Parasites And Foods Archives - Cilantro News

Do Papaya Seeds Kill Parasites?

Pamela Nylander PhD — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 13:26:32 +0000

Do papaya seeds kill parasites? Find out what science says about it in this article.

What are papaya seeds?

The papaya fruit (Carica papaya) is a succulent and slightly sweet fruit of a small tree cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions^1,2.

The fruit’s central cavity contains hundreds of black seeds surrounded by mucilage.

Moreover, the seeds are edible and widely consumed by humans and animals in the tropics³.

Health benefits of papaya seeds

Papaya seeds have multiple health benefits, including^1,4,5,6,7:

Anticancer effects
Antibacterial activity
Antifungal properties
Liver protective effects
Anti-inflammatory activity
Anti-ulcer properties
Cardio-protective effects
Anti-diabetic activity

What are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in the intestine of humans and animals.

They harm their hosts in numerous ways, including depriving them of key nutrients and releasing toxins into their bodies.

The most common human intestinal parasites are worms and protozoa⁸.

How do people get infected with parasites?

People get infected with parasites:

By drinking contaminated water
Through the consumption of contaminated food
By touching contaminated soil, water, feces, or blood
In the mother’s womb through the umbilical cord ^9,10,11

Do papaya seeds kill parasites?

Do papaya seeds kill parasites? Here is what science says about it.

Papaya seeds kill Ascaris in humans

Ascaris lumbricoides is a large intestinal roundworm.

It is the most common parasitic worm in humans.

Ascaris male and female worms

A study involving 326 children showed that daily maize porridge fortified with papaya seeds reduced Ascaris lumbricoides egg count by 63,9% after two months⁶.

A reduction of parasitic eggs is linked to the destruction of mature worms¹².

By contrast, maize porridge alone did not reduce the number of Ascaris eggs. On the contrary, it slightly increased it⁶.

Papaya seeds and honey kill parasites in humans

A study comprising 60 children with intestinal parasites reported that dried papaya seeds and honey killed various parasites in addition to Ascaris (Ascaris lumbricoides)³.

Honey alone also eliminated parasites as it has anti-parasitic properties, however, at a much smaller scale.

Papaya seeds and honey killed the following parasites³:

1. Amebas (protozoa)

Entamoeba histolytica is a parasitic ameba found in tropical climates.

Amebas are single-celled micro-organisms that move and eat using pseudopods.

Entamoeba histolytica in the blood.

Entamoeba histolytica can infect the large intestine in humans, causing amebic dysentery (amebiasis).

2. Hookworms

Necator americanus is a species of hookworm found in temperate and tropical climates.

Hookworm

It is a parasitic roundworm that lives in the human intestine.

3. Strongyloides

Strongyloides stercoralis are tiny parasitic roundworms.

Strongyloides stercoralis

They live deeply inserted in the mucosa of the human small intestine.

4. Whipworms

Trichuris trichiura is a parasitic roundworm that looks like a whip at its posterior end.

Trichuris trichiura

It infects the human large intestine.

5. Giardia (protozoa)

Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite.

Giardia lamblia (Giardia intestinalis)

It colonizes the human small intestine causing a diarrheal disease known as giardiasis.

6. Tapeworms

Taenia saginata is a tapeworm (a flat ribbon-like worm) that infects the intestine of humans and cattle.

Taenia saginata

Humans get contaminated by eating undercooked beef.

Papaya seeds kill parasites in animals

Research has revealed that papaya seeds also kill parasites in animals.

These parasites include^{2,12,13,14,15,16,17}:

Ascaridia
Cooperia
Eimeria
Haemochus contortus
Heterakis
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
Oesophagostomum
Syngamus
Trichostrongylus
Trypanosoma cruzi

The mechanism of action

A study reported that benzyl isothiocyanate, a sulfur-containing-chemical found in papaya seeds, is the main bioactive principle that kills parasitic worms^4,5,12,18.

Papaya seeds also contain papain, a protein-digesting enzyme with a similar digestive action to the human enzyme pepsin^7,12.

Researchers believe that benzyl isothiocyanate paralyzes parasites and reduces their energy metabolism, while papain destroys their cuticles or membranes^5,7,12.

Furthermore, fatty acids in the papaya seeds also reduce the number of intestinal parasites^2,7.

How long does it take for papaya seeds to kill parasites?

