Parasites can cause serious health problems!

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Parasites can cause serious health problems!

 

Parasites, you hardly hear anything about them, but they are around,

including in and on our foods. Can they cause high blood pressure,

chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, colon problems, other

health problems and even some types of cancers? Yes, they can and I'll

explain why. But first, let me give you some background.

 

Congress recently passed a series of laws that has and will seriously

damage many years of valuable health and environmental laws. There has

been a serious easing of the Clean Water Act, The Safe Drinking Water

Act and the Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Act. The Federal Meat

Inspection Act was last rewritten in 1967 and lacks any real

enforcement not to mention funding for enough meat inspectors. One

result of this has been a higher incidence of parasitic infection

among the American public. This year, the National Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention estimates that food borne pathogens cause

325,000 hospitalizations and 76 million illnesses resulting in 9,000

deaths annually. This is an increase of over 20 million illnesses and

4,000 deaths from two years ago. Congress has done nothing to correct

the problem. There are over a dozen agencies trying to interpret some

35 different laws that are over 100 years old. Here is a typical

problem. Cheese pizza is regulated by the FDA, while pizza pepperoni

is regulated by the USDA. Shell eggs are regulated by the FDA, most

processed egg products by the USDA. And the worse problem, meat

slaughtering and packing plants which fall under USDA daily

inspections, ( at least that is what the USDA says they do, daily

inspections ), it can be years for plants to be inspected that fall

under FDA supervision. In 1994, the Northwest experienced a serious

food contamination problem with hamburger meat that was loaded with

the bacteria E-Coli. Who was inspecting the plants that made this

hamburger?

 

What Are Parasites?

 

Parasites are organisms that live in another host, much at the expense

of the host. They compete for the very nutrients that the host needs.

In this case, the human body. Over 100 common parasites are known and

the body can have more than one parasite at a time. Parasites excrete

waste products that are toxic to the body. Parasites are transmitted

via contamintated water or food, contact with infected animals or

humans via fecal-oral contact. Worldwide, parasites that cause

diarrhea are the greatest single cause of illness and death. Few know

the enormous adverse health problems and diseases that parasites

cause. Doctors only hear about a few of these cases because many

people with food poisoning think they have the stomach flu and don't

go to see a doctor. And I would like to stress this point, parasites

are no longer a disease of the lower class or third world countries.

They are here in the millions in developed countries.

 

Parasites multiply at an incredible rate. They lay thousands of eggs

in a day in the colon and major organs such as the liver, kidneys, and

even the heart. Parasites eat different diets in the body. Some thrive

on sugar or simple carbohydrates, while others thrive on protein. Some

actually get their food from the cells in the body. They attach

themselves to the cell and are more dangerous than those living in the

colon. Serious damage can be done to vital organs. They can remain in

the body twenty, even thirty years. Here is a case in point. A study

done in 1979 of 600 British former POWs from World War II found these

disturbing parasites in the POW's bodies. Thirty years later, 15

percent of these veterans were still infected with a parasite called,

Strongyloides during the war. Parasites are smart. They learn to adapt

to keep from being detected. All life wants to live and reproduce,

parasites are no different. So, they learn to adapt and mutate when

necessary.

 

COMMON PARASITES

 

In the United States the most common parasites other than head lice

are protozoa varieties that are transmitted by air, food, water,

insects, animals and people. Giardia lamblia, found in waters of

lakes, streams, wells and oceans is a common nightmare of traveler's

diarrhea. Keep in mind that most cities supply water via piping. These

pipes that carry the bulk of water from wells or rivers into cities

are anywhere from 50 to 100 years old. They have cracks in them where

parasites can enter. Entamoeba histolytica causes dysentery and injury

to the liver and lungs. Blastocytis hominis is linked to acute and

chronic illnesses. The parasite Dientamoeba fraglis causes diarreha,

abdominal pains, intense anal itching and loose stools. Intense anal

itching that comes and goes is a usually a definite sign that you have

parasites living in you. Cryptosporidium has become a significant

threat. There are parasitic worms, pinworms, roundworms and tapeworms

which usually are acquired from eating contaminated meat, however,

they can be acquired from water.

