Saturday, May 8, 2010

What Baby Boomers And Seniors Should Know About Parasites

Parasites, even though you may be over 50, just how familiar are you with these pesky little creatures? Though often thought to be an issue more in underdeveloped countries, parasitic infestation in people living in developed countries is thought to affect 85, possibly up to 95, percent of the population.

By definition a parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism where it obtains benefits from the host but usually causes injury to it.

In humans, especially in seniors, baby boomers, and men and women over 50... parasites can range in size from a single-celled organism to a tapeworm that can reach up to 12 meters in length.

The side-effects of parasitic infestation can be vast and often the symptoms are thought to be related to other diseases, rather than associated with the parasites. Symptoms can include, but not limited, to any of the following:

* diarrhea and/or constipation
* gas, bloating, and cramps
* itching around the nose, ears and anus, especially at night
* persistent skin problems
* excessive nose picking
* dark circles under the eyes
* grinding teeth at night
* lack of energy
* disturbed sleep
* muscle cramps or joint pain
* immune system fatigue
* post-nasal drip
* flu-like symptoms
* anemia
* food allergies
* trouble losing or gaining weight
* rumbling and gurgling in the stomach are unrelated to hunger or eating
* bloating
* intestinal obstruction
* nausea and/or vomiting
* sore mouth and gums
* headaches
* memory loss
* depression

As everyone is unique, the effect of the parasite in one person can be completely different than that of another, where some become extremely ill, while others experience no symptoms at all.

Since parasites are rampant in the environment, contacting them happens quite easily. Avenues include:

* household pets
* inhaling contaminated dust
* drinking contaminated water
* handling raw meat and fish
* ingesting undercooked meat and fish
* contaminated fruit and vegetables
* transfer from humans to foods that are ingested
* animal and human feces
* improper hand-washing hygiene practices

Parasites can have a negative effect on the body in quite a few ways. First is on the tissue that they are preying upon. Once damaged the body has to repair the cells. If the damage happens at a rate faster than the body is able to repair, issues will develop.

If parasites enter the bloodstream they can travel to any organ of the body. It is often the problems that they cause here that are misdiagnosed and therefore prescribed treatment tends to be of no benefit.

The body is further challenged by the parasites from the toxins that they expel. These waste products poison our systems causing elimination organs to have to work overtime and can thus tend to immune systems becoming fatigued or weakened. They are nasty little critters.

There are precautions that you as a baby boomer or senior can take to help limit the likelihood of becoming infested. These include things like:

Always wash your hands thoroughly after having been outside, handling raw meat or fish, dealing with pet feces, going to the bathroom, changing diapers, etc. And teach your children and grand children this practice as well, especially if they have been playing outdoors in the dirt or sand.

Drink purified water. Though most towns and cities have systems in place to treat their water, they are not foolproof. It's best to play it safe and have your own purification system that is in place and maintained as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Diet plays a big role as well, especially when you're in the over 50 crowd. The healthier your internal systems are, especially your intestinal tract, the less likely the parasites will be able to survive. To assist the body in having a top-notch intestinal tract, stay away from high-processed, high-sugar foods. Candida and parasites tend to exist together and thrive on sugar.

Eat foods that have anti-parasitic properties. These include garlic, onion, sage, thyme, pumpkin seeds, foods rich in Vitamin A such as yams, carrots, squash and green vegetables, as Vitamin A seems to be the best at helping the tissue resist parasites trying to embed their larvae.

To help transport the Vitamin A and lubricate the intestinal tract, it is advised to have one to two tablespoons a day of cold-pressed safflower, sesame or flax seed oil.

Wash your fruits and vegetables with a detergent that is safe to ingest, but that is able to kill parasites and their larvae.

If you discover that you are plagued with a parasitic infection, or for general protection against them, contact your local health food store and look for a product that contains some of the following ingredients:

* black walnut extract
* grapefruit seed extract
* wormwood extract
* cayenne
* garlic
* pumpkin seed
* cloves
* rosemary leaf and seed
* thyme leaf and seed
* cranberry juice extract
* slippery elm
* bromelain
* marshmallow root
* pau d'arco
* echinacea
* barberry
* milk thistle fruit

Due to the life cycle of the parasites and their larvae, the cleanse must be consumed long enough to kill them completely. Read the manufacturer's directions. Some may direct you to consume the product for a period of time, stop for a few days and then continue. Others may require you to consume the product for three cycles of the moon. Others may have a more simplified regimen.

One thing is for certain, the sooner you get rid of these uninvited guests, the better you will look and feel. So take action now to have a healthier you in your senior years.