Are Parasites Making You Fat and Tired?

May 14, 2018
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

The epidemic that can trigger weight gain, hinder digestion and zap energy.

Over 20 years ago, the Chief of Pathobiology at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Peter Weina, PhD, FACP, told me, “we have a tremendous parasite problem right here in the United States—it’s just not being identified.”

And that assertion couldn’t be truer today. A focus of my work since my book Guess What Came to Dinner? Parasites and Your Health came out in 1991, most people still dismiss parasites as a third-world concern. But, a study in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that 32% of a nationally representative sample of 2,896 people tested positive for parasitic infections, and at least 48 states have fought measurable outbreaks.

It’s time that this epidemic finally be brought into focus. Increased international travel and immigration, polluted soil and water, exotic foods from all over the world, inadequate hygiene (particularly in daycare and senior centers), as well as far-flung deployments for our armed forces all contribute to the spread of parasites. And this increased exposure just may be making us fat.

Researchers at Penn State in 2006 showed for the first time that metabolic syndrome and its major symptom, obesity and insulin resistance are not unique to humans, but can be induced by a protozoan intestinal infection. In the study, dragonflies that were infected with gut parasites, exhibited similar characteristics of human metabolic syndrome. The dragonflies developed problems with accumulation of fat, elevated blood levels of carbohydrates that did not respond normally to insulin, and had signs of systemic inflammation—all factors contributing to the obesity epidemic currently affecting millions of Americans.

If you’ve tried everything to lose weight to no avail, this study may offer the explanation you’ve been looking for. And, that’s not all. Parasites are also responsible for an enormous panorama of human health problems. Within our bodies, these critters consume our food and nutrients, producing toxic wastes, and eventually even destroying our tissues and cells. Essentially, parasites can make us very sick!

As I’ve explained to clients for decades, there are numerous warning signs including:

  • Food and environmental allergies (parasites irritate and sometimes perforate the intestinal lining, increasing bowel permeability to large undigested molecules and activating the body’s immune response, causing allergic reactions)
  • Anemia (if enough parasites are present, you can lose enough blood to cause iron deficiency or anemia)
  • Constipation (some worms, because of their shape and size, can block the bile duct and intestinal tract, making elimination difficult and infrequent)
  • Gas and bloating (some parasites live in the upper small intestine, making persistent abdominal distention a frequent sign of uninvited guests)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (parasites can inflame the intestinal cell wall, leading to various GI symptoms and malabsorption of vital nutrients)
  • Joint and muscle aches/pains (some parasites can migrate and encyst in joint fluids and muscles, leading to chronic inflammation)
  • Skin conditions (parasites can cause allergic skin reactions: eczema, hives, rashes, sores)
  • Inability to lose or gain weight
  • Plus, overall fatigue, dark circles under the eyes, and grinding of the teeth

 

If a few of these signs sound familiar, it may be high time for a cleanse.

Watch this video for my favorite anti-parasitic foods, herbs and spices:

Cleanse Parasites Naturally – the program that’s helped my clients lose as much as 10 lbs in 1 week!
Research shows that natural ingredients—black walnut, bromelain, butternut, cranberry, pomegranate, grapefruit seed, cloves, slippery elm, wormwood—can help combat parasites and other pathogens.

Based on over 40 years of combined experience and research with thousands of people, My Colon Cleansing Kit uses these ingredients to offer one of the most advanced, but safe and gentle, internal cleansing methods available today.

It contains three products to target accumulated waste, organisms, and toxins —Verma-Plus, a liquid formula containing herbs used by Native Americans for centuries to help clear the body of worms; Para-Key, capsules containing the most gentle yet effective botanicals to help eliminate microscopic organisms like protozoa; and Flora-Key, a 5-strain probiotic formula to recolonize the GI tract with beneficial bacteria to crowd out pathogens.