A study compared the activity of papaya and pumpkin seeds against adult worms¹.

It showed that papaya seeds were faster in inducing paralysis of the worms and killing the parasites than pumpkin seeds¹.

Treatment	Time for paralysis [minutes]	Time for death [minutes]
Pumpkin seeds	1.93	4.90
Papaya seeds	1.88	3.45
Albendazole (Reference drug)	1.15	3.23

How many papaya seeds does it take to get rid of parasites?

A study showed that 4 g of blended papaya seeds mixed with honey cleared 70-100% of protozoa and worms within seven days in children³.

How to eat papaya seeds for parasites

Here is how to eat papaya seeds for parasites:

Air dry the papaya seeds
Machine-blend the seeds
Mix 4 g of the powder with 20 ml of honey or 300 ml of porridge
Take the mixture daily for three weeks

Side effects

Papaya seeds can cause transient side effects, such as nausea or loose stools³.

These side effects are due to the release of toxins in your body when the parasites die off. However, they disappear over time.

It is noteworthy that papaya seeds have abortive and anti-fertility effects in women and men due to benzyl isothiocyanate^1,4,5.

Summary: Do papaya seeds kill parasites?

Papaya seeds are black and shiny seeds present in the central cavity of the papaya fruit.

They are edible and have numerous health benefits.

Do they kill parasites?

Research has reported that papaya seeds kill multiple parasites both in humans and animals.

However, women and men should not consume them when trying to conceive, as they have contraceptive effects.

The post Do Papaya Seeds Kill Parasites? appeared first on Cilantro News.

7 Foods To Avoid With Parasites

Pamela Nylander PhD — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 09:16:35 +0000

You will find 7 foods to avoid when you are infected with parasites in this article.

What are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in the intestines of humans and animals.

They harm their host in numerous ways, including depriving it of key nutrients and releasing toxins into its body.

How do people get infected with parasites?

People get infected with parasites:

In the mother’s womb through the umbilical cord^1,2,3
Through the consumption of contaminated food
By drinking contaminated water
By touching contaminated soil, water, feces, or blood

7 Foods to avoid with parasites

Here is a list of the 7 foods to avoid when you are infected with parasites:

1. Sugar

Regular sugar refers to sucrose, a disaccharide that consists of glucose and fructose⁴.

Sugar is essential for parasites

Studies have reported that glucose is essential for the viability of some parasites^5,6.

For example, Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium falciparum, two protozoa, live in glucose-rich blood and rely upon glucose metabolism exclusively^5,6.

Parasites use sugar to fool your immune system

Another study revealed that the larvae and eggs of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni release sugar to attract the immune system, enabling them to go undetected⁷.

A similar study showed that the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei evades its host’s immune system by repeatedly releasing different sugars on its surface⁸.

Sugar prevents the digestion of parasites

β-galactosidase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down sugars, such as lactose⁹.

Research demonstrated that β-galactosidase digests the sugar-containing protecting structure of Alveolar echinococcosis larvae, leading to parasite abortion¹⁰.

When you eat sugar, your digestive system may not be able to produce enough β-galactosidase to digest both the sugar and the parasites.

Can you eat fruits if you have parasites?

Fruits contain simple sugars, such as glucose, fructose, sucrose¹¹.

However, they don’t belong to the list of foods to avoid with parasites.

They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that make them beneficial to health¹².

For example, studies have shown that berries, pomegranate, and figs have anti-parasitic properties^13,14.

Can you eat honey if you have parasites?

Honey contains fructose and glucose¹⁵.

However, just like fruits, it doesn’t belong to the list of foods to avoid with parasites.

On the contrary, honey has anti-parasitic attributes^16,17,18.

It is, namely, rich in vitamins and minerals¹⁵.

Researchers have reported that honey’s anti-parasitic effects are attributed to compounds, such as glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and methylglyoxal^17,18.

2. Dairy products

Dairy products are food products that contain milk. They include yogurt, cheese, and butter.

They all contain lactose, a sugar composed of galactose and glucose¹⁹.

As explained above, parasites thrive on sugar. Therefore, dairy products belong to the list of foods to avoid when infected with parasites.

3. Ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods are industrial foods that typically contain 5 or more ingredients²⁰.

Some of these ingredients are substances you wouldn’t use in culinary preparations at home. They include²⁰:

Hydrolyzed protein
Modified starches
Hydrogenated or interesterified oils
Colorants
Flavorings
Non-sugar sweeteners

These foods are low in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

Moreover, they are difficult to digest and therefore tend to increase putrefaction in your digestive system.