 

One study in 1995 was a parasitic nightmare. One West Coast town,

despite free worming treatments provided by a Department of Health

Clinic and improved sanitation in most of the homes, ( washing hands

frequently ), still had many parasitic infections. Whipworm in

preschool children increased seventy five percent. The study found the

ameba, Entamoeba histolytica. In another study at five primary schools

on the East Coast, sixty five percent of infected children had

roundworms with thirty nine percent having more than one parasite

living in them, Giardia lamblia was the other parasite. Children that

are kept in day care centers are at at serious risk if the day care

providers do not have health safety procedures in place. Toys,

equipment and tables at these centers should be washed daily with

disinfectants. Children at these centers need to be taught proper

hygiene of washing their hands after each bathroom visit. Children

have a nasty habit of sticking their hands in their mouth and

slobbering over things. This is how parasites are transmitted at these

centers. Menengitis, a terrible disease which can cause death can be

acquired at day care centers if the provider provide meals. Proper

sanitation of preparation of foods must be adhered to. I will discuss

correct preparation and washing of fruits and vegetables a little

later on in the column. An additonal problem is that parasites have

learned to mutate and become immune to some water treatment methods.

E-Coli has been reported to have mutated to where that the amount of

chlorine that is allowed by Federal EPA Regulations has no effect on

it. The same mutation has occurred with Giardia. That is why one hears

on the news at times that communities are having to boil their water.

Stronger dosages of chlorine exceeding EPA Regulations have to be used

to kill these critters. But only, after thousands, sometimes millions

of people have been infected.

 

Giardia lamblia a few decades ago was not considered a pathogen at

all. This is a very severe health implication. Today, it is the

leading cause of parasitic infection in the United States. It is

considered a serious pathogen. A pathogen is something that causes a

serious disease state in humans. Cryptoporidium was considered a

pathogen in animals only, now it is in humans. Just a couple of years

ago, Blastocytis hominis, ( along with other forms of yeast ) was not

considered a pathogen at all . Today it is frequently found in stool

samples and considered a deadly pathogen that can kill if left

untreated. These parasites can be carried around in the human body for

years without any adverse health symptoms other than an upset stomach

from time to time. During these months, years, these little critters

can be causing slow serious damage to the body and major organs. There

are those that have unexplained illnesses. Their doctors can't find

anything wrong with them. They are told their health problems are

stress related or their illness is in their mind, not a real illness.

Most likely though, it is parasitic infection. The doctor does not

even think that it could be a parasite. Parasitic infection can cause

one to gain weight because the person has to eat more to sustain both

himself and the parasite(s). Parasites build a mucus on the inside of

the colon wall that requires more and more food to be comsumed so the

body can try to acquire much needed nutrients. This mucus prevents the

person from absorbing much these needed nutrients to prevent other

diseases as well. Parasites consume large quantities of vitamins,

minerals and trace element minerals besides sugars and proteins. That

is why you need to take a good liquid mineral and trace element

supplement like Beres Drops® Plus to help prevent other health

problems. You can find out more about Beres Drops®, HERE. Yes, the

company does advertise on my site, but I use them myself.

 

Where Do Parasites Come From?

 

Parasites lives everywhere and are transmitted to humans in many ways.

Some transmission methods are, insect bites and walking barefoot

outside. Children should never be allowed to walk outside barefoot.

Eating under-cooked meats or fish. Even handling meats that you think

are safe. A recent investigative report in California conducted by a

major television station, found that the meat in grocery stores

contained several forms of bacteria and even parasites. This same

station investigated restaurants in the area and found similar

problems. Parasites are found on salads, raw fruits and vegetables.

According to the CDC, illnesses linked with fruits and vegetables are

on the rise. In California, a ten year old girl almost died from

eating contaminated lettuce in a salad at a restaurant. The reason for

this increase I believe is that people have become more health

conscious the last 5-7 years. People are eating more fruits and

vegetables. In case you do not know this, nearly one-fourth of the

produce sold in the U.S. comes from developing nations, Mexico for

one. In these countries and even in the United States, sanitation

facilities are poor. It is worse in developing countries. In addition,

the use of human feces as a fertilizer is still used in some of these

countries. Food handlers have been mentioned in the news lately

because of their role of spreading parasites. Here is the main

problem, I believe. You can believe this or not. A study has shown

that over 40 percent of humans do not wash their hands after going to

the bathroom, even at work. This is the spread of parasties via the

fecal-oral route. Parasites can enter the body through the mouth.

Sharing drinks, kissing, sexual contact, even inhaling dust that has

eggs or cysts in it. Contact with pets, mainly those that are allowed

to go outside and other animals are other sources. Some authorities

estimate that 55 million children in the United States have some type

of worm parasite.

 

Who In The Population Has Parasites?

