We all hear about how we should worm our children but have you thought really what this means and how these parasites can affect your health and your children’s health. Parasites are organisms that live inside humans and other organisms who act as a host. Parasites require a host for food and energy. They are harmful to humans because they consume our nutrients and can eat away our tissues and cells and increase the toxic load to our system, making people sick. Some parasite infections produce mild symptoms, while other parasitic infections can be life threatening.
Worms are a parasite that feed in the intestinal tract but some can migrate out of the intestinal tract and migrate to other tissues such as the brain.
Sources of infection can come from insect bites, snail and slug trails, animal faeces, eating undercooked meats, chicken and seafood, contaminated raw fruits and vegetables, contaminated water, eating foods prepared by people who are already infected or inhaling dust that contains parasitic eggs or cysts.
Factors that increase your risk of parasitic infection include an underactive immune system weakened by disease or long term exposure to toxic chemicals and environmental pollution, alcohol overuse, smoking, chronic stress, food allergies, recurrent antibiotic use, and diets that are high in sugar.
At Gold Coast Integrative Wellness we assist you with a bowel detoxification to help eliminate parasites and improve the health and integrity of your intestines. Nutrition and herbal remedies can help to balance the immune system and promote bowel function.