Used according to directions, this kit helps to eliminate parasites while promoting healthy digestion and immunity. If you still have bloating and gas after the first 30 days, then consider another round of the program. Most people clear their systems in 60 to 90 days. Children who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds can take half the adult dosage in the Para-Key and Verma-Plus components for effective results.

Read testimonials with weight loss results here!

For a more definite diagnosis…
If you or anyone in your family shows signs of parasites (and your health care practitioner lacks experience with these kinds of infections), you may want to consider the Parasite Flexi-Test which allows you to collect saliva and stool samples in the privacy of your own home.  After the lab analyzes your samples, my office reviews your results, and you’ll receive personalized recommendations for diet, lifestyle and supplementation changes. If you have any questions about testing, call UNI KEY customer service at 800-888-4353.

Since writing Guess What Came to Dinner?, I’ve successfully counseled countless clients on effective ways to discover and eliminate these pests—or better yet, to prevent them in the first place. I hope you’ll find these tools helpful to preserve and protect your system for a very long time!

Guess What Came To Dinner book
Are you having difficulty shaking an illness? Have you been feeling chronically tired and listless? Do you have a health problem your doctor can’t identify? The cause may be parasites in your body. If you think that parasitic diseases happen only to people in Third World Countries, think again. The rate of parasite-related disorders in North American is skyrocketing.

– Click Book to purchase –

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!

46 Comments

  1. Adela Lubbers

    Is flaxseed oil bad for men with prostate cancer history in the family?

    Reply
    • liz

      Actually the lignan’s in high lignan flax oil can help prevent prostate cancer.

      Reply
    • Lisette Callis

      no. ground flaxseed with ground clove is a parasitic cleanse.. flax seed with cottage cheese is part of the budwig protocol to treat cancer.

      Reply
  2. Shirl

    I would never use clorox on food! Vinegar works great and is much safer.

    Reply
    • Sierra

      Vinegar does work quite well also.

      Reply
    • Lisette Callis

      Im wondering if you diluted sodium percarbonate enough? I know you can use it for cleaning.. but not sure if it is safe on food.. ACV contains parasites!

      Reply
  3. Celia

    I am concerned about having a parasite infection. I spent 10 years working in a veterinary clinic – handling all kinds of animals everyday. I have all the symptoms you speak about, including the food sensitivities and allergies. My problem is, I am very allergic to garlic and cranberry – two of the foods you recommend for treatment. Will eating the pumpkin seeds and using the herbs be enough to help me?

    Reply
    • Sierra

      Hi Celia, I think the pumpkin seeds would be a great place to start. You should also consider the Standard Process Zymex II, available through UNI KEY. A hydrochloric acid support may also be helpful.

      Reply
    • Heath Johnson

      Get a stool sample and get treated for parasites and h Pylori

      Reply
    • Kim

      Actually there is a ton of ppl treating cancer with the pet dewormer Fenbendasole. It was developed by Joe Tippens. For some it works like a miracle. But for some not at all. You can use it along with chemo and radiation. It was a vet that actually told Joe Tippens about it when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It stops sugar from attaching to cancer cells like it does to worms/parasites starving them and they die. Joe Tippens and many others sent to palative care have destroyed the cancer. There must be real connections to parasites and disease.

