single treatment Additionally, certain nutritional practices help make your body more inhospitable to parasites: Take digestive enzymes, such as papain, to promote a healthy intestinal tract. Eliminate caffeine and alcohol from your diet. Eat pumpkin seeds, beets, and carrots. Drink a lot of water but make sure it is purified water.
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