Intestinal parasites thrive in this type of environment.

4. Gluten-containing foods

Gluten is a substance that consists of two proteins (prolamin and glutenin) naturally found in some cereal grains.

When prolamin and glutenin mix with water, they almost immediately bind and form a sticky network that has a glue-like consistency.

This substance is viscoelastic and poorly soluble in water.

In the digestive system, gluten sticks to the intestinal walls, preventing the proper breakdown of foods and parasites.

5. Meat

We recommend diminishing the consumption of meat when you are infected with parasites.

The digestive system can take up to 2 days to fully digest meat, whereas it can breakdown fruits and vegetables in less than a day.

By slowing down your digestion and promoting putrefaction, meat increases parasite proliferation.

Furthermore, avoid eating raw meat as it may contain alive parasites and eggs.

As such, avoid the following dishes:

Steak tartare
Beef carpaccio
Beef tataki
Kibbeh nayeh

6. Fish

The digestive system can also take up to 2 days to fully digest fish, promoting putrefaction and parasite multiplication.

Therefore, we recommend reducing the consumption of fish.

Moreover, avoid eating raw fish, as it can also be contaminated with alive parasites and eggs.

Hence, avoid the following dishes:

Sushi, maki, and sashimi
Ceviche
Salmon tartare
Tuna tataki
Gravlax
Tuna or salmon tiradito

7. Watercress

Watercress is an aquatic flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.

People eat this leafy green vegetable, among others, in salads, sandwiches, and soups.

Wild watercress can be contaminated with liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) if grown in sheep-raising areas^21,22,23,24.

As a result, it is better to avoid eating uncooked freshwater food, such as watercress, due to parasitic contamination.

Summary: Foods to avoid with parasites

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in your intestines, causing you harm.

Sources of infection include an infected mother or contaminated food, water, matter.

The list of the 7 foods to avoid when you are infected with parasites is as follows:

Sugar (apart from fruits and honey)
Dairy products
Ultra-processed foods
Gluten-containing foods
Meat
Fish
Watercress

The post 7 Foods To Avoid With Parasites appeared first on Cilantro News.

Pumpkin Seeds For Intestinal Parasites

Pamela Nylander PhD — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 15:15:56 +0000

We often hear that pumpkin seeds can be used for intestinal parasites, but what is the reality of the situation?

Here is what science says about it.

What are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in the intestines of humans or animals, causing them harm.

They feed off their hosts and release toxins, such as metabolic waste, into their body.

Globally, intestinal parasite infections are one of the main causes of human disease and mortality¹.

WHO estimates that nothing but amoebic infections cause 40-100 thousand deaths annually².

What are common intestinal parasites?

The most common human intestinal parasites are worms and protozoa in developing countries and protozoa in developed countries².

Worms (helminths)

Worms (helminths) include²:

Nematodes (roundworms)
- e.g., Ascaris, pinworms, and hookworms
Cestodes (tapeworms)
- e.g., Taenia and Echinococcus
Trematodes (flatworms)
- e.g., liver flukes and blood flukes

Roundworms are known to infect 3.5 billion people every year³.

The most significant human intestinal worms are^1,2:

Ascaris lumbricoides
Trichiuris trichiura

Protozoa

The most common intestinal protozoan parasites in humans are^1,2:

Giardia lamblia
Entamoeba histolytica

What are the symptoms of intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites can cause symptoms such as^1,4:

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating
Weight loss
Constipation
Dyspepsia
Irritation
Sleep disturbances

What are the causes of intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasitic infection is often associated with drinking stagnant water in tropical countries.

Although some parasites are more common in tropical climates, others are found in temperate zones.

Parasites and their eggs are present in the water we drink and the food we eat, especially in:

Raw vegetables and fruits
Undercooked meat and fish (e.g., sushi).

What are pumpkin seeds?

Pumpkin seeds are the edible seeds found in orange winter squashes.

Shelled pumpkin seeds (seeds with a white outer husk) are known as pumpkin kernels.

However, once the husk has been removed, they are green in color and known as pumpkin seeds.

Pepitas are huskless seeds from some pumpkin cultivars.

Pumpkin seeds for intestinal parasites

Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds display activity against a variety of parasitic worms.

