What you eat will have an impact on your overall health. Interestingly, you can eat certain foods to deal with infections and other problems. This is especially true in case of parasites, which enter your system and make you fall ill. Some foods not only help to improve your immunity against parasites but also get rid of them. Let's find out more about it.
Foods That Kill Parasites
No matter how hard you try, you just cannot protect yourself from all types of bacteria and parasites. They will find a way to enter your body, but you can pay attention to your diet to help deal with parasites in a better way. Here are some foods to include in your diet to kill parasites.
1. Garlic
Garlic has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and it can kill more than 20 types of bacteria and 60 types of fungi. It is also effective against viruses and parasites. Garlic is effective because it contains allicin and ajoene, which not only help kill parasites but is also effective against hookworms and pinworms. These compounds also give garlic antioxidant properties, which help prevent oxidative damage and keep you healthy.
2. Pumpkin Seeds
You can get fresh seeds from a pumpkin, but be sure to expose them to air for several days and then eat them raw on an empty stomach in the morning. You can also bake them at 150C for half an hour with cold pressed oils and seasonings such as cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Or add pumpkin seeds (1-2 tablespoons) to your green smoothies to make them effective against parasites.
3. Pineapple
You can include pineapple in your diet to improve your defense against parasites. Pineapples are effective because they contain the proteolytic enzyme bromelain. This enzyme helps break down proteins, which is the reason why they are equally effective against tapeworms and roundworms. You can eat them raw or include them in your morning green smoothies.
3. Coconut
Coconut is on the list of foods that kill parasites because it contains lauric acid, which your body converts to monolaurin and uses it to kill protozoa, including giardia lamblia and different species of ringworm. If you are concerned about tapeworms only, you may consider drinking coconut juice along with eating the flesh of a fresh coconut in the morning. Be sure to eat nothing for at least 4 hours of eating coconut to get the best results.
4. Cranberries and Raw Cranberry Juice
You can include raw cranberry juice in your diet to improve your defense against parasites. Regular consumption helps improve the acidic level in your intestines, which in turn helps eliminate parasites from your system. It is important to bear in mind that even though raw cranberry juice is very tart, you should not be using sugar to cut the taste. This will make cranberry juice less effective, as parasites need sugar to survive.
5. Jalapeno Peppers
People have been using jalapeno peppers to deal with parasites for ages. You can rely on these peppers to kill stomach and intestinal parasites. Peppers contain certain substances that are released in your intestinal system. This triggers certain reactions that create inhospitable environment for parasites and bacteria. Your body eventually eliminates those parasites with waste.
6. Papaya Seeds
Papaya seeds is also one of the great foods that kill parasites because of the many different compounds they have. You may consider taking honey along with papaya seeds to get better results. However, if you eat them raw, you will still be able to kill parasites. You can also sprinkle them over your salads and other dishes. If you do not mind your smoothies to be a bit spicy, you may consider using papaya seeds to make your smoothies more beneficial.
7. Epazote
Native to Central and South America, this herb has medicinal properties and proves extremely effective against parasites. Indigenous tribes have been using it to deal with flatulence for ages. You can use it specifically to get rid of hookworms and tapeworms. Be sure to let the leaf of the plant soak in tea for long enough to get good results. Avoid using seeds though – they may be toxic.
8. Horseradish
It works great against many food borne illnesses and improves your defense against some worms as well. The Egyptians have been using horseradish for its medicinal properties and you can do the same. It works because it contains a very powerful antibacterial ingredient called allyl isothiocyanate. To get good results, always use fresh horseradish and grate it properly to get enough juice. You can add a tablespoon of fresh horseradish to your soups to make them taste even better. You can also mix grated horseradish with marmalade and Dijon mustard to make a sweet tangy sauce for prawns or fish.
9. Bitter Melon
It may look like an ugly cucumber, but it offers many health benefits and is also one of the great foods that kill parasites. It has been used in Chinese medicine for ages, as they believe that bitter foods such as bitter melon help treat 'damp' conditions such as parasites and candida overgrowth. It is a good idea to include it in your diet, but if you do not like the taste that much, you may consider taking a 60ml shot of the juice.
10. Wormwood
This decorative plant works because it contains an ingredient called absinthe. This ingredient gives wormwood abilities to fight parasites. It also helps improve digestion, increase libido, and treat gallbladder problems. You can ingest wormwood in tea form or have it as a tincture. You can also use it in the essential oil form for good effects.