Jodi Tuttle | 🧬 👁️ 🧘 💪 🏈⚡

PARASITES 101 - the hidden infections that can disrupt your gut, brain & immune system: From bloating and fatigue to nutrient deficiencies and brain fog - here's what you need to know about parasites. SIGNS OF PARASITES: ◈ Bloating, gas & digestive problems ◈ Constipation or diarrhea ◈ Undigested food in stool ◈ Brain fog, anxiety & irritability ◈ Fatigue & iron-deficiency anemia ◈ Unexplained weight loss ◈ Nutrient deficiencies despite eating well ◈ Food sensitivities or histamine-related symptoms ◈ Skin rashes, itching or muscle pain ◈ Frequent infections These symptoms are nonspecific and can have many causes. But, they are common symptoms of having a parasite. More suggestive clues include anal itching, visible worms, or symptoms after travel or exposure to contaminated food or water. HOW YOU GET EXPOSED: ◈ Contaminated water ◈ Food contaminated with feces ◈ Unwashed produce ◈ Soil exposure ◈ Undercooked meat or seafood ◈ Contact with infected animals or contaminated environments Parasites include two major groups: ◈ Helminths - parasitic worms, including roundworms, whipworms and hookworms ◈ Protozoa - microscopic parasites, including Giardia and Entamoeba HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR HEALTH: ◈ Disrupt the gut microbiome ◈ Trigger intestinal inflammation ◈ Damage the gut lining in certain infections ◈ Interfere with nutrient absorption ◈ Contribute to iron deficiency and anemia ◈ Trigger immune responses that can affect other tissues Some infections can also cause systemic symptoms, depending on the organism and where it spreads. The question is, what makes one person susceptible to actually getting infected? One of the most important things is ensuring your physical barriers are set up for success, mainly your: ➠ Gut ➠ Skin ➠ Urethral / vaginal If these are impaired, parasites have free reign to enter your body and cause issues. Some important factors for maintaining it: ◈ Zinc, vitamins A & D - support normal immune function and epithelial integrity ◈ Vitamin C - supports collagen synthesis ◈ Butyrate - helps maintain intestinal barrier function ◈ Adequate protein and amino acids - support tissue maintenance ◈ Healthy gut microbes - contribute to colonization resistance IMMUNE FUNCTION: ◈ Adequate nutrition supports normal immune defenses ◈ Thyroid hormones influence multiple aspects of immune function ◈ Chronic illness and immune suppression can increase susceptibility to certain infections CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: ◈ Maintain consistent sleep and wake times ◈ Get bright outdoor light in the morning ◈ Keep meal timing relatively consistent ◈ Prioritize adequate sleep Immune activity varies throughout the day, but circadian disruption alone does not establish that someone has a parasitic infection. TESTING FOR PARASITES: ◈ Ova & parasite testing - gold standard, examines stool for parasite eggs and organisms ◈ Antigen testing - detects proteins from specific parasites ◈ PCR testing - identifies parasite genetic material ◈ Blood tests - eosinophils may be elevated While panels of multiple exist, each type of parasite has a test that identifies it best. Natural tools: ◈ Wormwood ➞ Roundworms, flukes ◈ Garlic (allicin) ➞ Giardia, Trichomonas ◈ Coconut oil ➞ Suffocates lice and mites ◈ Oregano oil ➞ Giardia, Cryptosporidium ◈ Neem ➞ Plasmodium, Giardia ◈ Artemisinin ➞ Malaria, Babesia ◈ Clove ➞ Entamoeba, Trichomonas ◈ Curcumin ➞ Plasmodium, Leishmania ◈ Berberine ➞ Giardia, Entamoeba, Plasmodium ◈ Olive leaf ➞ Giardia, general protozoa ◈ Black walnut hull ➞ Tapeworms, nematodes ◈ Clove (egg stage) ➞ Broad antiparasitic ◈ Pumpkin seeds ➞ Tapeworms, roundworms ◈ Papaya seeds ➞ Roundworms, hookworms ◈ Thyme / Thymol ➞ Nematodes ◈ Myrrh ➞ Schistosoma, Fasciola ◈ Neem oil ➞ Lice, mites, fleas ◈ Tea tree oil ➞ Lice, scabies, mites ◈ Lavender oil ➞ Lice, fleas ◈ Clove oil ➞ Lice, scabies Pharma: ◈ Albendazole ➞ Roundworms, tapeworms (Echinococcus), flukes, some microsporidia ◈ Mebendazole ➞ Roundworms, pinworms, hookworms ◈ Ivermectin ➞ Strongyloides, roundworms, scabies, lice ◈ Pyrantel pamoate ➞ Pinworms, roundworms ◈ Praziquantel ➞ Tapeworms, most flukes, Schistosoma ◈ Niclosamide ➞ Tapeworms ◈ Triclabendazole ➞ Fasciola liver flukes ◈ Metronidazole ➞ Giardia, Entamoeba ◈ Nitazoxanide ➞ Giardia, Cryptosporidium ◈ Paromomycin ➞ Intestinal Entamoeba ◈ Pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine ➞ Toxoplasma ◈ Liposomal amphotericin B ➞ Leishmania ◈ Nifurtimox ➞ Trypanosoma ◈ Benznidazole ➞ Trypanosoma cruzi ◈ Melarsoprol ➞ Late-stage Trypanosoma brucei ◈ Artemisinin ➞ Malaria ◈ Chloroquine ➞ Malaria (susceptible strains) ◈ Atovaquone ➞ Malaria, Babesia ◈ Doxycycline ➞ Malaria (combination regimens), some Babesia regimens ◈ Mefloquine ➞ Malaria ◈ Quinine ➞ Malaria, Babesia (combination therapy) ◈ Azithromycin + atovaquone ➞ Babesia ◈ Albendazole ➞ Most microsporidia ◈ Permethrin ➞ Scabies, lice ◈ Malathion ➞ Lice ◈ Benzyl benzoate ➞ Scabies These are the basics, but if you want to get a personalized approach from a team with experience, just click the link in my bio, we can get you set up.