Travel Alert: Parasite Prevention You Must Do

June 24, 2016
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Follow these tips to bring home only memories.

Your “healthy” sunscreen is packed. CHECK! Your wide brimmed hat is in the bag. CHECK! Even healthy snacks are now part of your travel accompaniments. But there’s one thing I bet will be forgotten on far too many of the approximately 1.7 billions trips  taken this year.

No matter where your travels may lead you (even here in the USA) you need to be proactive when it comes to uninvited guests—parasites, that is! These can lurk in the most pristine water, in ice cubes (absolutely none in drinks, please), fresh water lakes, and on those white silver sands.

How exactly do they make their way into your body? I hate to tell you that it’s easier than you’d think. I bet you’re quite aware that it’s imperative to be cautious of your diet during international travel. Parasites can lurk in all sorts of food and drink. Plus, the local population might not even be aware because they’ve developed an immunity—but you have not.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re safe in certain places because you can be anywhere and come in contact with parasites—such as dining at a trendy sushi restaurant, consuming undercooked meat at a steak house, or a drinking out of a glass that wasn’t properly washed.

Seemingly Innocent Sources

But it doesn’t end at dietary. You can pick up parasites simply by taking a dip in a local body of water or even unwittingly walking through scat of some sort. I recently became privy to the story of a man who had what his doctor originally thought was a varicose vein in his foot. Upon noticing that the location of this vein was moving, they discovered that it was actually a parasite living inside his foot that he’d picked up during a recent trip!

Whether you’re in a remote jungle or you’re walking along the beach, ensure that you’re wearing the proper footwear to prevent coming in direct contact with sneaky parasites.

Along these lines, a recent study of the brain tissue of deceased patients who’d suffered from neurological conditions found that 19 of those studies contained three Borrelia pathogens—including the one known to cause Lyme Disease. This is another discovery in the growing body of research showing a strong connection between untreated parasitic infections and Lyme Disease. Many believe that they picked up this frustrating the debilitating illness from horseback riding, time spent in the woods, and most certainly, excursions while on vacation.

To make matters worse, symptoms often don’t immediately appear, so you could be settled in back home before while the parasites have been silently multiplying and preparing for attack, unbeknown to you.

Parasitic Problem

If a selection of these symptoms has recently popped up (or have been plaguing you for some time), there might be an issue.

• Anxiety, nervousness and depression
• Frequent infections including yeast infections and colds
• Nagging cravings for sweets
• Intestinal issues like intermittent constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas
• Joint or muscle pain
• Difficulty sleeping or nighttime teeth grinding
• Fatigue that won’t let up
• Dark circles around or under the eyes
• Acne, eczema, hives, rashes or other skin conditions
• Sensory disorders such as vertigo, brain fog or poor coordination

Prepare Before You Pack

So, what can you do?

While you’re on your trip, you can—and should—be very aware of what you eat. Research restaurants, stay away from street vendors, be cautious of pre-cut fruits and veggies that could have been washed in contaminated water, and avoid undercooked meat, fish, dairy, and cold topping and condiments.

You can take it a big step further by prepping your body prior to your travels. My mentor Dr. Hazel Parcells (who lived to be 106!) was a huge believer in detox baths—and so am I. The idea behind these baths is that they supercharge your immunity by balancing your cellular pH level, creating an undesirable environment for parasitic invaders.

Please do try this bath once or twice a week during the time leading up to your trip, as well as after your return.

1. Run a tub to the hottest temperature you can manage. Dissolve 1 pound of salt (like Kosher salt) and 1 pound of baking soda in the water, and begin to soak.
2. Sip a glass of warm water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda for internal pH balance.
3. Get out of the bath when the water is cool. Don’t shower for at least four hours.

Home Sweet Home

I can’t encourage you enough to be proactive in doing a parasite cleanse every six months—especially before, during, and/or after any vacation. My Colon Cleansing Kit is a three-part system specially developed to target any and all invaders that’s perfect to pack with you on any trip.

Para-Key works to eliminate smaller microorganisms and intestinal waste in the GI tract.
Verma-Plus helps release “hooks and suckers, larger critters, and common pinworms.
Flora-Key strengthens the good bacteria in your gut, boasting 10 billion beneficial bacteria per serving.

By no means should you cancel travel plans or let potential parasites take the fun out of traveling. Simply take proactive steps to prepare prior to a trip, be conscious during, and thoroughly detox after you return home.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

6 Comments

  1. Susie

    Would changing your ph with detox baths help with bacterial infections like SIBO? There are so many people suffering from this destructive infection I hope you may have some answers as
    to how to overcome SIBO.

    Thank you, Susie

    Reply
  2. Team ALG

    Hi there : The only remedies for SIBO are HCL as well as a natural antibiotic like grapefruit seed extract – both if which also help prevent and treat certain types of parasites .

    Reply
  3. Debbie

    Would epsom salts be OK to use, or is kosher salt better?

    Reply
  4. Team ALG

    Kosher or sea salt is better for our purposes here.

    Reply
  5. Joann

    What is HCL?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      It is hydrochloric acid which is naturally produced by your stomach to digest protein.

      Reply

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