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Conditions
Conditions

Parasites

Having a parasite can be a scary thought, but parasites are far more common than you think. Parasites can cause a myriad of symptoms, only a few of which are actually digestive in nature.

frequently asked
questions

What is a parasite?

A parasite is any organism that lives and feeds off of another organism. When we refer to intestinal parasites, we are referring to tiny organisms, usually, worms that feed off your nutrition.

Some examples of parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, whipworms, hookworms, and more. Because parasites come in so many different shapes and sizes, they can cause a very wide range of problems. Some consume your food, leaving you hungry after every meal and unable to gain weight. Others feed on your red blood cells, causing anaemia. Some lay eggs that can cause itching, irritability, and even insomnia. If you have tried countless approaches to healing your gut and relieve your symptoms without any success, a parasite could be the underlying cause for many of your unexplained and unresolved symptoms.

How do you get parasites?

First, parasites can enter your body through contaminated food and water. Undercooked meat is a common place for parasites to hide, as well as contaminated water from underdeveloped countries, lakes, ponds, or creeks. However, meat is the not the only culprit. Unclean or contaminated fruits and vegetables can also harbour parasites. Some parasites can even enter the body by travelling through the bottom of your foot.

Once a person is infected with a parasite, it's very easy to pass it along. If you have a parasite and don't wash your hands after using the restroom, you can easily pass microscopic parasite eggs onto anything you touch — the door handle, the salt shaker, your phone, or anyone you touch. It's also very easy to contract a parasite when handling animals. Hand washing is a major opportunity to prevent parasite contamination and transmission. Travelling overseas is another way that foreign parasites can be introduced to your system. If you consumed any contaminated water during your travels, you may have acquired a parasite of some kind.

10 Signs or Symptoms which may indicate that you have a Parasite:
  1. You have unexplained constipation, diarrhoea, gas, or other symptoms of IBS
  2. You travelled internationally and remember getting traveller’s diarrhoea while abroad
  3. You have a history of food poisoning and your digestion has not been the same since.
  4. You have trouble falling asleep, or you wake up multiple times during the night.
  5. You get skin irritations or unexplained rashes, hives, rosacea or eczema.
  6. You grind your teeth in your sleep.
  7. You have pain or aching in your muscles or joints.
  8. You experience fatigue, exhaustion, depression, or frequent feelings of apathy.
  9. You never feel satisfied or full after your meals.
  10. You've been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.

The signs of a parasite can often appear unrelated and unexplained. There are MANY different types of parasites that we are exposed to in our environments.

Frequently asked questions

What is a parasite?

A parasite is any organism that lives and feeds off of another organism. When we refer to intestinal parasites, we are referring to tiny organisms, usually, worms that feed off your nutrition.

Some examples of parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, whipworms, hookworms, and more. Because parasites come in so many different shapes and sizes, they can cause a very wide range of problems. Some consume your food, leaving you hungry after every meal and unable to gain weight. Others feed on your red blood cells, causing anaemia. Some lay eggs that can cause itching, irritability, and even insomnia. If you have tried countless approaches to healing your gut and relieve your symptoms without any success, a parasite could be the underlying cause for many of your unexplained and unresolved symptoms.

How do you get parasites?

First, parasites can enter your body through contaminated food and water. Undercooked meat is a common place for parasites to hide, as well as contaminated water from underdeveloped countries, lakes, ponds, or creeks. However, meat is the not the only culprit. Unclean or contaminated fruits and vegetables can also harbour parasites. Some parasites can even enter the body by travelling through the bottom of your foot.

Once a person is infected with a parasite, it's very easy to pass it along. If you have a parasite and don't wash your hands after using the restroom, you can easily pass microscopic parasite eggs onto anything you touch — the door handle, the salt shaker, your phone, or anyone you touch. It's also very easy to contract a parasite when handling animals. Hand washing is a major opportunity to prevent parasite contamination and transmission. Travelling overseas is another way that foreign parasites can be introduced to your system. If you consumed any contaminated water during your travels, you may have acquired a parasite of some kind.

10 Signs or Symptoms which may indicate that you have a Parasite:
  1. You have unexplained constipation, diarrhoea, gas, or other symptoms of IBS
  2. You travelled internationally and remember getting traveller’s diarrhoea while abroad
  3. You have a history of food poisoning and your digestion has not been the same since.
  4. You have trouble falling asleep, or you wake up multiple times during the night.
  5. You get skin irritations or unexplained rashes, hives, rosacea or eczema.
  6. You grind your teeth in your sleep.
  7. You have pain or aching in your muscles or joints.
  8. You experience fatigue, exhaustion, depression, or frequent feelings of apathy.
  9. You never feel satisfied or full after your meals.
  10. You've been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.

The signs of a parasite can often appear unrelated and unexplained. There are MANY different types of parasites that we are exposed to in our environments.