Consume at least one to two tablespoons daily of expeller-pressed 100-percent safflower, sesame or flax seed oil. These oils lubricate the gastrointestinal tract and serve as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamin A. It appears that of all vitamins and minerals, vitamin A best increases resistance to tissue penetration by parasite larvae. Foods rich in vitamin A, such as cooked carrot, squash, sweet potatoes, yams and greens, should therefore be amply included in the diet.

3. Prepare and Handle Foods Properly
Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. Avoid preparing raw fish dishes such as sushi and sashimi yourself. Leave the job to experienced chefs who are properly trained to spot parasitic larvae.

4. Avoid Unsafe Water Sources
Drink only filtered water. For home use, choose a water filtration system with a one-micron or smaller porosity. Never drink water out of brooks, reservoirs, ponds, streams or lakes, regardless of how pristine they appear. The water must be boiled for a good 20 minutes before drinking.

5. Cleanse Your Body of Parasites Once or Twice a Year
Many parasites remain undetected because of varying reproductive and life cycles. Periodic parasite cleanses are the practical way to go.

Choose natural parasite cleansers containing ingredients such as grapefruit seed extract, wormwood, cayenne, garlic, cloves, bismuth, black walnut hulls, prickly ash bark, quassia bark, slippery elm, bromelain and cranberry juice extract. Some very effective parasite-cleansing programs are available in health food stores.

Parasitic infection persists in the 21st century. These common-sense steps and natural approaches can help you say goodbye to uninvited guests.

How Parasites Damage the Body

Parasites can damage the body in a number of ways.

• They demolish cells in the body faster than the cells can be regenerated. This leads to ulceration, perforation and anemia.
• Parasites also deposit toxic substances that can propel the body’s immune response into overdrive, causing tissue damage and resulting in pain and inflammation.
• By depressing immune system functioning while activating the body’s immune response, parasites can cause immune system exhaustion.
• They can invade the skin, producing dermatitis, and also place pressure on the brain, spinal cord, eyes, heart, and/or bones.
• As in parasitic cysts, they can obstruct the intestines, as well as the pancreatic and bile ducts.

PDF Table of Common Parasites

Your Yearly Parasite-Cleansing Program

To eliminate all stages of a parasite’s lifespan, adopt a yearly parasite-cleansing and prevention program. Check your local health food store for effective natural formulas.

• A combination of wormwood, black walnut husk and clove juice is particularly effective in cleansing the body of all stages of parasites. Take as directed on the label.
• Barberry root bark has the ability to kill parasites. Drink three cups of tea daily, adding one teaspoon to one cup of boiling water.
• Both garlic and pumpkin seeds have strong antiparasitic properties. To purge parasites from the intestines, eat a clove of garlic and a handful of pumpkin seeds between meals, chewing thoroughly. Garlic capsules are more easily tolerated than raw–take three capsules three times daily.
• Take two capsules as directed of black walnut and burdock root every morning to purge worms.
• Grapefruit seed extract is another excellent natural medicine for a wide variety of parasites, including giardia. It is also well tolerated and can be taken for an extended period. This extract is available in both liquid and tablet form.
• Papain or bromelain should also be taken with meals to digest protein and destroy parasites before they reach the intestines. Digestive enzymes offer some protection against parasites in contaminated food.

Source: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing (alive Books, 1998)

How Did It Happen?

A number of seemingly unrelated factors unique to the late 20th century have contributed to the unrestrained parasite epidemic and added to the increased risk of parasitic infection. These factors include the:

• rise in international travel
• contamination of municipal and rural water supplies
• increasing use of day-care centres
• influx of refugee and immigrant
• populations from endemic areas
• return of armed forces overseas
• continued popularity of household pets
• increasing popularity of exotic
• regional foods
• use of antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs
• sexual revolution
• spread of AIDS

A certified nutrition specialist with a master’s degree in nutrition education, Ann Louise Gittleman has been proclaimed one of the "Ten Most Knowledgeable Nutritionists" by Self magazine. She is the award-winning author of nearly 20 books on health and healing that have sold over 3.5 million copies. Her latest New York Times and USA best-seller is The Fat Flush Plan (McGraw-Hill, 2001).

Source: alive #238, August 2002