ELLE.COM.AU / @ELLEAUS 161
Words: Emma Strenner. Photography: David Burton
Sure, hygiene standards may be high in Australia,
but that doesn’t mean we’re not at risk of parasites:
an organism that lives on or in another species and
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Common forms include roundworms, tapeworms,
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(found in tiny snails in lakes and brackish water) and
spirochetes (bacteria that causes syphilis and Lyme
disease that are so tiny they can’t be seen with the
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you unable to put on weight,
feeling lethargic and always
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your blood cells, leading to anaemia,
and others still will lay eggs,
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intestines for years without causing
symptoms, making it hard to
pinpoint exactly when and how the
infection took place,” says Robbie
Clark, dietitian and co-founder
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even when symptoms are
present, a parasite can often be
misdiagnosed as signs are diverse
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60 million Americans were unknowingly infected with
theToxoplasma gondiiparasite alone – that’s 20 per cent
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meat, a dirty bathroom or an infected pet – there are
a variety of ways parasites can enter the body and
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syndrome or leaky gut syndrome, but if a parasite
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digestive system will continue on with no relief,
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Since the gut is basically ground zero for tonnes of
bodily functions (from digestive and immune to
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disrupting the delicate balance you’ve got going on in
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mental distress, depression, anxiety and cognitive
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have to provide a poo sample) will likely lead to
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successful in removing parasites, however, high-dose
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it’s very important to repair the gastrointestinal
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foods such as yoghurt, kimchi, apple cider vinegar,
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bacteria in your gut, keeping the digestive system
healthy and boosting immunity,
which is especially important
following an infection,” says
naturopath and Swisse expert
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containing prebiotics – such as
onions, garlic and artichokes – can
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for parasites that’s been devised
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American naturopathic physician
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ancient treatment for worms that
involved submerging a patient in
milk, Lancaster developed a goat-milk cleanse that is
accompanied by a vermifuge of anti-parasitic herbs,
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milk lures the parasite out of the gut lining (they
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cleanse isn’t standard practice, it’s still a promising
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everything is well-washed and well-cooked will
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don’t disregard the value of old-fashioned
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ȱȱȱ ǯȱ ȱǰȱ ǰȱǯǯǯFIT CLUB
“THINK OF
PARASITES
AS LIKE
A BARNACLE
ATTACHED
TO A WHALE,
BUT ON YOUR
INSIDES.
FEELING
QUEASY YET?”