Parasites!

...Because Detoxing Is A Way Of Life

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS; NY Times Bestselling Author • September 20, 2026

Guest Article · Gut Health

Parasites are more common than many people realize- and in some cases, they may quietly interfere with digestion, energy levels, and overall gut health. In the field of functional and integrative nutrition, some experts have long emphasized the potential impact of parasites on gut health and metabolism. One of the leading voices in this space is Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, New York Times bestselling author of Guess What Came to Dinner?, who has spent decades researching digestive health and cleansing protocols.

Parasites: The Hidden Disruptor of Metabolism & Health

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, guest author of the parasites article on the Detoxity MediSpa blog.

In the following articles, she shares her perspective on how parasites may influence weight and metabolism, energy, autoimmune issues, overall wellness, as well as how to safely get rid of them.

By Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, New York Times bestselling author of Guess What Came to Dinner?

Parasites: Everything You Need to Know

Woman on a sofa holding her stomach with digestive discomfort, a possible parasite sign - Detoxity.

When parasites come to mind, you probably think about your pets or an exotic vacation where everyone ended up with a stomach bug.

It’s easy to dismiss parasites as a third-world concern, but they are far more prevalent here in the US than you might imagine:

In fact, a study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that 1 in 3 people tested positive for parasitic infections (based on a nationally representative sample of over 2,800 subjects).

I’ve been championing this cause for decades – since my book Guess What Came to Dinner? Parasites and Your Health came out in 1991 – and I’ve only become more and more convinced of the enormous panorama of human health problems that can be traced back to parasites.

Within our bodies, these organisms consume food and nutrients, produce toxic waste and eventually destroy our tissues and cells. As the most immunosuppressive agent in the human body, parasites produce indole catabolities that push the kidneys and liver to work overtime to excrete them. They acidify the body and slow down metabolism for the excess acids to be stored in fat cells, making weight loss a challenge. In addition, the immune system can go into overdrive, emitting cytokines that can trigger a variety of immune responses, negatively impact neurotransmitters in the brain and contribute to autoimmune concerns.

So How Do You Know If You’ve Got a Parasite Problem?

Microscopic illustration of intestinal parasites, a hidden gut health disruptor - Detoxity MediSpa.

The acute symptoms that probably come to mind – diarrhea, digestive upset, fatigue and fever – are often just the tip of the iceberg. Parasites can stick around long after any initial symptoms are gone, wreaking havoc in your body as they multiply. The signs can mimic many other common ailments and parasites often aren’t suspected – take these, for example: fatigue, sleeplessness, weight gain, sugar cravings, hair loss, dark circles under the eyes, skin conditions, joint and muscle aches and pain, food allergies, anxiety.

Common Symptoms of Parasites

Diarrhea
Constipation
Gas and Bloating
Abdominal Pain
Loss of Appetite or Excessive Appetite
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
“Leaky Gut” Syndrome
“Fluttery” Feeling of Movement in the Abdomen
Rectal Itching
Interstitial Cystitis
Joint and Muscle Aches and Pains
Anemia
Allergy
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Skin Conditions
Granulomas
Nervousness
Hyperactivity
Sleep Issues
Headaches
Teeth Grinding
Chronic Fatigue
Autoimmunity
Immune Dysfunction
Unexplained Fevers
Hair Loss
Weight Loss or Gain
Tooth Loss

Answering “yes” to any of these questions is a risk factor for parasite infection:

Take the Parasite Quiz!

Sushi and raw salad, foods linked to parasite risk in the parasite quiz - Detoxity MediSpa.

Answering “yes” to any of these questions is a risk factor for parasite infection

