Will Plant Based Diet Kill Parasites
Parasite Detox Diet and Nutritional Protocols
Parasites are an extremely common health issue that is often overlooked. They are so common, in fact, that it is estimated that 3.5 billion people suffer from some kind of parasitic infection. That's nearly half the global population!
Parasites can come in many forms, and most of them are microscopic. Nevertheless, the effect that they can have on our health is significant. Many health issues and diseases can have parasitic infections as their underlying cause. If these are left untreated, they can get worse and can linger for years.
To get rid of parasites we need to detoxify our system by following a parasite cleanse protocol. This involves first and foremost taking anti-parasitic herbs that can kill parasites, as well as by following a parasite detox diet and certain lifestyle practices that support detoxification. In this article, we are going to explore the parasite detox diet—these are the foods that you will want to eat while doing a parasite detox cleanse.
If you would like to read about a protocol for ridding of the body of parasites, read our blog called "How to do a Parasite Detox Cleanse". Also give our blog a read "How to Mitigate Parasite Die Off Effects" for a guide on how to use binders to prevent parasite die off effects.
The Parasite Cleanse Diet
While undergoing a parasite detox cleanse, it is important to support our herbal Parasite Detox Tonic with a proper diet. Many resources are available on how to get rid of parasites with herbs, but not as many people discuss what to eat when consuming these anti-parasitic herbs— and what you eat makes a big difference.
In reality, there is no universal diet for everyone, as diet varies with age, lifestyle, environment, allergies, genetic history, and so many other factors. Therefore, we will not say exactly what diet to eat, but rather will share some of the most beneficial dietary tips and meal plan examples that you can consider when doing a parasite cleanse. Keep in mind that these are not strict rules and you need to use your own judgment based off of your personal dietary preferences.
What Are the Best Foods for Killing Parasites?
There are many foods that have anti-parasitic properties. When doing a parasite detox, it is recommended to include one (or more) foods that kill parasites with each meal. The most notable anti-parasitic foods to include in a parasite cleanse diet plan include:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Honey
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dates
- Pomegranate
- Papaya seeds
- Dandelion greens
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Pineapple
- Coconut
- Carrots
- Sunflower seeds
- Fermented foods
- Stoneground mustard
- Coconut Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chili spices
- Curry spices
- Cloves
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Neem
When doing a cleanse, aim to include more of these foods in your diet than you usually would eat. This will help to support the effective detoxification and elimination of intestinal parasites, provided that other aspects of the protocol are also adhered to. An important point is also to aim for reducing your sugar intake, as many parasites feed on sugar as a primary fuel source. Some natural sugars and low glycemic fruits are okay in moderation, but avoid foods that have high sugar content and focus on eating a simple, organic whole foods diet.
Make Sure to Consume Plenty of Fiber
It is also important to eat fiber-rich foods during your parasite cleanse, as these really help with elimination. Fiber provides the lubrication the colon requires to function properly and helps to support natural and smooth elimination. Fiber falls into two categories: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber serves many functions, which include providing a conducive environment for friendly bacteria, slowing the absorption rate of sugars, lowering serum cholesterol levels, and binding to heavy metals dumped by the bloodstream into the colon. Examples of soluble fiber foods include apples, prunes, figs, raspberries, carrots, oat bran, kidney beans, lima beans or (supplemental) psyllium husks.
Insoluble fiber complements soluble fiber by increasing bulk in the waste, preventing impacted bowel pockets (diverticuli), reducing the length of time waste stays in the body and absorbing bile acid released during digestion. Examples of insoluble fiber are brown rice, quinoa, millet rice, whole wheat, raw spinach, Brussels sprouts and flaxseed.
Foods that are naturally high in fiber:
- Chia seeds
- Chickpeas
- Figs
- Prunes
- Psyllium husks
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Flaxseed
- Berries
- Lentils
- Avocados
- Whole grains
- Apples
- Carrots
- Brown rice
- Bran cereal
- Oatmeal
- Baked potato
- Pears
- Bananas
- Beets
- Artichoke
- Brussels Sprouts
- Quinoa
- Popcorn
- Almonds
- Sweet potatoes
Meal Plan Examples
To get a sense of how you can include these anti-parasitic foods and high-fiber foods in your diet, we wanted to provide some meal plan examples. Keep in mind that these are just simple ideas of what you could eat during your cleanse. The main point is to try to include as many anti-parasitic foods and high-fiber foods into your meals as possible to support detoxification of parasites and the elimination of waste in your colon.