The anti-parasitic agent in pumpkin kernels is cucurbitine, an amino acid⁵.

**1. Pumpkin seeds for Ascaridia galli parasites**

Ascaridia galli is a parasitic roundworm that mainly infects the intestines of birds (chickens) but can also cause human skin cancer^6,7.

A study has shown that pumpkin seeds extract eliminates Ascaridia galli parasites⁸.

Comparison with a common drug

Pumpkin seeds displayed a similar effect to fenbendazole, the drug routinely used to eradicate Ascaridia galli parasites⁸.

**2. Pumpkin seeds for Ascaris suum parasites**

Ascaris suum is a large roundworm that may infect pigs and humans⁹.

Ascaris male and female worms

It was found that pumpkin seeds extract kills Ascaris suum worms¹⁰.

**3. Pumpkin seeds for Fasciola gigantica parasites**

Fasciola gigantica is a type of liver fluke, a parasitic flatworm that infects the liver.

Fasciola gigantica worm (liver fluke)

It is very closely related to Fasciola hepatica, another liver fluke¹¹.

Researchers have shown that pumpkin seeds extract kills Fasciola gigantica worms¹².

**4. Pumpkin seeds for Hymenolepsis nana parasites**

Hymenolepis nana, the dwarf tapeworm, is a cosmopolitan parasite species common in temperate zones that infects humans, especially children¹³.

Research reported that pumpkin seeds extract reduces the number of adult worms and eggs¹⁴.

Comparison with a common drug

Pumpkin kernels were more effective in eliminating Hymenolepis nana than Praziquantel, the main drug used against this parasite¹⁴.

**5. Pumpkin seeds for Schistosoma parasites**

Schistosoma mansoni is a blood fluke, a parasitic flatworm that lives in blood vessels near the human intestine^15,16.

A study revealed that pumpkin seed oil eliminates Schistosoma mansoni worms and eggs¹⁷.

Coupled male and female Schistosoma worms (blood flukes)

Reports from China have claimed that cucurbitine, the active component in pumpkin seeds, prevents the growth of Schistosoma japonicum, a closely related blood fluke¹⁸.

They also revealed that cucurbitine damages the genital organs of Schistosoma japonicum, resulting in a decline in egg production¹⁸.

Comparison with a common drug

Praziquantel, the usual treatment for schistosomiasis, was more effective than Pumpkin seed oil¹⁷.

Nevertheless, Praziquantel has begun to lose efficacy in the emergent Schistosoma mansoni-resistant strains¹⁷.

**6. Pumpkin seeds for Taenia parasites**

Taenia is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the cestode (tapeworm) class¹⁹.

Members of the genus have a ribbon-like body composed of a series of segments¹⁹.

Taenia solium worm

A study reported that, after eating peeled raw pumpkin seeds, 75% of infected patients expelled whole tapeworms⁵.

Observations showed that cucurbitine paralyzed the back-end segments of the worms^5,14.

The study also revealed that the effectiveness of the treatment was enhanced when pumpkin seeds were combined with areca nuts, eliminating 89% of the parasites^5,20.

Comparison with common drugs

In comparison, Praziquantel and Niclosamide, the two common drugs used to treat taeniasis, are 95% and 85% effective, respectively⁵.

However, Praziquantel can cause epileptic seizures and convulsions⁵.

**7. Pumpkin seeds for Trychostrongylus parasites**

Trichostrongylus is a species of parasitic roundworms that infects herbivores and humans²¹.

Research reported that a diet including pumpkin seeds cake generated a 52,9% reduction of fecal parasite eggs after 12 days²².

Pumpkin seeds prevent parasite eggs from hatching

It was revealed that pumpkin seed ethanol extract prevents Heligmosoides bakeri eggs from hatching³.

Heligmosoides bakeri is a parasitic roundworm of rodents used as a model for human intestinal parasites in laboratory research²³.

How long does it take for pumpkin seeds to kill parasites in humans?

It depends on the type of parasite and if the seeds are consumed on an empty stomach⁵.

A study demonstrated that it took about 14 hours for infected patients to expel whole Taenia worms following treatment with pumpkin seeds⁵.

They ate the seeds in the morning on an empty stomach⁵.

Additionally, they drank magnesium sulfate (a laxative) 40 min to 1 hour later as a purge⁵.

