Here are two lists. #1 will tell you HOW folks get parasites and #2 will tell you the symptoms of parasite infections. The dietary measures you are taking are great at keeping parasites at bay - they're good, but they're not strong enough to totally kill them. You still need to bring in the "BIG GUNS" twice per year to totally clean them out. This is a LONG post , but I think it will answer many of your questions.

HOW WE GET PARASITES

First, you need to understand that you’re not actually eating worms to become infected – you’re getting infected from the microscopic parasite eggs that can be virtually anywhere. If after reading this section you're thinking "If parasite eggs are everywhere and are so easy to obtain, then why aren't we ALL infected?" The answer? 90% of us ALREADY ARE. Here are some examples of how easily you can become a parasite host:

CONTAMINATED WATER

Water is the primary way parasites infect humans. For example, over 50% of our lakes, river streams and creeks are infected with the protozoa parasite Giardia Lambia. This parasite is not killed by chlorine and is steadily finding it’s way into urban areas with “treated” drinking water. Symptoms of an infestation include, diarrhea and cramping that lasts for over a week and is most often misdiagnosed as the stomach flu.

ALSO when swimmers have parasites and they swim in places with others, the water is then contaminated with eggs from their bodies. It only takes a very small amount of swallowed water to become infected.

Go to this CNN story reported last last summer (August 2005) where 3,000 people became infected with Crypto Parasite infections from ONE WATER PARK in New York State! http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/08/23/waterpark.illness/index.html

OTHER HUMANS

You can obtain parasite eggs from other humans very easily. Since most infections come from the anal-oral route think about this – someone has parasites, they use the restroom, then they sit down and use the salt shaker on the restaurant’s table – they have just deposited microscopic eggs onto this object. You are the next person to sit at this table and use the salt shaker – you then lick your finger or even put your hand to your face – you are now the new host to parasites. Parasites can live under human fingernails for up to 2 months. Think of how many common objects you come into contact with on a daily basis. Even more common infections come from kissing, holding hands, sharing eating utensils and of course, sexual contact.

Usually if one family member is a host to parasites, the entire family is infected. There are many parasite eggs that can live without a host for weeks – for example, microscopic pinworms eggs become airborne and can travel ANYWHERE and they can live for two days outside of a host. These microscopic eggs are inhaled where they then hatch inside your body.

ANIMALS

Animals, including pets, can spread 240 diseases to humans via parasites. By petting or grooming animals, you are picking up eggs that pass from them to us via hands, nose and mouth. ALSO parasite infected fleas and ticks and parasite infected animal feces are concerns. This is why walking barefoot where animals have defecated is a major source of parasite infections - especially when you CAN'T SEE the actual animal feces - you just happen to be walking where they have been before. THINK about this – when your pet (or someone else’s) licks their anus, they are depositing thousands of eggs onto their tongues – then they lick you and those eggs have just been transmitted to their new host. YOU. Americans now have the highest rate of toxoplasmosis parasites in the world. You have probably heard of this one as all pregnant women are warned about toxplasmosis because they can die from an infestation.

Pets and domesticated animals are not the only ones spreading parasites – mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, lice and all other biting insects transmit protozoa (one cell) parasites to humans.

Here is a story from ABC NEWS (March 2006) documenting a case of Avian Bird Flu in a domestic house cat and how it and other parasitic diseases can severly affect humans. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AvianFlu/story?id=1706795&page=1

MEATS

Undercooked meats are a very high source of parasite infections. Commercial pork products are also notorious for infections – bacon, ham, pork chops, cold cuts, hot dogs, etc. Also cuts of meat such as beef, lamb, chicken and fish contain parasite eggs. Sushi (raw fish) alone contains eggs and larvae of several species of parasites. We trust the cattle, pork and chicken producers to keep their livestock wormed on a regular basis, but over 50% of animals that go to slaughter are parasite infected.

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

Unwashed fruit and vegetables are also a big source of parasite carriers. A lot of vegetables are eaten raw and according to the Center for Disease Control diseases from fruit and vegetables are on the rise. With a huge demand for fruit and vegetables, we Americans import 30 billion tons of food per year. Some of this food comes from countries where animal manure and human feces are used as fertilizer. This practice greatly increases the spread of parasites. The practice of eating out is also on the rise. Salad bars, infected food preparers, and improperly washed fruits and vegetables are all sources for parasites.

TRAVEL

In our modern age, world travel is a way of life for many. These travelers are bringing home parasites that were once almost unknown in America. Airplanes are a great source for parasite transmission. It's very common for a family to go on vacation and bring back uninvited guests with them. We also have a huge influx of refugee and immigrant populations who are bringing us their countries’ parasites.


HOW YOU CAN HELP PREVENT INFESTATION

REMEMBER this – if parasites are so easy to “catch” then why isn’t everyone infected? Over 90% of us ALREADY ARE – it’s just the parasite’s mission to remain undetected.

