Are You Susceptible to a Parasitic Infection?

If you have heavy metals, candida, bacteria, mold, and viral infections, you may have a parasitic infection. When the immune system is suppressed with these pathogens and toxins, it makes you more susceptible to a parasitic infection.

(1)What are Heavy Metals?

According to a 2014 study, heavy metals are described as “naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least 5 times greater than that of water. Their multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical and technological applications have led to their wide distribution in the environment; raising concerns over their potential effects on human health and the environment.”

Heavy metals weaken the immune system and cause cells to lose their vitality. If an individual has a heavy metal toxicity, parasites can easily attack as this toxicity makes humans more susceptible to parasitic infections.

Because of their high degree of toxicity, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury rank among the priority metals that are of public health significance. These metallic elements are considered systemic toxicants that are known to induce multiple organ damage, even at lower levels of exposure. They are also classified as human carcinogens according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Symptoms of a Heavy Metal Toxicity:

Brain Fog
Poor Gut Health / Multiple Gut Infections
Neurodegenerative Diseases / Neuropathy / Pins & Needles
Anxiety / Depression / Mental Disorders
Hair Loss
Behavioral Disorders / Autism (especially in children)
Frequent Heachaches / Migraines
Joint / Muscle Aches
Overall Fatigue / Weakness

Is it Common to be Exposed to Heavy Metals?

Yes, as humans we are chronically exposed to heavy metals. According to a 2014 study, “sources of heavy metals in the environment include geogenic, industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, domestic effluents, and atmospheric sources.” Essentially, humans may ingest heavy metals through soil contamination, livestock, contaminated air, dental work, polluted marine life, and toxic water.

How Do Heavy Metals Affect the Body?

Heavy metals have been reported to affect cellular organelles and components such as cell membrane, mitochondria, lysosome, endoplasmic reticulum, nuclei, and some enzymes involved in metabolism, detoxification, and damage repair. These heavy metal ions have been found to interact with cell components such as DNA and nuclear proteins, causing DNA damage and conformational changes that may lead to cell cycle modulation, carcinogenesis (cancer) or apoptosis (cell death). These cellular changes lead to a weakened immune system, causing symptoms and a gateway for other pathogens and para to invade the body.

(2)What is Candida?

Candida is a fungal opportunistic pathogen. It usually resides as a commensal in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and in the oral and conjunctival flora. However, it causes infection when the host becomes debilitated or immunocompromised. According to the CDC, “Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems. Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).” Candida overgrowth and parasitic infections are often found together!

Symptoms of a Candida Overgrowth:

Gastrointestinal Problems (IBS, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating)
Poor Sleep
Vaginal Irritation / Chronic Vaginal Infections / UTIs
Itching
Sinus Infections
Skin / Nail Infections

(3)What is Bacteria?

Bacteria are small single-celled organisms that are vital to life. However, the invasion of pathogenic bacterial overgrowth such as: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Borrelia burgdorferi and/or Borrelia mayonii (Lyme Disease), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Campylobacter, etc. can cause a create an environment where parasites can thrive within the body.

Click here to read our article on Lyme Disease!

Symptoms of a Bacterial Infection:

Symptoms of a bacterial infection will vary depending on the specific bacteria, but common symptoms of a bacterial infection include:

Gastrointestinal Issues
Chronic Fatigue
Food Sensitivities
Joint / Muscle Pain
Mental Disorders / Depression / Anxiety
Hormonal Imbalances
Acne / Psoriasis / Skin Irritation

What is the Correlation Between Bacteria and Parasites?

Bacterial infections suppress the immune system, making it easier for parasites to invade the body. This also creates a perfect breeding ground for more harmful symptoms, diseases, and disorders to take over.

For example, liver flukes are parasites that migrate through the gut wall and peritoneal cavity to the liver and bile ducts. A 2012 study investigated whether “Helicobacter spp. infection and the cagA of H. pylori are associated with hepatobiliary pathology, specifically biliary inflammation, cell proliferation and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).” The findings suggested that “in areas of Thailand where flukes are endemic, the Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori was found in 66.7% of the patients studied that had cholangiocarcinoma.” This raised the hypothesis that co-infections with H. pylori and with liver flukes synergistically increases the severity of hepatobiliary abnormalities.