      Reply
  4. jackie

    If you are an adult you may very well have a prenatal infection of parasites as old as you are! They have years of a head start on infecting your entire body. My husband and I have been working on ridding ourselves of them for 7 years now. Our standard process practiioner says we are winning, but it is not a matter of a few short months. Anything you do will help, but keep on going. After trying a good product rotate after say a month or so to another kind of product (because the parasites get used to them and they become less effective,) Fenbendazole used in pet deworming works really well to up your cleanse to another level–do it at least once and again two weeks later dozing yourself like you were a cat or dog,but for your weight, and do it a couple times a year as you continue your herbal dewormers. It is very safe and used on puppies and kittens at birth. Curcumin is a great ongoing cleanse which is very effective against parasites as well as many other issues. Start with 500mg and work up as you tolerate to as much as you want. 4 or 5 grams a day will keep them dying. Finally, when you can tolerate it, clean up with a zapper for an hour every day, putting the electrodes on your wrists one day, ankles the next, on your face….You likely won’t be able to use a zapper at first if you are full of them–too many will die at once and you will feel sick. At any time if you experience flu like symptons, red beet root, or black radish or burdock will clean out the toxins and you will feel better quickly so keep some around. Good luck, but do keep going–they infest your skin, mouth, nose, eye lids, sinuses, joints, muscles, not just your digestive tract and they are inside your tissues not just your intestines. Some mascarade as wiry black hairs on your chin, ears, nose, inside your nose upper lip, on your eyelids, virtually everywhere. Some look like red little veins, but go away as they die, some are really long and will suddenly appear as red stripes many inches long and then fade. To rid yourself of them on your face a photo facial is ideal. There are many many varieties, but all hate the same things and eventually they will succomb to your efforts and you will feel better and better from the very beginning. This is not for the faint of heart and get used to seeing weird stuff come out of virtually anywhere. Clay baths help soak out the little black skin variety. Jackie

    Reply
    • Cheryl

      Jackie, I am so happy to read your post. I have been actively fighting parasites for over a year now and my family is starting to treat me like I have lost it. I have taken various products, dug my own roots such as mulberry, used various clay and nutmeg/clove body masques, and I still feel them. My sinuses are particularly inflamed but I also feel them in areas of fattish padding, particularly when I lay on one hip or wear new shoes, etc. Several years ago, I went to the emergency room to tell them that there was a worm stuck in my throat. They of course let me set for hours, hacking away, looking at me as if I were crazy. I left, went home and cut the grass. All that dust in my throat made it come up; it was a liver or lung fluke. I did a 60 day cleanse and thought no more about it for a while. Since May 2015, I have felt overwhelmed. Taking the various treatments have put me in bed numerous times, joints throbbing so badly. Presently, I have started another round of blk walnut, wormwood, neem, clove, etc., only at double dose. The thought of fighting for 7 years plus is not thrilling, but what are the options? I have given up junk food, grow my own veggies, eggs, and forage for wild greens. I have prayed and rebuked and fasted. If you have other suggestions, they’d be appreciated but your post made me feel like I’m not crazy so thank you!

      Reply
      • Jill

        I found out that FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous earth works like a charm! It kills them at the same time giving you the much added minerals your body needs. I thought I was rid of them but boy was I wrong. I knew when I became tired, constipated, sleepless nights, not able to lose weight and forgetful … they were back. Since taking DE, I can tell a big difference. A lot of my bloating has left, but I still swell after I eat. I highly reccomend it and search DE testimonials and you will be blown away!!

        Reply
      • Patti Brown

        I have been killing off parasites for over a year. The best product I have found is mimosa pudica seed. I highly recommend it! Watch Dr. Wyatt on youtube for instructional videos. I canNOT believe what has been living inside of me! One of the greatest benefits for me has been a tremendous decrease in anxiety. I am so grateful and encourage everyone to do a parasite cleanse!

        Reply
        • Kona

          Hi Patti, I am also on Mimosa Pudica and its been just over month, wonderful product!! Did you do any special diet while eradicating, my cravings are through the roof! Thank you!

          Reply
  5. Wendy

    I know I need to do the parasite cleanse protocol, but I am allergic to walnuts. Verma Plus, of course, has black walnut hulls, as does every supplement I have researched. Are there any alternatives that one can do? I know I can take the Para-Key and Flora-Key, but what might I do to address the type of critters Verma Plus handles?

