Guest Author - ALegra M. Bartzat

Parasites exist throughout nature. Parasites are one example of symbiosis, two beings living together. In many cases of symbiosis the living together is mutually beneficial – both beings benefit from the symbiosis. However in parasitism, the “host” is harmed and the parasite gains all benefits.

Parasites can be plants or animals and can attach themselves to plants or animals. I’m going to explain a little bit more about a parasites that affect humans, specifically parasites that attack the human intestinal tract. The most well known, and most visually terrifying, are intestinal “worms.” There are number of different kind of “worms,” which aren’t related to the worms we find in the earth at all. There are pinworms, roundworms, and tapeworms; the tapeworms can grow to be up to 20 feet long, coiled up inside our intestines.

However, worms are actually not very common. Much more common are the protozoa, single-celled organisms. Both multi-cellular and single celled organisms benefit inside a human body because it offers protection, warmth, and food – all for free! A parasite should not kill its host because it would also be killing itself. Still, a parasite can render its host very unhealthy.

We (humans) do, in fact, also host a great number of other organisms that live with us in a mutually beneficial relationship. There are bacteria in our digestive tract, the so called “good bacteria” that help us assimilate vitamins, even create vitamins for us to absorb, and also take up precious real estate in our intestines so that the “bad bacteria’ have no where to live when they enter our systems.

So how do we get worms, in our clean, germ-obsessed society? Pets, as lovable as they are, are often the culprits, bringing them in from outdoor adventures. Uncooked (or undercooked) meat and fish, sometimes raw vegetables, poor hygiene on the part of restaurant workers, or even poor hygiene when exposed to infected people.

We are exposed to parasites throughout life, just as we are exposed to other germs and toxins. This is usually not a problem, as a healthy digestive tract can usually kill off any parasites we happen to be exposed to in daily living. However, sometimes our digestive tract is compromised because of other illnesses. Occasionally the parasite is really just too strong.

One of the problems is that in killing off bad bacteria, we also kill off good bacteria. Every time you take antibiotics you kill off both good and bad bacteria in your system. Now, if you have bad bacteria then it can be helpful to take the antibiotics, but they are all too often prescribed when people don’t really need them, and then all they serve to do it to kill off the good guys. After finishing a round of antibiotics you can repopulate your digestive tract with the good guys by eating fresh, living yogurt, other fermented foods like sauerkraut, or taking supplemental acidophilus or other intestinal flora.