Worms and Parasites Infecting Us

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Worms and Parasites? How Probiotics Might be the Answer!

Eighty percent of the immune system can be found within your digestive system.  What would happen if this integral part of your body was invaded by harmful parasites that were invisible to the naked eye?

Intestinal worms and parasites are not just for poor, underdeveloped countries.  In fact, anyone who has eaten raw or poorly cooked meat, doesn’t practice proper hygiene, or has regular contact with pets, can contract, or probably already has, the harmful little intruders.

More than 25 percent of the American population has some form of parasitic infection, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that up to 95 percent of the world’s population is infected.  Fortunately,  taking powerful probiotics might be all you need to get your immune and digestive systems back on track.

Pesky Parasites
There are two main types of parasites: helminthes, and protozoa.  Helminth parasites are the really ugly-looking worms you may have seen pictures of, and these include pinworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.  The most common way to get these worms is by eating raw or uncooked meat, or by touching infected objects or animals, such as pets.

The other type of parasite, protozoa, is made up of only one cell.  What makes this one so dangerous, however, is that it reproduces freely within your bodily systems, where it can spread, cause infections, and wreak havoc in any part of your body.  However, its favorite spot is usually in the intestinal tract.

Symptoms of a parasitic infection are varied.  They can include eye inflammation, dysentery, diarrhea, abdominal pain, enlargement of the liver, nausea, blindness, fever, bloody stools, and weight loss. Sometimes you’re even able to see the actual worms in your stool!

The Research Is In
As mentioned earlier, probiotics can be a very effective weapon to use against parasites and intestinal worms.  Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that eliminate parasites and help restore the natural balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in your system.

One study, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, showed that probiotics provided an effective counter-attack on the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This particular parasite is often passed to humans via infected cat feces; and it is estimated that over 30 percent of the population carries this parasite.  That’s quite a significant number!  While this type of infection may not be serious for those who are otherwise healthy, it can pose danger for those with compromised immune systems, as well as for pregnant women (and their unborn babies).

This particular study also suggested that not only do probiotics appear to “increase the immune response to these foreign pathogens, but they also have an anti-inflammatory effect which helps to stabilize the overall gut environment.”

Added Benefits of Probiotics
In addition to fighting off an array of parasites and intestinal worms, probiotics go to work on your entire digestive process.  A majority of our immune cells are in our intestinal tract; so powerful probiotics can assist in clearing out viruses, toxins, and various viscous bacteria, which promote illness.  Many people get relief from constipation, gas, diarrhea, bloating, and other digestive issues.  After just a short period of a probiotic regimen, control groups reported increased energy, lessened allergies, resistance to colds, and even more radiant skin!

How Can You Get Probiotics?
You can ingest good bacteria naturally by eating fermented foods such as yogurt, miso, and sauerkraut, but having a parasitic infection for too long can lead to damaged stomach and intestinal lining.  When you need a strong boost of probiotics and you are getting tired of eating yogurt, supplements are a great option.  Some supplements, such as Bactium, contain more than one type of “good” bacteria to better fight against the infections; while other supplements only contain one type of probiotic.

Regardless of which option you choose, you should start seeing positive results within the first few days of starting your probiotic regimen.  The thought of having intestinal worms or parasites can make anyone queasy, but the fact is that many of us already have some sort of infection at this very moment;  And it may be contributing to diseases, lack of energy, digestive issues, or health ailments in ways we couldn’t begin to imagine.

By avoiding sugary foods and choosing fibrous or probiotic foods, and supplementing with beneficial bacteria, you can thoroughly cleanse your system the right way and fight dangerous infections before they get out of hand.