Are Parasites Harming Your Health? You may be under the impression that parasites are rather harmless and can do only severe damage in exceptional cases. After all, one hadly ever hears of people becoming blind because parasites have damaged their eyes, or that parasites have lodged in the brain causing severe mental and neurological problems. It is very unlikely you have ever even seen a parasite. Therefore, why should anyone worry so much about them? THINK AGAIN!

Seen and Unseen Parasites can be microscopic in size or can stretch 30 feet or longer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control say tapeworm infection has doubled in frequency within the past 10 years. This is most likely due to the consumption of undercooked beef. Fleas have been known to carry tapeworms, so it's possible to get them if you have pets. Hookworms can be contracted just from walking barefoot on infected soil. Roundworms average 6 to 18 inches in length and can lay thousands of eggs each day - if they are inside of you, that's where they lay them! They can actually block the intestines. Roundworm infection is abundant in meat-eating cultures. One type of flatworm, a fluke, can live very comfortably in the instestines, liver, lungs or blood. Trichina is a very tiny worm infecting pigs. The larva, after burrowing into the intestinal wall, enters blood vessels. The blood then carries the larva to muscle fibers where these worms live and grow. If you eat pork that has not been cooked properly or thoroughly, you may get these little critters!

How Can I Get Parasites? They can be contracted by eating undercooked beef, pork, fish or other flesh foods, walking barefoot on infected soil, through sex and casual contact, being bitten by flies, mosquitoes and animals (mainly in the tropics), eating unclean raw vegetables, drinking infected water (check-out water page), close breathing or touching. Parasites out rank cancer as the number 1 killer in the world today according to experts.

How Can I Tell if I Have Parasites? This can be very difficult because the subject has not received the attention due it and accurate testing methods are still being developed. Parasites have been known to cause hypoglycemia, indigestion, lack of energy, colitis, back pain, headaches, acne and other skin problems, poor assimilation, nausea, vomiting, gas and much more. Some researchers feel the waste material produced by flukes is extremely carcinogenic and contributes to the formation of cancer. The waste material from just a single tapeworm can make someone ill. Contact your friendly alternative, holistic or other healthcare provider. (See Iridology)

Is There a Way to Prevent Parasite Infection? It is impossible to avoid all situations that could lead to parasitic infection. However, the following are a few basic precautions that can serve as a guideline:

Drink clean, pure water. Chlorination does not kill all parasites. (See Water Section) Always wash produce especially vegetables, even if you grow them yourself or purchase them from a store you feel you can trust. Food grade peroxide is ideal for scrubbing vegetables, but it must be handled and stored carefully. If you eat flesh food, always make sure it is cooked thoroughly. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. A strong body makes for a great line of defense against parasites. A consistently poor diet can promote very poor intestinal health, creating the perfect environment for parasites to live and grow. (See Nature's Sunshine Vitamins)

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