    Reply
    • jackie

      Try Curcumin in as high a concentration as you can find..Jarrow makes a good one. Begin with 500mg and work up as you tolerate. This has lots of other really good side effects as well as killing parasites and is one the parasites don’t seem to get used to. I take 3000mg/day, at 115 lbs, my husband takes 4000mg/day at 155 lbs. Curcumin kills parasistes. Jackie

      Reply
      • Wendy

        Thanks, Jackie! I know it’s great for inflammation too (I have arthritis). I’ve been thinking about using it for that — so it will have a dual purpose.
        I appreciate the suggestion.

        Reply
    • Patti Brown

      Wendy, try mimosa pudica seed. It has been incredible for me in getting rid of those horrid parasites!

      Reply
  6. emma

    IS THERE A NEED TO TAKE CURCUMIN ORGANIC IN POWDER FORM OR IN TABLET FORM ORGANIC TOO?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      You can incorporate it into your diet and/or take it in supplement form, too.

      Reply
  7. linda

    I have been using 2 tsp. of plain clorox bleach to a gallon of water to clean my food for many years; now all I can find is the new concentrated Clorox bleach; is that acceptable at at different amount or do you not recommend it?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Because of evolution of the bleach formula, it is now recommended to use an Apple Cider Vinegar bath rather than a Clorox bath for food cleansing. The recipe and protocol would be the same, simply exchanging ACV for Clorox.

      Reply
  8. Leslea Barrett

    Can you please call me at 321-693-8468? I am going through a weird parasite situation and really need some advice !!!Thank you so much!!! Leslea

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Leslea, A Wellness Consultant will be contacting you. Thank you for your inquiry.

      Reply
  9. Vada

    I think my son and I have some kind of parasite. I can not lose weight, I have dark circles under my eyes and can’t fall asleep. I feel worn down. My son is 7 and small/thin for his age. His waste’s smell is very bad. It is way beyond normal. He grinds his teeth when sleeping. He has moods swings of anger too.
    I am breast feeding my 16 month old and want to know what to use. Should I use a dewormer on everyone in the home? Will eating walnuts help? I herd that coconut was good for getting rid of parasites. I hope you can help. I have 7 children and want them to be safe and healthy. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jill

      Try FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH!!

      Reply
  10. Liz

    Everyone in your home can do the herbal products that get rid of parasites. Para-Key and Verma-Plus. Whe you are breastfeeding you can take the much milder Super GI Cleanse to target the large and small parasites. For your 16 mo old baby you can give them 1/8 tsp of Flora-Key per day, which can be maintained indefinitely for optimal immune support and improved digestion.

    Reply
  11. KC

    I have had a parasite for 5 months now. I went to my Gastro dr after months of seeing an allergist and no help. I was tested and it came back positive. I took sulpha and still tested positive. Now I’m on cipro & have to go back in 30 days to retest..I would highly recommend going to ur Gastro to get tested!! This thing doesn’t want to leave my body, I can’t lose weight, my appetite is crazy & im still so tired, I have no energy to do anything after I get off work that I don’t even go to the gym anymore..this thing has really changed my entire life & not in a good way at all…:(

    Reply
    • Liz

      KC, the parasite products from UNIKEY really work. They have been used effectively for over 20 years. https://www.unikeyhealth.com/my-colon-cleansing-kit

      Excellent suggestion to test for parasites when you have unexplained symptoms. UNIKEY also offers parasite testing that you can do at home and send to the lab to be analyzed. The results come with a letter of recommendations from Ann Louise.

      Reply
  12. carole roberts

    Where can I get this and how much does it cost please? xx

    Reply
  13. cm

    Hello,
    i have been doing reading on parasite cleanses and heard som very disturbing things about using wormwood and also some cleanses causing the “scattering” effect. i recently started a parasite cleanse from life purify, all natural, no wormwood and have been on it for 4 days. I also just started my period and was having a very heavy flow with some smaller size clots. This actually disturbed me somewhat, so I have paused the cleanse for the time being.
    Any thoughts on this? i would love to complete the 30 day cleanse, but i keep reading so many negative things.