Follow the age old advice of DON’T DRINK THE WATER – especially on camping trips, while traveling in foreign countries and when swimming in public places. Filtering your home drinking water also helps, as does boiling water to drink while away from home (camping, in foreign countries, etc.).

Avoid putting your hands in your mouth or touching your face and wash your hands often when out and about shopping, eating out, etc.

Worm your pets (and livestock) twice per year and do not walk barefoot where animals have been known to defecate. Do not allow animals to lick you in the face or mouth.

Thoroughly cook all meats – stay away from raw meats (including sushi) and cold cuts (including hot dogs) if possible.

Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before consuming.



HOW & WHY PARASITES MAKE US SICK

Before you read over the following list of symptoms, you need to understand how and why parasites make us sick. Parasites are the HIDDEN DISEASE, they can occur anywhere in the body, in every organ, in all tissues, and in the blood. Parasites can cause problems that mimic other disorders and are not diagnosed as being parasite related. Not only do they cause harm by taking nutrients away from their host, they also produce toxic waste (from their excrement and death cycles) that affects the human body including the central nervous system. For example: Parasite urine is pure ammonia!

The Symptoms of Parasite Infections

STOMACH & INTESTINAL COMPLICATIONS – The sheer number of parasites in the lower digestive system and the toxic waste produced by them can cause these problems:

Diarrhea

Chronic Constipation

Gas & Bloating

Digestive Problems

Excessive Early Bowel Movements

Abdominal Pain

Mucus in the Stools

Leaky Gut

Nausea

Hemorrhoids

Burning in the Stomach

Bloody Stools





FATIGUE - The toxic metabolic waste overloads and overworks the organs of elimination and taxes the central nervous system causing:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Low Energy

Lethargy

Excessive Weakness





SKIN DISORDERS & ALLERGIES – Parasites that penetrate the skin cause itching. When tissue becomes inflamed from these parasites, the body’s white blood cells increase to defend the body. This reaction causes skin rashes and food allergies to appear. Parasites also create toxins and the skin, being the largest organ, tries to remove these toxins which causes many skin problems. Symptoms include:

Dry Skin

Dry Hair

Brittle Hair

Hair Loss

Allergies

Itchy Nose

Itchy Anus

Itchy Skin

Hives

Allergic Reactions to Food

Crawling Sensation Under the Skin

Rashes

Weeping Eczema

Cutaneous Ulcers

Papular Lesions

Swelling

Sores



MOOD & ANXIETY PROBLEMS – Once again, it’s the toxic metabolic waste produced by the parasites that attack the central nervous system causing:

Mood Swings

Nervousness

Depression

Forgetfulness

Unclear Thinking

Restlessness

Anxiety

Slow Reflexes



SLEEP DISTURBANCES – The physical presence of the parasites themselves are a nuisance to the human body. The body reacts to them during periods of rest, this in turn produces:

Insomnia

Teeth Grinding During Sleep

Bed Wetting

Drooling While Asleep

Disturbed Sleep – Multiple Awakenings



WEIGHT & APPETITE PROBLEMS – Parasites live undetected by their hosts. They rob the body of all essential nutrients (they get the choicest nutrition from the food you eat) and you are left with the fats, sugars, etc. Many overweight persons are infested with parasites, they stay hungry which leads to overeating because of the parasites. Depending on the type of parasite infestation, many people are malnourished, they can’t gain weight, again, because of the parasites. This is why parasites cause:

Weight Gain

Long-Standing Obesity

Loss of Appetite OR

Uncontrollable Hunger Eating More Than Normal BUT Still Feeling Hungry

Inability to Gain or Lose Weight



MUSCLE & JOINT COMPLAINTS – Parasites can travel to almost all soft tissue including in the joints and muscles where they cause cysts and inflammation that is commonly mistaken as Arthritis and muscle pain. This list includes:

Muscle Pain

Joint Pain

Muscle Cramping

Numbness of the Hands and/or Feet

Heart Pain

Pain in The Navel

Pain in the Back, Thighs or Shoulders

Arthritic Pains

Fast Heartbeat



BLOOD DISORDERS – The parasites get the good vitamins, including iron, leading to:

Hypoglycemia

Anemia



SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS – With a weakened immune system caused by parasites and their waste you also can experience:

Male Impotence

Erectile Dysfunction

PMS

Candida – Yeast Infections

Urinary Tract Infections

Cysts & Fibroids

Menstrual Problems

Prostate Problems

Water Retention



OTHER SYMPTOMS – More health problems caused by parasites:

Excessive Saliva

Unclear Vision

Bad Breath

Poor Immune Response

Fever

Respiratory Problems

Peritonitis

Chronic Viral or Bacterial Symptoms