Colonista: One Woman's Search for the World's Best Colon Cleansing

6 Sanitary and Dietary Ways to Avoid Parasites

One of the best ways you can avoid becoming infected with a parasite is to live cleanly. These six tips will help you to live a sanitary and safe life by altering your diet and living conditions:

 

1. Wash all fruits and veggies before you eat them.
2. Be sure to completely cook all meats, fish, and chicken to the appropriate temperature.Also, check your food for worms that may be right beneath the skin. Always wash your hand thoroughly after handling raw meat.
3. Drink only water from a multi-filtered source.
4. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly throughout each day.
5. Keep your home clean. Parasites love to live in soil particles and dust--don't give them a home!
6. Maintain a balanced diet to keep your body's pH regulated.

 

Want more tips? Your wish is my command. Come back tomorrow for more.

 

(Picture Credit: CaliVita Parasites)

Viruses: Common and Icky

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! But now it's time to get back to work--and talk about viruses.

 

I've spent the past week or so talking about bacterial infections that are common in our society. But did you know that viruses are extremely harmful as well? Norwalk virus, the Rotavirus, Cytomegalovirus (CMB), and Sapovirus are just four of the viruses that can cause gastroenteritis. Viral gastroenteritis is common throughout the world and is transmitted by sharing food, drinks, eating utensils--and even toys, pacifiers, and bottles.

 

Food can become contaminated with a virus because of unsanitary practices such as not washing hands before handling food; it can also occur when shellfish comes in contact with untreated sewage. Believe it or not, water systems can become affected by sewage, polluting public drinking water and infecting people far and wide.

 

Gross.

 

Come back tomorrow to hear about what you can do to avoid parasites and viruses!

 

(Picture Credit: California Institute of Technology)

Chew On This Over the Weekend: Salmonella

Salmonella is a harmful bacteria that can cause intestinal infections and typhoid fever. Infection occurs after consuming food and/or water that has been directly contaminated with fecal matter. Yes. Food or water that's laced with poop. Unfortunately, this means that this bacterium can be picked up at a number of public restaurants, not just from your own kitchen.

 

Once you have ingested salmonella, symptoms can appear within six to forty-eight hours. Symptoms include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Nausea

 

In some cases, the diarrhea caused by salmonella infection can become so severe that dehydration occurs and hospitalization is necessary. Infection can also cause inflammation of the intestinal walls. Furthermore, the bacteria can penetrate the walls of the digestive tract and then travel via bloodstream to infect other organs in the body. In very extreme cases, death is possible--however, it typically only occurs in the very young or very old, or in those with weakened immune systems.

 

Each year, about 30,000 cases are reported to the Center for Disease Control. However, this is just a fraction of the total cases that occur each year; the CDC estimates that "...1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur annually in the United States."

 

The following foods may contain salmonella:

• Chocolate (Nooooo!!!)
• Coconut
• Fish, frog legs, and shrimp
• Peanut butter
• Non-pasteurized milk and dairy products
• Raw meats, eggs, poultry
• Sauces and salad dressings

 

If you suspect that you may be infected with salmonella, visit a doctor immediately.

 

(Picture Credit: Food Poison Journal)

Happy Turkey Day!

I decided it was suitable to take a break from talking about nasty bacteria and viruses to wish all of my fellow Americans a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

I'm thankful for the following:

• My two dogs that love me no matter what kind of mood I'm in
• My husband, who puts up with all of my poop-talk and colon-talk with a smile
• You, my readers, who help to encourage me through my mission to learn and share as much about the digestive system as possible

 

Enjoy being with the ones you love today, and come back tomorrow for another helping of harmful bacteria.

 

(Picture Credit: The Rogue Cookie)

Clostridium: Responsible for Diarrhea

Time to introduce you to another harmful bacteria: Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile.

 

C. difficile is to blame for nearly three million cases of diarrhea and colitis each year.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "Infection with C. difficile is associated with recent use of antimicrobial medications and with residence in hospitals." This is because antibiotics have the ability to kill essential digestive flora along with harmful bacteria.

 

C. difficile is transmitted through poop (gross) and can survive for up to seventy days OUTSIDE a host. This obviously makes it much easier for the strain to survive long enough to find its next host.

 

Severe cases of infection can lead to:

• Septicemia
• Renal failure
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract infection
• Anemia

 

Symptoms of clostridium infection include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Foul-smelling stools
• Bloody stools

 

Again, if you are afraid that you may be dealing with a clostridium infection, see a doctor right away.