Breakfast foods:
- Chia seed pudding with berries and almond milk
- Oatmeal with cinnamon, dates, banana, coconut, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and honey
- Fruit salad with pineapple, dates, banana, berries
Lunch foods:
- Salad with lettuce, dandelion greens, baked chickpeas, sunflower seeds, quinoa, and a stoneground mustard and lemon dressing
- Salad with apple, avocado, and pomegranate seeds
- Quinoa bowl with garlic, sweet potato, kale, and chili spices
- Brown rice bowl with broccoli, carrots, ginger and pineapple
Dinner foods:
- Quinoa, broccoli, baked potato or sweet potato
- Brown rice and vegetable stir fry with broccoli, kale, carrot, pineapple, ginger
- Steamed vegetables
- Coconut curry soup
Other Habits for Detoxing Parasites
Including anti-parasitic foods and high-fiber foods in your diet during a cleanse is important, but there are also many other dietary habits that can support you during your cleanse. The most notable are:
Drink A lot of Water
Water is essential for all of the body's functions and it is important to drink adequate amounts of water each day. While doing a parasite cleanse, it is especially important to consume plenty of water, as this will help to flush the system and support the elimination of waste. The standard recommendation is 8 glasses of water per day, but you may want to increase this a little while doing a cleanse.
Eat A Nutritious Diet
During a parasite cleanse, it's important to follow a balanced diet high in nutrients and low in refined sugars and processed foods. Getting your baseline of nutrients—amino acids, vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbs is essential. Fiber is also particularly important, as it keeps your bowel movements regular while you cleanse. A nutrient-rich diet is also important for strengthening your immune system as the parasites are flushed out of your body. Many natural practitioners claim that this, combined with a healthy dose of probiotics, will help protect your body against another infestation.
Supplement with Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for the body, especially for the digestive system. We often think of germs as something that causes disease, but your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep the gut healthy.
Gut bacteria play several important roles in our health, such as communicating with the immune system and producing certain vitamins. Gut bacteria can also affect how different foods are digested and produce chemicals that help make you feel full. To help with improving the gut bacteria in the intestines, consider supplementing with a clinical grade probiotic supplement such as our multi strain probiotic supplement.
During a parasite cleanse, it is possible that beneficial gut bacteria may also be harmed by the anti-parasitic herbs and foods. For this reason, it is recommended to take a good quality probiotic during, and especially after, the cleanse so as to repopulate the gut with healthy microorganisms. Our Zuma Nutrition Multi Strain Probiotic Formula is shelf stable and contains 30 billion colony forming units per capsule.
Avoid Overeating
One of the most important things to do while on a parasite detox (or really any cleanse for that matter) is to avoid overeating. Eating large amounts of food may strain your digestive system and lead to indigestion of food.
Overeating can lead to buildup of waste in the colon, and this buildup of waste creates the perfect environment for parasites and other toxic organisms. When we do a cleanse, we want to eliminate this waste—not add to it! Therefore, it is essential not to overeat, but to only eat moderate amounts of food and to stop as soon as you start to feel full (or even before).
Stay Away from Junk Food and Poor Habits
If we have a parasite (or many parasites) we must not only focus on getting rid of them, but also ask ourselves how we got them in the first place. Often times parasites invade the body from contaminated sources of water, food, or soil. In this case, prevention and proper sanitation are essential.
However, there are certain foods and habits that compromise our immune systems, make us more susceptible to parasitic infection, and create an internal environment that allows parasites to thrive. If we want to get rid of parasites for good, we need to also get rid of the environment that attracts them and allows them to flourish within us.
While doing a parasite cleanse, it is important to avoid toxic substances in foods that may inhibit the bodies detoxification. This includes junk foods, refined grains, processed sugars, artificial preservatives, and any other one of the toxic chemicals that are so abundant in our modern food supply. It is also recommended to avoid poor habits like overeating, nail-biting, not washing your hands, and other things that may either introduce parasites to the body or may allow them to thrive once they've infested.
Summary
Most people are grossed out by the thought that they could have a parasite (or many parasites) in their body. However, parasites are some of the most abundant creatures on earth, and a pest to nearly all animals, as a parasite is characterized by its need to live off of the nutrients of its host.
Whether we like it or not, they exist, and it's important that we are aware of them if we wish to lead a healthy life, as many health issues can actually be caused by parasites. To eliminate parasites from the body, one should use a potent formula like our Parasite Detox tonic, which contains therapeutic dosages of powerful herbs that have been clinically studied and proven to kill the adult, larva and egg stages of over 100 different types of intestinal parasites, including amoebas, giardia, worms, and liver flukes.
It is equally important that one follow a good protocol and eat a diet supportive of eliminating parasites from the body. Along with a parasite detox formula, diet, lifestyle, environment, sanitation, and good habits are essential for eliminating parasites from the body and preventing re-infestation so that one can stay healthy and parasite-free.
References:
https://cmr.asm.org/content/15/4/595
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169475898013581
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cryptosporidium/symptoms-causes/syc-20351870
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27863994/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5031164/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12388566/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC126866/
Will Plant Based Diet Kill Parasites
Source: https://www.zumanutrition.com/blogs/health/parasite-detox-diet