**How long does it take for pumpkin seeds to kill parasites in vitro?**

In test-tube experiments, it took about 6 and 8 hours to kill Fasciola gigantica¹² and Ascaris suum worms¹⁰, respectively.

Pumpkin seeds for parasites in cats and dogs

Pumpkin seeds may also treat parasitic worm infections in cats and dogs.

Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds have properties against numerous parasitic roundworms^3,22.

Furthermore, cats and dogs share many common parasites with humans.

They are hosts to many intestinal parasites that they can transmit to humans.

How much pumpkin seeds to kill parasites?

Dosage for a 137 lbs human adult: 4 oz.

Dosage for a 62 kg human adult: 120 g⁵.

Take the seeds in the morning on an empty stomach. Wait a few days and then repeat.

What are the side effects of pumpkin seeds?

If you eat too many pumpkin seeds, you may experience mild symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, and, rarely, vomiting⁵.

However, these symptoms are transient and disappear over time.

They are known as die-off symptoms or a Herxheimer detox reaction.

Here is how to prevent a Herxheimer detox reaction or reduce it if you are already experiencing it.

Summary: Pumpkin seeds for intestinal parasites

Pumpkin seeds display amazing anti-parasitic activity.

Thanks to their high content of cucurbitine, they kill intestinal worms by paralyzing them before they get expelled.

Furthermore, pumpkin kernels prevent parasite eggs from hatching.

Pumpkin seeds can be used for intestinal parasites in humans, cats, and dogs.

They kill the following parasites:

Ascaridia galli
Ascaris suum
Fasciola gigantica (liver flukes)
Hymenolepsis nana
Schistosoma mansoni (blood flukes)
Taenia
Trychostrongylus

The post Pumpkin Seeds For Intestinal Parasites appeared first on Cilantro News.

13 Best Foods That Kill Parasites In Humans

Pamela Nylander PhD — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:39:10 +0000

You will find the 13 best foods that kill parasites in humans naturally in this article.

What is a parasite?

A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism, causing it harm.

It feeds at the expense of its host, thus depriving it of many key nutrients necessary for its proper functioning.

Moreover, an internal parasite (endoparasite) can also harm its host by releasing toxins, such as metabolic wastes, into its body.

What are common human parasites?

Human parasites include protozoa and worms¹.

Parasitic worms (helminths) comprise different groups, such as²

Roundworms (nematodes)
- e.g., Ascaris, pinworms, and hookworms
Tapeworms (cestodes)
- e.g., Taenia and Echinococcus
Flatworms (trematodes)
- e.g., Liver flukes and blood flukes

Protozoa are one-celled animals found worldwide. All higher animals are infected with one or more species of protozoa³.

The most significant parasitic protozoa that infect humans globally are⁴:

Plasmodium
Trypanosoma
Leishmania

Where do human parasites live?

Internal parasites can colonize different parts of the human body, such as

The digestive system
Connective tissue
The circulatory or lymphatic system
Hollow organs (lungs or urogenital organs)

What are the symptoms of intestinal parasites?

The symptoms of parasitic intestinal infection in humans include^5,6:

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Nausea, vomiting
Bloating, gastrointestinal obstruction
Weight loss
Irritation
Insomnia
Blood loss, anemia

What are the causes of intestinal parasites?

The main causes of intestinal parasitic infection in humans are:

Eating contaminated food, such as undercooked meat or fish (sushi), raw vegetables or fruits
Drinking contaminated water
Touching contaminated soil, water, or feces
Transmission in the womb through the umbilical cord

13 Best foods that kill parasites in humans

Here are the 13 best foods that kill gut and skin parasites in humans naturally:

1. Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is a yellowish oil obtained by pressing seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum).

It is high in omega-3 fatty acids, making it beneficial to health^7,8.

Studies have shown that flaxseed oil kills different parasites, including:

Fasciola hepatica⁹
Plasmodium falciparum^10,11
Strongylids and strongyloids¹²

2. Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a fermented food made by slicing raw cabbage, layering it with salt, and leaving it to ferment in an airtight container.

Once deprived of oxygen, probiotic lactic acid bacteria present on cabbage leaves intensively multiply. This process is known as lactic acid fermentation.

During this process, the probiotic bacteria convert sugar into lactic acid.

Unpasteurized sauerkraut kills parasites

The digestive system produces digestive enzymes, such as hydrochloric acid and pepsin, that break down food and kill intestinal viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Lactic acid resulting from fermentation increases the acidity in your stomach, enhancing food digestion and parasite destruction¹³.