    Reply
  14. Lyn

    I just heard Ann Louise on the Metabolism Summit talking about parasites. I did Advanced Naturals ParaMax cleansing kit last year for 3 months. I felt good afterwards and thought everything was gone. Recently I started doing coffee enemas and think I still have parasites or, at the very least, they have returned. I am now using Endomet’s GB-3 which only has three ingredients (pancreatin, ox bile, and black radish). I read GB-3 will get rid of the parasites over time, along with the enemas. Apparently they don’t like these 3 ingredients. I am doing this because I read that continual use of the herbs causes the parasites to adapt to them, and they end up not working. Ann Louise, is that true? What is your knowledge of the parasites adapting to the herbs?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Lyn, continual use of herbs is very different than doing a therapeutic course of treatment for 2-3 months. We have found that the herbs in the Para-Key and Verma-Plus used in this way have not caused resistance and people get very good results.

      Reply
      • Lyn

        I guess I should not have used the word “continual”. I WAS talking about the 2-3 months, with breaks. Maybe doing this twice a year. So I guess you are saying they won’t learn to adapt while doing that, and won’t scatter and/or hide deeper in your body?

        Reply
        • Team ALG

          That’s right Lyn. Used the way you are directed on the bottles they are very effective.

          Reply
  15. OllieMay

    So, I too have been using the Chlorox bath to clean produce for many, many years. Do you really think that the Apple Cider Vinegar kills radiation, pesticides, mold and parasites as well as the original Chlorox formula did, as was originally reported by Dr. Hazel Parcells? If so, I guess I had better switch! As the original formula of Chlorox is no longer to be found.
    Thank you team ALG!

    Reply
  16. Melissa

    I need help with worms I think I have them !!!

    Reply
  17. Zoila

    Hello i have a 8 yr old son that has short gut syndrome…. but thank GOD never needed medical help through out the yrs but just recently he stated to vomit and his belly distended not only that he loves to eat but doesnt gain weight….liver enzymes high and belly pain on the right side right below the rib cage… well i kept thinking that something inside him was just not right so when i looked at his vomit i was trying to figure out what it was so after he had surgery he couldnt keep much down and when he vomit IT WAS THE SAME THING i looked it up and from what i think its liver flukes!!!!Never in 10000 yrs i wouldve thought he had that.so the doctors just dont listen much they really think its his gi problem!!! he started biting his nails picking his nose something he would never do ..i looked it up and they are symptoms too anyways he has more but i dont know how to treat this since i cant have his lose wieght either…. he did have very chronic overgrowth bacteria …could this have caused liver flukes? sorry is so long thank you

    Reply
  18. Tim

    So much mention of curcumin/tumeric – Curcumin is 20x more bio-avaiable when taken with black pepper- St John’s University

    Reply
    • Aileen Drill

      You can get black pepper in the form of BioPerine. I use the one from Source Naturals. It’s not expensive.

      Reply
  19. Sherr

    I’ve Been gaining weight,fluid retention in my face and body eczema on my eyelids and cheeks huge distended belly looks 6 months pregnant, bad bad constipation, not able to release gasses,irregulars light periods, extreme fatigue and low blood sugar as well as up and down no.
    I’ve gone to several Dr, and ers for pain in my swollen belly.
    I’ve also felt movements in my abdomen, that scared me it was so strong!
    No one can help me and medical professionals send me away
    Please help.
    I’m having a laparoscopy surgery for pelvic adhesions from a previous surgery in two days but worried if I have an overgrowth of parasites the surgeon might be shocked.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Sherr, It sounds like you could really benefit from doing the parasite cleanse with My Colon Cleansing Kit to kill the parasites. You may need to do it for a couple of months based on the symptoms you are having. Even though you are feeling movement the parasites still may be so small that the doctor won’t see them.

      Reply
  20. Trice

    How come no one has mentioned the big guns yet? I ordered albendazole and mebendazole I also have black walnut tincture with wormwood and Diatomaceous earth. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.

    Reply

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