 

You may not believe this also. One-half of the population carries at

least one form of parasite. Disturbing is that twenty five percent of

people with an active infection have symptoms. This could be as simple

as a continous upset stomach or irritable bowel syndrome. And you do

not have to travel to foreign countries to acquire parasites. In the

United States, the problem of parasitic infection has become a

nightmare. In the warmer humid climates, the infection rate exceeds

the rest of the country. One study found that one-third of people with

chronic fatigue that were tested, were found to be infected with

Giardia lamblia. Another study found one-half of people tested were

infected with Candiada albicans, which is yeast. A study at the

University of Virginia found that an ameba called, Entamoeba

histolytica produces a toxic subtance in the body that attacks the

very immune defense cells that INACTIVATE the HIV virus. Malaria

infects 300-600 million people and kills approximately 3 million a

year, 1 million a year in Africa alone. This has doubled in the last

ten years.

 

What Can Your Doctor Do?

 

Parasites or worms can be seen easily as they die off and pass through

the stools. Most parasites and worms however can only be detected

through microscopic means. If you go to a doctor without seeing any

parasites in the stools and still feel you may have them anyway, you

will probably be talking to someone who has had very little or no

training at all in diagnosing or treating parasitic infections. If you

go to your doctor with diarreha or fever, you will most likely receive

medication to stop the symptoms without finding the cause. People can

go for years with doctors running test after test, trying to find the

cause of their illness. People may even be hospitalized, but yet are

still sick. The problem is that no one thought that it could be a

parasite or worm causing the unexplained illness.

 

Testing for Parasites

 

Sadly, at the present time, many medical testing procedures for most

parasites are only positive twenty percent of the time. The reasons?

Poor laboratory standards, not enough stool samples, using the wrong

test or not even tests of the stool to catch the parasite in a phase

where it can be detected in the stools. Parasites excrete toxins that

can be detected in the stools. The problem? If one has one or more

parasites, these toxins may not be in the stools every day. The other

problem is that there are over 1,000 different parasites with only

about fifty tests available to detect fifty different parasites. There

are specialty parasite laboratories thought that have accurate methods

of detecting these parasites, but your doctor must use one of these labs.

 

Treating Parasites

 

What if you found that you have one or more parasites living in you?

Would your doctor know which medication to treat you with and how much

of it? Usually, there are only a few physicians, even in a large city

like New York that are familiar with parasites. There is different

medication for different parasites. There are some herbs available

like Wormwood oil to treat certain parasite. The minium adult dosage

is 15 ml. daily. Too much can cause headaches, trembling, stupor and

convulsions. This and other herbs should only be used under the care

of a Naturopathic Physician. It should not be given to children. There

are prescriptions medications that kill parasites like Flagyl for

Giardia, Metronidazole and Abendazole for other parasites. Again,

these should only be used under the care of a Physician. If there is

more than one parasite, it could take anywhere from several months to

a year to kill them all. These medications cannot be given all at once

because it could be harmful to the body. If you do not use the correct

medication and most importantly the duration, taking one to two pills

one to three times a week for several weeks off and on, because eggs

are still hatching, the parasites continue to live in the body. And

yes, one can become re-infected by any of the means previously explained.

 

Symptoms of Parasite Infection

 

No organ or human tissue is immune from parasite infection. Many

people with long term health problems have been told they have chronic

digestive problems, gas, constipation, skin rashes, pains in the

stomach area, fatigue and other vague symptoms such as joint pain just

to name a few. The problem is in many of these cases, there is a

parasite infection. Parasite infections contribute to a host of major

diseases. Allergies, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colotis, arthritis,

rheumatoid symptoms, chronic fatigue symptoms, irritable bowl

syndrome, Fibromylgia and AIDS. In one study, fifty precent of people

with irritable bowel syndrome were found to have intestinal parasites.

This percentage is even higher for those with chronic fatigue

syndrome. Any person with chronic gastrointestinal complaints such as

bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive gas, chronic

constipation, multiple allergies including food allergies, unexplained

fatigue should be tested for intestinal parasites. Can parasites cause

Cancer? Dr. Hulda Clark, PhD. N.D. who has a doctorate degree in

physioloogy and naturopathic medicine says that parasites can cause

significant disorders, not just mere symptons or signs of their

presence. Dr. Clark has stated that parasites may be the real cause of

Cancer because they trigger the immune system into an abormal attack

mode in the human body. She states, " it is the intestional fluke

parasite that is causing cancer " . She says if you kill this parasite,

the cancer stops immediately and the tissue and cells return to

normal. I wonder...how many cancer physicians test for parasite and

especially this one?

 

What Puts Us At Risk?

 

Animals can pass parasites on to humans. Children should not kiss or

be kissed or licked by pets. This is a very easy pathway for parasites

to enter the human body. Keep infants and toddlers away from pets that

have not been wormed. Hands should be washed after each and every

contact with a pet, otherwise one is putting self at serious risk. Am

I saying do away with loving pets? No! We all love our pets, but we

must be practical and wise also. I have two cats and love them dearly.