Sauerkraut is also rich in kaempferol¹⁴, a flavonoid with antiparasitic properties^15,16,17,18.

3. Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seed is the edible seed of a cultivar of orange winter squash.

It has a white husk and is green in color after shelling.

Pumpkin seeds kill parasites

Pumpkin seeds help eliminate parasites, such as Taenia, from your body by paralyzing them before they get expelled^19,20.

They kill the following parasites:

Ascaridia galli^21,22
Ascaris suum²³
Fasciola gigantica²⁴
Haemonchus contortus^25,26
Hymenolepsis nana²⁷
Ostertagia²⁵
Schistosoma mansoni²⁸
Taenia^19,20
Trichostrongylus²⁵

Besides, pumpkin seeds prevent parasitic eggs from hatching^29,25,26.

The anti-parasitic component in pumpkin seeds has been identiﬁed as cucurbitine¹⁹.

4. Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper is the red-colored berry-fruit of a Capsicum annuum plant.

It is a moderately hot chili pepper used as a spice in cooking.

Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a compound responsible for their spicy and hot taste³⁰.

Does spicy food kill parasites?

Chili pepper plants produce capsaicin as a defense mechanism against predators, parasites, and microbes.

Capsaicin kills the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease³¹,

Trypanosoma cruzi

The concentration of capsaicin required to eliminate this parasite is 57 times lower than benznidazole, the drug commonly used for treating Chagas disease³¹.

5. Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a perennial flowering plant that grows from a bulb.

The bulb has a strong smell and comprises thin sheathing leaves that protect cloves.

Since ancient times, humans have used garlic cloves as a food flavoring and traditional medicine³².

The biological activity of garlic is mainly attributed to allicin and ajoene, sulfur compounds with anticancer effects^33,32.

Garlic kills parasites

Garlic is one of the best foods that kill parasites. It eliminates the following parasites:

Blastocystis³⁴
Cryptosporidium enteritis³⁵
Echinostoma caproni³⁶
Entamoeba histolytica³³
Fasciola gigantica³⁷
Giardia lamblia and intestinalis³³
Haemonchus contortus larvae^38,26
Hymenolepsis nana³³
Leishmania tarentolae³², major and mexicana³³
Plasmodium berghei and yoelii³³
Schistosoma mansoni³³
Trypanosoma brucei³², congolese and vivax³³
Trichomonas vaginalis³³

6. Figs

The fig is the edible fruit of a small tree (Ficus carica) in the Moraceae family.

It is native to the Mediterranean and western Asia.

Figs kill parasites

Fig fruits have anti-parasitic properties.

They contain, namely, ficin, a proteolytic enzyme that digests the cuticle and destroys the body of Ascarids³⁹.

Figs show activity against the following parasites:

Angiostrongylus cantonensis⁴⁰
Ascaris³⁹
Trichuris, including Trichuris muris^39,40

7. Ginger

Ginger is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, a flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family⁴¹.

Since ancient times, it has been used as a spice to flavor food and as a traditional remedy⁴¹.

The health benefits of ginger are mainly attributed to its phenolic compounds gingerols and shogaols⁴².

Ginger kills parasites

Ginger eliminates the following parasites:

Angiostrongylus cantonensins⁴³
Anisakis simplex⁴³
Ascaris lumbricoides⁴⁴
Blastocystis⁴³
Echinococcus granulosus⁴³
Fasciola giganta⁴⁵
Fasciola hepatica^46,47
Giardia lamblia⁴⁸
Hymenolepsis nana⁴³
Schistosoma mansoni⁴⁹
Toxocara canis⁴³
Toxoplasma gondii⁴³
Trichostrongylus axei⁵⁰
Trypanosoma brucei⁴³ and cruzi⁵¹

A study showed that ginger’s anti-parasitic activity against Fasciola giganta was more effective than triclabendazole, the drug commonly used⁴⁵.

8. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of an evergreen aromatic tree (Cinnamomum).

In addition to being a food flavoring, cinnamon is also beneficial to human health^52,53.

Cinnamon aldehyde is the main bioactive compound found in cinnamon bark^53,52,54.

Cinnamon for parasites

Studies have shown that cinnamon kills the following parasites:

Giardia lamblia⁴⁸
Leishmania infantum⁵⁴

Cinnamon also gets rid of parasitic eggs.

