Parasites: Enemy Microorganisms for Your Gut

Parasites — Beyond Stealing Your Nutrients, They Can Also Stress Your Immune System

Below, we explain more about parasites, how they affect the human body, and how you can protect yourself from them.

What Are Parasites?

Parasites are pathogenic microorganisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye and can live in your intestine.
These organisms feed on what you eat — especially when you consume “enemy foods,” such as cereals, dairy products, and sugar, which favor their growth.

How Do I Know If I Have Intestinal Parasites?

Identifying the presence of parasitic infections in the body is essential for proper treatment.
Here are some common symptoms that can help you recognize them:

• Intense itching around the anal area
• Restlessness and insomnia caused by itching that worsens at night
• Presence of small white worms (about the size of a grain of rice) in the anal area or stool
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Secondary bacterial infections from scratching the affected area

(Source: Mayo Clinic)

How Do Parasites Harm the Body?

When you’re infected, parasites inflame your small intestine, where 70% of your immune system resides.
This makes you more prone to developing health problems such as parasitic and infectious diseases, abdominal pain, and more.

Some symptoms caused by the stress they produce in the body include:

• Bruxism (jaw clenching) during sleep
• Insomnia
• Under-eye bags
• Anal itching or discomfort
• Cravings for specific foods

(Amy Myers, MD; Dale Kelly, DC)

Parasites use the human body to host their larvae, viruses, and bacteria.
If you have a viral or bacterial infection, it’s important to check for a parasitic infection.
If parasites are present, you must start by removing them, since viruses and bacteria can reproduce inside them and prevent recovery.

Types of Parasites

1. Protozoa:
Single-celled organisms belonging to the Protista kingdom. They can live in water or inside hosts, producing gastrointestinal symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue, weakness, and weight loss.
Examples include Giardia, Amoebas, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma gondii.

2. Helminths (Worms):
Commonly known as intestinal worms, these also steal nutrients from their human host.
They include:

• Nematodes (roundworms)
• Trematodes (flatworms)
• Cestodes (tapeworms)

They may inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, tissues, blood vessels, and other organs, causing symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anemia, fatigue, and growth delays in children.
Examples include Ascaris lumbricoides (ascariasis), Schistosoma spp. (schistosomiasis), and Taenia spp. (tapeworm infection).

3. Ectoparasites:
These live on the surface of the host rather than inside tissues or cells.
They include lice, fleas, ticks, and mites.
They feed on blood or skin debris and may transmit diseases such as Lyme disease (via ticks) or plague (via fleas).

The Ten Most Common Food-Borne Parasites (WHO & FAO)

1. Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) – in pork
2. Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid worm) – in fresh produce
3. Echinococcus multilocularis – in fresh produce
4. Toxoplasma gondii – in red meats and organs (pork, beef, game)
5. Cryptosporidium spp. – in fresh produce, fruit juice, milk
6. Entamoeba histolytica – in fresh produce
7. Trichinella spiralis – in pork (causes trichinosis)
8. Opisthorchiidae – in freshwater fish
9. Ascaris spp. – in fresh produce
10. Trypanosoma cruzi – in fruit juices

These microorganisms act as “guests” in your gut, stealing nutrients and stressing your immune system — which can even trigger autoimmune diseases.
That’s why they must be removed or treated (Rispens T et al., 2023).

Parasites in Children

In young children, it’s common to find intestinal parasites requiring medical attention.
Examples include:

• Blastocystis hominis: often resolves without treatment
• Ascaris: large infestations may cause vomiting and abdominal pain
• Dientamoeba: usually asymptomatic, transmitted through contaminated food or water
• Amoebas: can cause fever and diarrhea (amebiasis)
• Tapeworms: from contaminated food or water; can cause anemia and nausea

(İnan Karakuş et al., 2020)

Even in developed countries like the United States, parasitic infections are increasing despite high hygiene standards.

Why Do We Get Parasites?

By consuming undigested food, contaminated water, or untreated freshwater, you feed these harmful microorganisms and damage your intestinal barrier.
Once your gut becomes permeable or inflamed, it opens the door to parasites and other diseases, perpetuating a cycle of inflammation.

What Can Go Wrong with Your Intestinal Defense Barrier?

Your digestive system relies on:

• Stomach acid (pH): ideally acidic to prevent pathogen growth
• Digestive enzymes (salivary & pancreatic): break food into absorbable nutrients
• Bile: can damage parasite membranes due to its fatty acids
• Healthy gut microbiota: prevents the overgrowth of harmful organisms

What Happens to the Body When You Have Parasites?

Parasites inflame the small intestine (home to 70% of your immune system), increasing your risk for infections and inflammation.
They can also cause stress-related symptoms like jaw tension, insomnia, dark under-eye circles, itching, and food cravings.

Because parasites host viruses and bacteria, treating parasitic infections is essential to prevent recurring or chronic infections.

How to Detect Parasites

Routine stool tests often fail to detect parasites since they must be analyzed within 20 minutes of collection — parasites release enzymes that destroy them quickly.
More advanced diagnostic methods include:

• Serial stool tests (coproparasitoscopic exam)
• Upper GI endoscopy: allows direct visualization of parasites
• Imaging tests (X-rays, ultrasounds): detect anatomical changes caused by macroscopic parasites

(Source: CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

At NutriWhite, we use specialized stool tests that analyze your intestinal microbiota for more accurate detection.

How to Prevent Parasitic Diseases

• Replenish with “friendly foods” and remove “enemy foods” that cause sensitivities and leaky gut.
• Follow a deworming protocol under medical supervision.
• Eat without distractions: in a calm environment that supports proper digestion (avoid screens).
• Support digestion with enzymes and natural herbs like Mimosa pudica or oregano tea (in proper doses).

NutriWhite offers a 3R Protocol specifically designed to naturally remove parasites from the body.
By following these recommendations, you can relieve the stress caused by parasites and rebuild your health. Consult us for personalized guidance.

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References: 

1. Kapczuk P, Kosik-Bogacka D, Kupnicka P, Metryka E, Simińska D, Rogulska K, Skórka M, Gutowska I, Chlubek D, Baranowska-Bosiacka I. The influence of selected gastrointestinal parasites on apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Biomolecules. 2020 Apr 27;10(5):674. doi: 10.3390/biom10050674. PMID: 32349424; PMCID: PMC7277436.
2. Karakuş İ, Taş Cengiz Z, Ekici A. Evaluation of Intestinal Parasites and Some Clinical Symptoms in Children with Diarrhea. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2022 Mar 1;46(1):39-44. English. doi: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2021.65375. Erratum in: Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2022 May 23;46(2):166. PMID: 35232704.
3. Rispens T, Huijbers MG. The unique properties of IgG4 and its roles in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 2023 Nov;23(11):763-778. doi: 10.1038/s41577-023-00871-z. Epub 2023 Apr 24. PMID: 37095254; PMCID: PMC10123589.