However, I am wise about their care. Animals that are strictly indoor

animals and that do not come into contact with the outdoors are a much

lesser risk, but still a risk. Animals that come and go from the

outdoors into the home pose a serious risk, especially to children.

Cats and dogs for example clean their anus with their tongues. If they

lick you, they are transfering parasites to your skin. If they lick

your face, it does not take long for the parasite to find its way into

your mouth and your intestine. One particular parasite, a roundworm

causes a disease called toxoplasmosis and is usually acquired from

cats. A small stratch from a cat or dog can also transmit the

parasite. Cats use a cat box. They are moving around feces and urine

that has been prior deposited in the cat box. This dirt that has

parasites. Cat boxes should be scooped daily and throughly bleached

and washed on a weekly basis. Make sure you use gloves, put two pair

on when doing this. Use HOT water with the bleach. If you do this is

in a bathtub, make sure you bleach and disinfect the bathtub

afterwards to kill any bacteria or parasites. Its' best to clean the

box outside. Mechanical cat boxes are a breeding ground for bacteria

and parasites because you cannot easily disinfect them. Dogs are no

different because they also lick their anus. If you have a pet that is

stratching its' behind on your carpet, you better get that pet to a

vet to get wormed. You should also steam clean, at least three times a

year, your carpet. Parasites can be transmitted to carpets from shoes

and animals. Never walk barefoot on carpet, especially near doors.

Cats should definitely be kept away from new borns and infants less

than three year olds. A parent that gets that sweet little kitty for

their one year old is playing Russian roulette with their child's

life. Parasites can exist on the fur as well. Indoor animals should be

bathed regularly just like animals, twice a month, at least! And if it

is an outdoor animal that comes indoors, do not let the animal lay on

furniture, you are only inviting health problems. You may think this

is taking things to an extreme, but believe me, these deadly little

parasites are on those dear loving pets of ours. If you own a cat,

keep in strictly indoors, never let it go outdoors. If you practice

these recommendations, you will find you will have less health

problems. Do not under any circumstance, give your pet raw meat of any

kind. You are providing the means for a parasite infection in the pet

which can easily be transmitted to humans, especially children. Do not

let your children play in areas where animals have defecated without

spraying the area with bleach. Animal feces should be picked up using

a shovel daily and gloves should always be worn and hands washed

throughly after any yard work. Wear a air filter mask while you do

this if they area is dusty. The dust you breathe in will contain

parasites. By the way, any garden work, always wear gloves. There are

over 100 different parasites in soil that can be transmitted from the

soil. Never work in soil if you have a cut on your hands. The little

critters will get into your bloodstream via the cut. Do not flush cat

box liter down the toliet. The parasites can cling to the bowl and

crawl up to the seat. Once on the seat, they find their way into you.

If you see rice like particles coming out in animal feces, they have

worms or parasites. Fleas are carriers of tapeworms. Recently a woman

in New Jersey had severe lower colon pains and severe blaoting. This

went on for several months. She had two dogs in her house that she let

outside every day. Several months after trying to cope with the colon

pains, she then developed rashes and itching. Nine months later, they

found through exploratory surgery, a large 3 and 1/2 foot tape worm

inside her and several smaller ones. Upon investigation at her house,

fleas were found in the carpet. Do not walk barefoot around animals

unless they are strictly an indoor animal.

 

Laboratories That Specialize in Parasite Testing

Most of these labs offer comprehensive parasitic testing

 

The Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory

18A Regent Park Boulevard

Ashville, North Carolina 28806

800-522-4762

 

The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning

3100 North HIllside Ave.

Wichita, Kansas 67219

800-447-7276

 

Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

3250 Westchester Ave.

Bronx, New York 10461

212-828-1500

 

Institute of Parasitic Diseases

Diagnostic Laboratory

3530 E. Indian School Road, Suite 3

Phoenix, Arizona 85018

602-955-4211

 

The Director at the Institute of Parasitic Diseases is Dr. Omar M.

Amin, Ph.D. He was a Professor of Parasitic Epidemiology at the

University of Wisconsin and currently is Professor of Parasitology at

Arizona State University and have over 100 major articles published in

journals in human parasitic infection.

 

Physicians Referral Service

 

If your regular physician is not familar with parasitic infection, you

can find one possibly in you area by calling the American Association

of Naturopathic Medicine. You physician can also acquire some drugs

from the CDC to fight parasites. The National Institute of Allergy and

Infectcious Dieases has available to your physician some of the drugs

used to treat parasitic infection. Contact them at 800-537-9978.