9. Cloves

Cloves are the dried flower buds of clove (Syzygium aromaticum), an evergreen tree native to Indonesia⁵⁵.

This food kills the following parasites:

Babesia⁵⁶
Blastocystis⁵⁷
Entamoeba histolytics⁵⁸
Giardia lamblia⁵⁹ and intestinalis⁵⁸
Haemonchus contortus^25,38
Ostertagia²⁵
Plasmodium falciparum⁶⁰
Trichostrongylus²⁵
Trypanosoma cruzi⁵¹

Cloves contain eugenol

The main bioactive compound of cloves is eugenol, a phenol⁵⁵.

Besides, studies have shown that eugenol eliminates parasites, including:

Fasciola gigantica⁶⁰
Giardia lamblia⁶⁰
Haemonchus contortus⁶⁰
Schistosoma mansoni⁶⁰
Leishmania donovani⁶¹

Cloves are well known for eradicating parasitic eggs²⁵.

10. Turmeric

Turmeric is a flowering plant (Curcuma longa) in the Zingiberaceae family⁶².

Its rhizome is widely used to flavor food, especially in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine⁶².

Furthermore, turmeric has a very long history of medicinal use in India⁶².

Its main biologically active compound is curcumin ⁶².

Turmeric for parasites

Turmeric, or curcumin, kills the following parasites:

Acanthamoeba⁶³^,⁶⁴
Cryptosporidium parvum⁶⁵^,⁶⁶^,⁶⁷
Entamoeba histolytica⁶⁸^,⁶⁹
Fasciola gigantica⁷⁰
Giardia lamblia⁷¹^,⁷²
Leishmania⁷³^,⁷⁴
Plasmodium falciparum⁷⁵^,⁷⁶
Schistosoma mansoni⁷⁷^,⁷⁸
Toxoplasma gondii⁷⁹
Trichomonas vaginalis⁸⁰
Trypanosoma⁸¹^,⁸²

11. Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made of salted and fermented vegetables and seasonings⁸³.

Its main ingredients are cruciferous vegetables, garlic, ginger, and chili pepper powder⁸³.

These functional foods make kimchi very beneficial to human health.

Kimchi for parasites

Homemade kimchi is also one of the best foods that kills parasites.

Just like sauerkraut, it contains probiotic lactic acid bacteria with anti-parasitic properties.

Moreover, garlic, ginger, and chili pepper also have anti-parasitic effects, as explained in the previous sections.

12. Berries

Berries are small, rounded, fleshy fruits that are often edible. They are generally brightly colored and have many seeds.

Berries include raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries⁸⁴.

Berries kill parasites

A study reported that berries eliminated the human intestinal parasite

Giardia duodenalis⁸⁵

Some of them were as effective as the currently used drug, metronidazole⁸⁵.

Berries are rich in polyphenols with anti-parasitic activity, such as gallic acid⁸⁵.

13. Pomegranate

Pomegranate is the fruit of a shrub (Punica granatum), a member of the Lythraceae family.

Pomegranate has anti-parasitic effects

Pomegranate is one of the best foods that kill parasites.

Its peel, namely, eliminates the following parasites:

Ascaris suum⁸⁶
Cryptosporidium parvum⁸⁷
Eimeria papillata⁸⁸
Giardia duodenalis and lamblia^85,89,90
Plasmodium falciparum⁹¹
Schistosoma mansoni⁹²

Pomegranate peel is high in polyphenols and tannins that have anti-parasitic effects^85,87,89,90.

Side effects of foods that kill parasites

Foods that kill parasites can cause side effects known as “die-off symptoms” or a “Herxheimer detox reaction”.

However, these symptoms disappear over time.

Here is how to prevent a Herxheimer detox reaction or how to reduce die-off symptoms, if you are already experiencing them.

Summary: 13 Best foods that kill parasites in humans

Humans catch parasites by consuming contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching contaminated matter.

There are, however, multiple natural foods that kill intestinal and other types of parasites.

As such, by modifying your diet, it is possible to get rid of them and the symptoms they induce.

The 13 best foods that kill gut and skin parasites in humans naturally are:

Flaxseed oil
Sauerkraut
Pumpkin seeds
Cayenne pepper
Garlic
Figs
Ginger
Cinnamon
Cloves
Turmeric
Kimchi
Berries
Pomegranate

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