Do you have pets in your home?
Do you live on a farm and take care of animals?
Do you go hiking, camping, or fishing?
Do you swim in lakes, ponds or rivers?
Do you drink untested well water?
Do you eat unwashed raw fruits, vegetables, and salads (especially in restaurants)?
Do you eat sushi or other rare-cooked or raw fish or meat?
Do you eat exotic foods?
Do you eat organ meats?
Do you eat pork, beef, bear, fish or shellfish?
Have you had a variety of sexual partners or practice oral sex?
Do you take immunosuppressive drugs?
Do you work in health care?
Do work with or around animals?
Do you garden?
Do you walk barefoot?
Do you work in sanitation or as a plumber?
Have you been bitten by ticks, mosquitoes, flies, or other biting insects?
Have you been bitten or scratched deeply by an animal?
Have you taken repeated or prolonged courses of antibiotics, a prolonged course of prednisone or other steroid (including inhaled), or taken hormonal birth control pills for more than 3 years?
Do you have food sensitivities, intolerances, or allergies, or do foods trigger your symptoms or weight gain?
Are you unusually sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes, and other chemical odors?
Do you feel “sick all over” but the cause hasn’t been found?
Do you have trouble with memory, concentration, or brain fog?
Do you have digestive issues, like diarrhea, constipation, gas, or bloating?
Have you traveled to remote areas or out of the country?

Hiker overlooking a mountain lake, as outdoor travel is a parasite risk factor - Detoxity MediSpa.

The Most Effective Parasite Cleanse

Dog and cat resting at home, as pets are a parasite risk factor - Detoxity Holistic MediSpa.

Detoxity Holistic MediSpa logo sign.

If you’ve taken the quiz and found that you have the signs of a parasite problem, you may be squirming in your seat or simply horrified at the thought that unwanted invaders have made their home inside your body.

Fortunately, you can do a safe and effective cleanse in the privacy of your own home and give your microbiome the reset it needs to rid itself of these hidden hitchhikers. You can walk into any natural health store and find an entire shelf of products that claim to rid you of parasites – and some of them may even work. But buyer beware – many products contain harsh stimulant laxatives that can leave you with bloating, cramping, and an unexpected urgency for the closest bathroom!

While there are drugs and medications that treat specific parasitic infections, there are ancient herbal combinations that have been used for centuries to address a wider array of organisms that may be living so deep in your tissues they don’t show up on common stool tests.

Natural herbs like black walnut, bromelain from pineapple, butternut, cranberry, pomegranate, grapefruit seed, cloves, slippery elm, and wormwood can combat parasites and other unwanted invaders like yeasts, molds, and more. Rather than going on a scavenger hunt to collect all these effective herbs, they’ve all been combined into My Colon Cleansing Kit.

Not only does this kit provide you with gentle, effective, pH-balanced supplements that contain therapeutic amounts of these anti-parasite herbs and probiotics to repopulate you with helpful bacteria to support your immune health, but it also comes with a detailed instruction booklet to guide you through the 30-day process and answer your most pressing questions.

Parasite cleansing should begin a couple of days before the full moon, which is when parasites are thought to be the most active.

And for maintenance once you’ve done the cleanse, take the herbs starting 2 days before the full moon and continue for a total of 5 days.

These articles were written by Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, New York Times bestselling author of Guess What Came to Dinner? and are shared with permission.

Parasite FAQs

What are common signs of parasites?

The article lists digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating and abdominal pain, along with fatigue, sleep issues, skin conditions, joint aches, teeth grinding and unexplained weight changes. These symptoms overlap with many other conditions, so a medical evaluation is the best way to find the cause.

How common are parasites in the United States?

The study cited in this article, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, found that about 1 in 3 people in its nationally representative sample tested positive for a parasitic infection.

How do I find out if I have parasites?

Talk with a medical provider. Testing usually involves stool tests, which sometimes need to be repeated. At Detoxity, our on-site physician can order labs when your symptoms call for a closer look, because we don’t guess, we test.

Is a parasite cleanse safe?

Check with a healthcare provider first, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medications, or have a chronic health condition. Be cautious with products that rely on harsh stimulant laxatives, and see a doctor for a diagnosed infection, which may need prescription treatment.

Can colon hydrotherapy help with parasites?

Colon hydrotherapy is not a treatment for a parasitic infection. Some clients include colon hydrotherapy as supportive gut-health care alongside a plan from their provider, once they are medically cleared.

Where can I get gut health support in The Woodlands, TX?

Detoxity Holistic MediSpa at 329 Sawdust Rd, The Woodlands, TX offers physician-supervised wellness care, lab testing and colon hydrotherapy for clients from The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe and north Houston.

Concerned About Parasites or Gut Health?

Visit Detoxity Holistic MediSpa at 329 Sawdust Rd, The Woodlands, TX 77380. Call or text 832-745-3320 to talk with our physician-supervised team about testing and gut-health support that fits you.

Call or Text 832-745-3320