Parasites are another major player in poor health and often overlooked by health care professionals. The definition of a parasite is:
“An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host.”
In some underdeveloped countries, human parasite infections are epidemic, sickening and killing thousands upon thousands of people each year. In America, parasitic infections are not as widespread, but these infections are on the rise for various reasons.
*People bring parasites with them when they immigrate to the U.S.
*Soldiers often return to the U.S. bringing parasites with them from overseas.
*Our way of life often contributes to the spread of parasites.
*A large percentage of children contract parasites from their day care centers.
*Children and adults with dogs and cats at home are at risk for getting parasites.
*Eating at restaurants brings a higher risk because food handlers have been known to spread parasites.
*Climate change is allowing parasites to survive in areas where they would normally be killed off in winter, allowing them to move north into areas where they previously did not flourish.
It is estimated that about 50% of the U.S. population is infected with at least one type of parasite. Not all these people have symptoms; only about 25% of these individuals have active infections that are producing symptoms. Certain parts of the United States have a higher incidence of human parasite infections.
This is true for areas that tend to be warmer and more humid. Also, some occupations put people at a higher risk of infection. These include electrical workers, plumbers, animal handlers, soldiers who travel abroad, gardeners, and sanitation workers.
Some of the ways people can acquire parasites:
*insect bites
*animal feces
*walking barefoot
*handling raw meat and fish
*eating raw or undercooked pork, beef or fish
*handling soiled litter pans (cats)
*eating contaminated raw fruits and vegetables
*eating meals prepared by infected food handlers
*drinking contaminated water
*having contact with infected persons (including sexual contact, kissing, and shaking hands)
*inhaling contaminated dust (parasitic eggs or cysts)
Side Effects of having Parasites in Your System
Unexplained fatigue, sluggish elimination, irritated skin, allergies, or low-grade infections, bags under the eyes, a distended stomach even if the rest of your body is thin, menstrual difficulties, or mental confusion.
© Copyright – Hector Sectzer
