Parasites – Are They Real? Do I Have Them?

By: Dr. Bob Foster

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen bold claims about different detoxes, especially parasite cleanses. According to influencers, parasites are the hidden root of fatigue, weight gain, hormone imbalance, anxiety, brain fog, acne, and just about everything else.

So is all this parasite buzz real? I thought we can only get parasites in third world countries?! Unfortunately, yes, many Primary Care Providers will tell you it’s highly unlikely to get a parasite in this country. But honestly, we all come into contact with parasites on a fairly regular basis. Through our food, our water, etc. It is not uncommon, even here in the U.S.

But that begs the question – if this is true, why doesn’t everyone have parasites – or why isn’t everyone suffering from symptoms of parasites?

This is the million-dollar question. And the answer is that parasites are “opportunists,” meaning that they survive and flourish when our natural defenses are down and the opportunity is there to thrive. These natural defenses include things like sufficient stomach acid and a healthy immune system (not just in our body, but the immune response within our gut lining/wall). And most importantly, it pertains to the terrain within our intestines. Meaning, is our digestion optimal? Are we having regular bowel movements? Is there a balanced “microbiome” – the population of good and bad bacteria, etc.? On top of that, balanced minerals and a healthy nervous system are other factors which help to lower our risk for such parasites or bad bugs.

So the important context here is that parasites are rarely the first domino to fall. They are scavengers which need the right environment to survive. And that term scavenger is important because what these influencers often fail to mention is that parasites scavenge or soak up many toxins such as heavy metals, among other things. So if you hop into doing a trendy “parasite detox,” be careful. While many of them do utilize many effective tools like antimicrobial herbs to kill off these bad guys, once you do so, these parasites do not go down without a fight. And as they die off, they release toxins such as heavy metals and other things. Which is why many people commonly get detox reactions (which we call “die-off” reactions or Herx reactions).

This is why the most important part of any detox, and parasite protocols more than others, is to first prep your body, clean up your cells and gut first, and ready your body for a detox.

So what do we mean by cellular cleaning and detox prep? Well first, we need to make sure that we are able to mobilize and eliminate toxins…

• Are you having healthy, well-formed daily bowel movements?
• Are you drinking enough fluids and producing adequate urine?
• Are your liver and kidneys functioning optimally?
• Is your lymphatic system moving?
• Are you exercising and sweating regularly?
• And further: is our nervous system balanced, or are we constantly in a state of fight or flight, which hinders our ability to detox and heal?

Your body already has built-in detox systems. The goal is not to override them — it’s to support them.

With the right support and guidance, these are steps that anyone can take, as long as it’s done the right way. And that is what we are here for.

If you would like to further explore your options in doing a supported detox or clean-up, please call the office to schedule a Functional Medicine appointment with Dr. Foster.