 

American Association of Naturopathic Medicine

601 Valley Street - Suite 105

Seattle, WA 98109

Phone 206-298-0126, Fax 206-298-0125

 

Your Drinking Water

 

Our drinking water has become less safe. That bottled water you think

is safe may be loaded with parasites. There are many methods for water

purificatiom. First, there is what is called a simple carbon filter

and then there is what is called a carbon block filter. Many filtering

plants use the least costly carbon filter. However, the carbon block

filter removes most bacteria where the first one does not. It also

removes most organic material and chemicals and most heavy metals. And

if the filter is not replaced often enough, it builds up toxic matter

and guess where it goes. Straight into the very water you will be

drinking.

 

Distillation, not a wise choice either. Problem is that organic

chemicals boil at lower temperature than water. After the water cools

and, recondenses, the organic chemicals remain. Solve this problem

with a fractional distilling system and double boil. Keep in mind that

distilling removes all minerals and will cause you other health

problems by not getting enough minerals and trace element minerals. If

you use this method, you should take a mineral and trace element

supplement like liquid Beres Drops® Plus. You can read more about

these Here. Let me point out, regardless of what type of bottled water

you get, much of the minerals and trace element minerals have been

removed. Water, or I should say natural pure water without being put

through water purification methods, ( but that is not around any

more), is where we get most of our minerals and especially trace

element minerals. So, one needs to take a mineral and trace element

supplement. Yes, the company advertises on my site, but I use the

drops myself.

 

Reverse Osmosis method is a good system if the filters are changed

regularly. It can use up to six gallons to produce one gallon of good

drinking water. It forces water through a semi-permeable plastic

membrane and then through a carbon block filter, ( if the bottling

plant uses the more expensive filter ). There have been reports that

the Cryptosporidium parasite has been detected in water that has been

through Reverse Osmosis. The reason, the parasite has mutated and

grown smaller, adapting to its' environment. Because of this, the

utilization of ozone light is now being used by water plants, but not

all water plants. The water is passed through a tube that has ozone

light running through it. Ozone kills 100% all bacteria, parasites,

etc. Ask and make sure the water company you are getting your bottled

water from uses the ozone light method along with Reverse Osmosis.

 

Another method, do as my grandmother did. She boiled all water for

twenty minutes that was used for cooking or drank. In her later years,

she had these huge five gallon plastic bottles that she would pour the

water into after it had been boiled. My grandmother lived to be a

healthy 94 with little health problems.

 

Cleaning Your Foods - Fruits & Vegetables

 

You don't know how many people and especially who has handled those

beautiful fruits and vegetables that are so healthy for the body. And

to be blunt, you don't know if that migrant field picker who picked

those fruits or vegetables had to use the bathroom in the field and

then had to continue to harvest produce without having the means to

wash his hands with soap. You don't know where they have been stored,

in warehouses that may have had mice or rats before they arrived at

the grocery store. So, it is very prudent, immediately when you get

home from the grocery store and before you place them in the

refrigerator, that you throughly wash them. Even potatoes. A good on

the market cleaning solution which is made of citric acids and which

kills some bacteria and parasites is FIT. For this next solution,

you'll have to purchase an eye dropper. I am not am advocate of using

cholrine because of its' links to causing cancer, however because of

the more serious health risk of parasites, use 2 drops of chlorine

bleach and 1/8 th cup of apple cider vinegar to every gallon of water

to wash your vegetables or fruits. It will kill the remaining bacteria

and parasites. Please make sure you throughly wash any type of

lettuce. I wash all my vegetables with both solutions. And you must

have a water filter on your sink faucet. It will do no good to use a

solution if you are going to be putting your vegetables and fruits

back under water that is not purified to rinse. PUR ULTIMATE PLUS is

one sink water filter that captures all bacteria and parasites

including Cryptosporidium. Make sure you get the ULTIMATE PLUS Model.

Avoid ice cubes that are made from unfiltered water. Also purchase a

small Doobie pot scrubber. There little scrubbers are wonderful on

potatoes. Throughly wash every fruit and vegetable, even the ones that

you will eventually peel. And do this BEFORE you place them in your

refrigerator. Some of these little critters love the cold and you'll

just contaminate your refrigerator if you don't wash before. You

should not handle them as you peel them without washing them first

also. The parasites will migrate off the skin to the meat of the fruit

or vegetable, cross-contamination. After washing, store them in the

refrigerator. And before actually using them, rinse them off again

with your water filter on your faucet. You may think this is

ridiculous, but believe me, you will have a much healthier colon and

stomach. Cook all meats throughly. Microwave cooking frequently

undercooks fish and meats. The larvae of parasites survive and enter

the intestinal tract.