Parasites: A Hidden Cause of Weight Gain
Are you experiencing unexplainable weight gain on top of other mysterious symptoms like chronic fatigue, insomnia, and excessive hunger, which are all worsening around the full moon? If so, there might be parasites at work.
A parasite is an organism that depends and lives on its host for survival. 30% of parasites are microscopic. 60% of the population are estimated to have parasites at some point in their lives, whereas healthy individuals often don't experience any bold symptoms, because the immune system is able to keep the pathogens at bay - like in my own case! I did not get affected right after the parasitic infection as my immune system was at that moment strong enough, but experiencing an emotional trauma (yes, emotional!) was the trigger event, which lead to constant sky-high cortisol, insomnia, and chronically being in the fight-or-flight state and allowed the pathogens to come into power. Symptoms started to manifest within only a couple of weeks. When the immune system breaks down during an illness or traumatic event, it can open doors for many pathogens to take over.
Parasites and Weight Gain
Because there is such a variety of parasites (roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, whipworms, hookworms, liver flukes) the signs and symptoms differ tremendously and they are often being missed as a root cause. While some types are consuming your food, leaving you hungry after every meal and making it unable to gain weight, other species can harm the gut lining in a way that we aren’t able to digest and absorb the nutrients from our food, which in turn affects negatively our tissues and organs. This is why we may likely experience symptoms in other body systems that do not appear to be directly related to the gut.
The functional medicine practitioner perspective highlights the connection between chronic inflammation and cortisol production, explaining why parasitic infections can lead to stubborn weight gain. A chronic GI infection triggers inflammation, which in turn leads to a release of the primary anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol. But cortisol is also a fat-storage hormone, this means when we are over-producing it, we are gaining weight and our body holds on to the excess weight (particularly around the midsection).
Another factor that plays an important role is that parasites act like a holding tank for heavy metals, Lyme, bacteria, mold spores, viruses, chemicals, radiation, and more. This allows especially heavy metals to build up inside them over time at a level that normally would not be tolerated by human tissue. The excess of toxicity and inflammation in the body is another root cause for unexplainable weight gain. Therefore, addressing heavy metals and parasites goes hand in hand, but keep in mind that we always need to address parasites first, when dealing with those issues. In today’s environment, it is estimated that 25% of the population has some level of heavy metal toxicity.
How do we get parasites?
undercooked meat
raw fish/sushi
Unclean/contaminated fruit and vegetables
pets
tap water
traveling
wilderness activities
Common Signs and Symptoms of Parasites
anal itching (especially at night -> pinworms often move around in the colon)
bruxism, teeth grinding, or clenching (especially at night)
dark circles under the eyes
foul-smelling stool
weight gain, inability to lose weight or weight loss
chest pain
food sensitivities, dairy sensitivity
hives, eczema, psoriasis
migraines
anxiety, mood issues, anger
insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking up multiple times during the night)
night sweats
excessive hunger
muscle twitching and fasciculations
joint/muscle pain
bladder issues or recurrent UTIs
bloating, digestive issues, diarrhea
fatigue
brain fog
shortness of breath or wheezing (parasites have been found in our lungs, and have a lifecycle that includes our lungs)
sugar or alcohol cravings
Female hormone imbalances (irregular periods, extreme PMS)
symptoms are flaring around the full moon
A stool test often misses detecting parasites, as they are very intelligent and have the ability to produce biofilm, in which they live and hide in. As doctor Amy Myer stated: "Conventional stool tests can identify parasites or parasite eggs in your stool, yet this test comes with many limitations. The problem with this test is that it is only conditionally successful. This test requires three separate stool samples that must be sent to the lab for a pathologist to view under a microscope. Parasites have a very unique life cycle that allows them to rotate between dormant and alive. In order to identify them in this conventional test, the stool sample must contain a live parasite, the parasite must remain alive as the sample ships to the lab, and the pathologist must be able to see the live parasite swimming across the slide. While these can certainly be useful tests for some people, they are unable to identify dormant parasites, and therefore I often see a high number of false negatives with this type of stool test."
Alongside signs and symptoms, my preferred method of testing is bloodwork, as out of range Eosinophils, Basophils, WBC, and Ferritin are good indicators of a parasitic infection. (- you can order your Complete Wellness Panel here. It includes markers that conventional doctors typically do not run -). It is crucial to ensure that the body’s drainage pathways are optimal (this includes sweat glands, lymph system, liver, kidneys and bowels) before jumping into any eradication protocol, otherwise, it might lead to severe detox reactions. If you suspect having parasites, I recommend working with a trusted practitioner who can guide you through an appropriate protocol.
Want to get rid of a parasitic infection and stubborn weight? Learn about my favorite supplements and strategies in this PDF!
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