Parasites can stop you on your tracks. Instead of waking up with a spring in your step, you can get sucked into a dark world of constant fatigue, physical pain that is unaccounted for, and even a slump in your emotional and mental health. It can all start with a bad dish on a road trip or exposure to a polluted environment.
There are many parasites and each has a distinctive character. Some are more common in the tropics while there are those commonly found in your regular supermarket food products. However, there are many ways to fight parasites and prevent them from causing havoc in our bodies.
In fact, some foods have strong anti-parasite characteristics. The article from Microbe Formulas entitled 13 (+1) Benefits of Natural Parasite Cleansing explains that an amino acid in pumpkin seeds can paralyze parasites, making them unable to attach to the intestinal wall.
The damage caused by parasites can begin with minor irritations and scale up to very serious scenarios. Let us learn more about some common symptoms caused by parasites.
Headaches And Migraines
Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection of the brain and spine. It can lead to major complications and there have been cases where it has been fatal. Common symptoms include headaches and migraines which can make your life miserable.
Fatigue
Have you been getting tired a lot lately? Is this happening without any explicit reason – a sense of fatigue while you seemingly get the usual rest your body is used to? There can be a deeper reason behind such tiredness. Parasites in the intestines are known to cause dips in energy. When the parasite calls your gut it’s home, it starts feeding on the food meant for the rest of your body.
The nutrients you pass to your digestive system are literally being stolen by the parasite from right under your nose. As time passes, your organs are getting lesser nourishment while the parasite is getting bigger and stronger, ready to do more damage your system. This is probably a simplistic representation of a more complex invasion but it does sum up why fatigue is inevitable once an intestinal parasite infection has reached a certain point of advancement.
Food Cravings
This next point might seem to be straight out of a sci-fi horror show – the mind-controlling alien life form telling the host what to do. It is not quite that dramatic but nevertheless, it is a concerning symptom. Many people who have had parasitic infections have acknowledged that they were prone to food cravings. Parasites thrive on carbs and sugar.
Studies have shown the correlation between cravings for sugary foods and the presence of sugar-loving intruders in the gut. This can also be a result of you fighting the parasite with a change of diet and depriving it of the sugar that it needs to survive. The Candida yeast, which can live in your gut, skin and even respiratory system, is one common parasite associated with sugar cravings. Either way, the only way to stave off the parasite is by fighting off the craving.
Digestive Problems
Your digestive system is usually the first to get compromised when you have a parasite infection. The presence of a toxic agent in your digestive organs causes an imbalance in the microbial gut bacteria population. In a healthy gut, there are good microbes that aid digestion. These can get depleted because of a parasite invasion.
When this happens, you will experience digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea, sometimes both in cycles. Another discomfort that can be experienced is a bloated feeling, caused by gas build up as the regular digestive process is interrupted. Abdominal pain cannot be ruled out in serious infection cases.
The symptoms mentioned above are general descriptions and depending on the parasite, there are many more distinctive reactions and manifestations. Some parasites cause nausea while some cause an itch beneath the skin. Weight loss and fevers are also symptoms that have been associated with parasites. Dehydration is commonly associated with parasites like giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis.
As we strive to have a healthy lifestyle, it is very important that we understand the risk factors that can derail our efforts. Personal hygiene is one of the most important areas where we can prevent parasite infections. Smart traveling habits can also reduce the risk of infection. The right diet and an informed attitude can help you stay on top of the situation. Be aware, know the signs, and stay strong.