Another example of a bacterial/parasitic infection includes the invasion of the gram-negative bacterium, Salmonella, through consumption of contaminated food such as meat, eggs, or milk. Co-infections with distinct parasites, helminths, and malaria parasites, have each been shown to exacerbate susceptibility to, or the pathogenesis of, salmonellosis.

According to this 2018 study, the “co-infection of mice with the gastrointestinal helminth H. polygyrus has also been shown to enhance the pathogenesis of infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium independently of the actions of Th2 cells and regulatory T cells. Here, co-infection with H. polygyrus has been reported to disrupt the metabolic profile within the small intestine, and by doing so, directly affect the invasive capacity of S. typhimurium. This helminth infection was shown to mediate this effect through the enhancement of bacterial expression of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) genes. This study reveals a novel immune system-independent mechanism by which a helminth-modified metabolome in the host's intestine can promote susceptibility to bacterial co-infection.”

Overall, bacterial and parasitic infections are heavily involved with each other.

(4)What is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in places where moisture exists (plants, wood, drywall, floors, ceilings, food, etc.). It can appear in a variety of colors including: black, white, green, purple, orange, and blue. All colors and species of mold produce microscopic spores that germinate where moisture has gathered. These spores multiply and create larger infestations that have the ability to cause severe health problems.

To learn more about the health effects of mold, click here!

Symptoms of a Mold Toxicity/Illness:

Symptoms of mold toxicity/illness vary. Mold can live within the body for decades - even after moving out of a moldy environment. It is crucial to detox from mold if necessary. Symptoms include:

Respiratory problems (asthma, wheezing, coughing, chest pain)
Chronic Fatigue
Brain Fog / Memory Issues / Word Recollection Issues
Insomnia
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Mental Disorders (Depression, Anxiety)
Cancer
Eye Problems (Blurred Vision, Watery Eyes, Light Sensitivity, Red Eyes)
Joint Pain / Body Aches
Digestive Problems (Abdominal Pain, Leaky Gut, Food Sensitivities, Bloating, Diarrhea)
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
HPA-Axis Dysregulation / Cortisol Imbalances
Excessive Thirst / Frequent Urination

What is the Correlation Between Mold and Parasites?

When parasite cleansing, the toxins parasites release may include mold into the immune system and bloodstream. Due to this, the body may have a herxheimer reaction or cause a re-infection of mold/mycotoxins. It is important to physically get out of a moldy environment prior to parasite cleansing as this can cause more strain than benefit on the body.

(5) What are Viruses?

A virus is a “small parasite consisting of nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) enclosed in a protein coat that can replicate only in a susceptible host cell.”

According to a 2017 study, “it is estimated that humans carry between 8 and 12 persistent viral infections, including herpesviruses, retroviruses, Allenoviridae and in fewer individuals: papillomaviruses, hepatitis viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For most of the life‐time of the host, persistent viral infections cause no overt clinical disease. This pathogen‐induced immune regulation is also employed by other chronic infections, including parasites, to enhance pathogen survival and often confer a survival advantage to the host.” This mutualistic relationship between viruses and parasites often causes more virus symptoms.

Other Viruses that may Interfere with a Parasitic Infection include:

Epstein-Barr Virus
Cytomegalovirus
Chicken Pox / Shingles
Hepatitis

What is the Correlation Between Viruses and Parasites?

Viruses typically lay dormant until threatened. They may resurface in times of extreme stress or during the infection of other bacteria, mold, environmental toxins, and parasites. Viruses are similar to parasites as they have evolved potent mechanisms to regulate the host immune response, in order to ensure their long‐term survival.

If you believe you are dealing with chronic illness, please contact a functional provider. Dr. Jaban Moore, a functional medicine provider, can help you if you are experiencing chronic symptoms.

Please reach out if you are interested in taking your health back! You can give our office a call at (816) 889-9801.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144270/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7454042/

https://civileats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/palmer2008.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7454042/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158644/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26160074/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4427717/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16325528/

https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/index.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708393/