Digestive problems are the most common complaint people have in my practice.
Want to let you know that intestinal parasites may be the cause of your digestive problems, as they’re really common in Australia and can often be the diagnosis that you’ve possibly missed!
It’s pretty easy to get a parasite infection, especially if you’re like many others and don’t have enough good gut bugs to protect you against infections.
Intestinal parasites can cause bad inflammation in your gut lining and can give you a very leaky gut, causing your liver to suffer from the toxins that the parasite produces.
This can make you feel really terrible.
These are the common offenders:
Giardia, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas, Entoamoeba histolytica, Dietamoeba, Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridium difficile.
Symptoms of a Parasite Invasion
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can often be mistaken for a parasite infection.
– Tummy pains, bloating, diarrhea, constipation (IBS like symptoms)
– Having had a case of food poisoning and never feeling right again
– Hunger shortly after a meal
– Poor sleep, fatigue
– Anxiety, foggy head, depression
– Aching and pains
– Night itch
Intestinal parasites are very easily spread and that’s why it’s important to wash your hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom, before eating and after touching animals.
The parasite ‘Giardia’ is really common in day care centers and retirement homes where there may be some contact with human faeces.
This for example can lead to the infected children giving it to the rest of the family.
The Good News Is…
Parasites can be treated, although in some cases it can be difficult.
Remember to get re-tested after treatment to make sure they’re gone.
The takeaway here is to get tested!Â
The test is a simple stool test which you can do in the privacy of your home.
Let me know if you need my help getting this test kit posted out to you.
Treatment of Parasites
Parasites like to live in an unhealthy gut, so we must change the environment by improving the health of your gut so it’s no longer a good home for parasites to live.
Natural treatments for getting rid of parasites are:
– No snacking. Rest your digestive system between meals which increase intestinal waves, pushing parasites out of your system
– Cut out sugar, dairy and grains. Parasites love sugar.
– Eat anti-microbial foods like onion, garlic, coconut oil
– Add pysllium husk to your diet (gradually) to drag the parasites out
– Take a probiotic with lots of different strains to heal the gut
– Have slippery elm, bone broth, fermented vegetables, kefir and glutamine which all help to heal the lining of the intestines
Antibiotics are the most common treatment by your GP, although not always effective as these parasites are developing a resistance to them.
Remember that antibiotics kill the bad AND the good flora in your gut. Taking probiotics with your antibiotics (3 hours apart which, although a must) is like putting a teaspoon of good bacteria back into a bathtub… a big job to get it right again!
I hope this helps!
P.S. If there’s anyone in your life (friend, family, employee) who feels they want to do better with their health, please share this post. It might be the fresh perspective they need to feel better.