 

(Picture Credit: Microbiology2009)

Harmful Viruses and Bacteria: Let's Start With E.Coli

There are good bacteria and harmful bacteria. The human body naturally had billions of bacteria that help digest starches and turn them into useful fatty acids. They also help to bread down nutrients and prevent the growth of bad bacteria.

 

But what about those bad bacteria and viruses? Let's being with Escherichia coli (E.coli). E.coli inhabits the colon, and most strains of E.coli are harmless. However, other strains can cause serious health problems such as Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome in children or kidney failure.

 

E.coli gives off toxins and causes the intestinal tract to become inflamed, which can lead to bowel lining damage. But how do you get E.coli? From undercooked ground beef or contaminated water. Symptoms of E.coli infection include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Bloody diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

 

If you are afraid that you've been affected by E.coli, visit a physician immediately.

 

(Picture Credit: E.coli Blog)

Candida Albicans--What Does It Do To My Body?

Candida albicans is a type of yeast fungus that is present in everyone's body. The majority of the fungus can be found in the mouth and the intestinal tract. However, sometimes candida can get a little out of control, and that's when the body can be harmed by it.

 

Having a small amount of candida in your body is actually a good thing--it acts as a natural antibiotic and helps to limit the amount of harmful bacteria. When candida becomes an issue is when it's excessive, which can be caused by prescription antibiotics and/or birth control pills coupled with a bad diet, soft drink and alcohol consumption, drinking chlorinated water, and overall poor health.

 

An overgrowth of candida can rob your body of the essential nutrients it needs by consuming all the sugars and starches in your digestive tract. Symptoms of excessive candida include:

• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Itchy eyes
• Constipation
• Menstrual irregularities
• Decreased sex drive
• Muscle and joint pain
• Depression
• Sinus drainage
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Food allergies
• Nail fungus
• Hair loss
• Urinary tract infections
• Headaches
• Weight change
• Inability to think clearly

 

If left untreated, an overgrowth of candida can eventually lead to chronic fatigue and/or bowel disease.

 

(Picture Image: Candida Shmeeda: Beating the Fungus)

I Say Fluke, You Say Flatworm...

...but they're the same thing!

 

Fasciolopsis buski is the largest intestinal fluke in humans. It lives in the upper part of the small intestines. Adult worms produce an average of twenty-five thousand eggs each and every day.

 

Symptoms of fluke infestation include:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Allergies
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Intestinal ulcers

 

It's suggested by research that this intestinal fluke passes from human to human through the exchange of bodily fluids during breastfeeding, sex, and other intimate activities.

 

And that wraps up our week of intestinal worms (phew!).

 

(Picture Credit: Helminth Taxonomy)

Trichinella: So THAT'S What Causes Trichinosis!

Trichinella is the worm that causes the disease trichinosis, which can lead to:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Muscle soreness
• Nausea
• Edema of the lips and face
• Vomiting
• Difficulty breathing
• Enlarged lymph glands
• Difficulty speaking
• Fatigue
• Dehydration

 

Trichinella infection is typically caused by eating raw or undercooked pork.

 

When a Trichinella worm is young, it encases itself in an animal's muscle tissue and then matures in a human host once that animal is consumed.

 

Just one huge reason to make sure your pork is cooked thoroughly!

 

Come back tomorrow to learn about flukes. Ewww!

 

(Picture Credit: HAH Croatian Food Agency)

Hookworms: These Suckers Are Nasty

Another common type of roundworm is the hookworm. Hookworms can actually penetrate human skin. This means that they can enter a host's body through the feet of those people that walk barefoot in areas contaminated with fecal matter. I'm a big lover of walking barefoot, but I'm not so sure that I'll be doing that any more...

 

Once a hookworm gets inside the body, it latches onto the intestinal wall with its fangs (I'm not kidding) and begins to suck your blood.

 

Most hookworm infections occur in tropical and subtropical areas. Symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Itchy skin
• Gas
• Fatigue
• Fever

 

Hookworms can live in a host's body for up to ten years. If infection is not addressed, it can lead to serious symptoms and disorders including:

• Iron deficiency
• Heart problems

 

Come back tomorrow to learn about our buddy Trichinella!

 

(Picture Credit: Zooillogix)