Probiotics Protect You from Gut Parasites
pautrey
Probiotics Protect You from Gut Parasites
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/10/Probiotics-Protect-You-From-Gut-Parasites.aspx
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
September 10 2009 | 16,729 views
The gut health boosting effects of probiotics may also extend to
preventing and eradicating parasitic infections.
Scientists studying Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible for
toxoplasmosis, found that bacteria present in the human gut help
stimulate the body's defense mechanisms.
Probiotics may occupy space in the intestine and thus reduce or
prevent potentially pathogenic bacteria attaching to the intestinal
wall.
Sources:
NutraIngredients.com August 20, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive
system, which is one reason why keeping your gut balanced with plenty
of beneficial bacteria is so important.
Not only can probiotics modulate immune responses via your gut‘s
mucosal immune system, but researchers from the University of Texas
Southwestern found that because they occupy space in your intestine,
they may therefore reduce or prevent disease-causing bacteria and
parasites from attaching to your intestinal wall.
Signs You May Have Intestinal Parasites
Parasitic infections are responsible for millions of deaths worldwide
every year. Malaria is one of the most well-known, killing about 1
million people a year, many of them young children in sub-Saharan
Africa.
Further, the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which include
parasitic diseases like lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and
Guinea worm, kill about 500,000 people each year, primarily in rural
areas of low-income countries.
Even in developed countries, however, parasites can contribute to
disease like irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues, and
possibly even cancer.
Not all parasites cause symptoms or are harmful for that matter, but
some do -- and are. Signs that you’ve been infected with a potentially
dangerous intestinal parasite are varied but can include:
•Subcutaneous nodules
•Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis and retinitis)
•Blindness
•Dysentery
•Hives (urticaria)
•Diarrhea
•Coughing or wheezing
•Enlargement of liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly)
•Fever
•Abdominal pain
What You Should Know About Toxoplasmosis
The parasite used in the above study, toxoplasma gondii, is the
parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis and one of the most common
parasites in the world. It’s typically spread by eating or handling
contaminated undercooked meat, fruits and vegetables, drinking
contaminated water, or by coming into contact with contaminated cat
feces.
In most healthy people toxoplasmosis infection is asymptomatic,
causing no symptoms because your immune system keeps the parasite from
causing illness. In fact, in the United States it’s estimated that 23
percent of the population has been infected with toxoplasma, and
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention up to 95
percent of some populations around the world have been infected.
When symptoms do occur they may include swollen glands, fatigue,
muscle pain, fever, sore throat and a rash. In pregnant women,
toxoplasmosis that is newly acquired can cause miscarriage, premature
births, and severe illness and blindness in newborns.
Because of this, pregnant women (and those with compromised immune
systems) should take extra precautions and avoid coming into contact
with cat feces, cat litter or potentially contaminated food, soil or
water.
It should be noted, however, that if you have been exposed to the
parasite in the past (even if you had no symptoms) this will provide
immunity so you can’t become infected again.
If you suspect you’re infected with toxoplasma or any other parasite,
seek the help of a knowledgeable natural health care practitioner, and
in the meantime eating raw garlic (smashing the cloves first to
activate their beneficial properties) and raw pumpkin seeds will help
you to get rid of them.
Taking probiotics is also a proactive step that may help your body to
fight any disease-causing parasites your body comes into contact with.
As a side note, if you are a pregnant woman or a woman who may become
pregnant soon, you should take a high-quality probiotic regularly not
only because of its potential to fight parasites but for the many
other benefits it offers during pregnancy as well.
Why Probiotics are One of the Few Supplements I Recommend
Although I do not recommend taking supplements on a regular basis, a
high-quality probiotic is one of my exceptions. In fact, it’s the one
supplement recommended to all new patients in my clinic.
This is because the nutritional root of so many health concerns are
related to an imbalance of intestinal bacteria (the optimal balance is
about 85 percent “good bacteria” and 15 percent “bad”).
A large part of the influence of the "bad" bacteria (and parasites) is
on your intestinal lining (mucousal barrier) that is over 300 square
meters, or about the size of a tennis court. Simply stated, friendly
bacteria compete with the bad guys for room and board, but since
beneficial bacteria are more at home there, they win most of the
battles for nutrition and attachment sites within your colon.
The good bacteria tell your body how much nutrition they need and your
body responds by supplying just that much and no more -- so that any
excess bad bacteria are starved out. The helpful bacteria also produce
a substance that kills harmful microbes.
Proper food choices will help shift the bacteria in the direction of
the good guys, particularly if you avoid eating a lot of sugar and
grains and eat plenty of fermented foods (which supply beneficial
bacteria naturally).
But, just like your lawn, sometimes you may need to "reseed" areas
that have become barren for whatever reason.
Normally, you don’t need to take probiotics forever, but I have found
them to be incredibly helpful at certain times, such as when you stray
from your healthy diet and consume excess grains or sugar, or if you
have to take antibiotics.
I also take them when traveling to foreign countries or when eating at
suspicious restaurants, and I’ve found that using a high-quality
probiotic every 30-60 days will typically help maintain a well-
functioning digestive system.
Related Links:
Probiotics Found to Help Your Gut's Immune System
How Parasites Can Trick Your Immune System into Health
Probiotics Protect Top Athletes
Stephen Wilson
Autism
What's the evidence for special diets and supplements?
There hasn't been much good research on changing what your child eats or
giving him or her supplements to treat autism.
We found one summary of the research (a systematic review) of diets that cut
out casein and gluten. The review found just two small studies. The studies
showed the diets seemed to help with some symptoms of autism, but not
others. The review's authors said there was not enough good-quality evidence
to say whether or not the diets work.
We found two good-quality studies on vitamin B6 plus magnesium. It didn't
seem to help. But the studies were small. Together, they had only 27
children. So the results aren't reliable.
We didn't find any good-quality studies of fish oil, vitamin A, vitamin C,
probiotics and digestive enzymes as treatments for children with autism.
pautrey2
September 10 2009 | 16,863 views
Mark Probert
> Probiotics Protect You from Gut Parasites
> Posted by: Dr. Mercola
> September 10 2009 | 16,863 views
Damn, that Mercola. Hulda had not even reached room temperature and he
was out touting removal of parasites with something that he sells.
pautrey2
Speaking of parasites - Mark Probert