Parasite Cleanse 101: Signs, Solutions, and Foods That Carry Parasites
Estimated read time: 17 minutesParasites may sound like a problem only faced in developing countries. But in reality, millions of people in the U.S. and other industrialized nations harbor them without knowing it.
Low energy, digestive discomfort, skin issues, nutrient deficiencies, and even mood swings can all stem from underlying parasitic infections.
In the Bible, God gave us dietary instructions not only for spiritual reasons, but also for physical protection, including against contaminants like parasites. As you'll learn below, many of the Bible's same “clean and unclean” food laws can continue to serve as practical safeguards against pathogens that threaten our health today.
This guide explains how parasites affect modern health—and how to clear them safely using natural, Biblical methods.
Common Causes of Parasites
Most parasitic infections start with something simple: what’s on your plate or in your glass. Contaminated meat, seafood, or water are the most common culprits, but even produce can carry invisible eggs or larvae when grown in unhealthy soil or irrigation water.
Pork & Shellfish: The Original “Unclean” Foods
These are among the riskiest foods when it comes to parasites.
The Bible warns against eating pork and shellfish for a reason. These animals are natural scavengers and can harbor parasites, including Trichinella spiralis in pork and Vibrio species in shellfish. These pathogens are resistant to light cooking and can cause gastrointestinal and systemic infections.
Pork and shellfish can also contain heavy metals and environmental toxins absorbed from their surroundings, making them even riskier choices.
Even some “clean” fish can contain parasites, especially wild-caught varieties. You may have even seen tiny white worms moving around in fish you've caught or been served.
However, most parasites are killed by freezing and thawing the fish before cooking. According to the FDA, freezing fish at –4°F (–20°C) for 7 days, or flash-freezing at –31°F (–35°C) for 15 hours, effectively destroys parasites. Cooking also kills parasites, but freezing first offers an added layer of safety.
Contaminated Water & Produce (Especially When Traveling Abroad)
Even clear-looking water or fresh produce can hide microscopic invaders.
Unsafe drinking water, particularly when traveling to other countries, remains a leading cause of parasitic infections like Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica.
Even if it looks clean, water can contain microscopic parasites. This risk is higher in untreated or poorly filtered tap water, lakes, streams, wells, or when traveling in developing regions.
Overcrowded environments or inadequate sewage systems can lead to even higher rates of parasitic spread in developing nations, so it's wise to do some research about where you're traveling before heading there.
Produce grown in contaminated water or fertilized with sewage sludge can also carry parasite eggs. For example, unwashed fruits and vegetables grown in contaminated soil or irrigated with unclean water are risky to consume. Cross-contamination is another concern, such as when cutting raw meat and produce on the same board, which can also spread pathogens.
Always use a high-quality filter or boil water when in doubt. When traveling, stick to bottled or properly filtered water and wash or peel fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Wash produce thoroughly with a vinegar or salt-water rinse and keep raw meats separate.
Poorly Absorbed Iron (Usually From Supplements)
Synthetic iron can do more harm than good if it feeds parasites.
Parasites depend on your body for survival. They consume nutrients from your body, steal your iron, and thrive when your immune system is weak.
Interestingly, poorly absorbed synthetic iron supplements can actually feed parasites. Iron in the gut that isn’t bound or absorbed properly becomes a nutrient source for parasitic organisms.
Instead, prioritize iron from food sources like grass-fed liver, beef, and lentils, or use supplements bound to amino acids (such as iron bisglycinate), which are absorbed more efficiently and don’t feed parasites.
Pets, Livestock, & Soil Contact
Animals are part of life—but they can also be carriers.
While I love being around cats, dogs, and farm animals, they can host parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, or Toxoplasma gondii that can be transferred through feces or contaminated surfaces.
Barefoot walking, gardening, or handling soil contaminated by animal waste can also transmit parasites like hookworms or roundworms.
Regularly deworm pets (naturally when possible), wash hands after handling animals, and keep litter boxes clean. Wear gloves when gardening around animals and shoes outdoors, especially in tropical or humid areas that are more prone to parasites.
Unwashed Hands
One of the simplest habits can prevent countless infections.
Parasites can spread easily from surfaces, soil, or fecal matter to the mouth via unwashed hands, especially before meals. Handwashing with soap before eating and after using the bathroom is one of the most effective parasite-prevention habits.
Sexual Transmission
Certain parasites spread through intimate contact.
Some parasites, such as Trichomonas vaginalis, are sexually transmitted. Practice safe intimacy and seek testing for persistent genitourinary symptoms.
How to Know If You Have Parasites
Parasite infections often go unnoticed for months or even years because their symptoms can mimic other digestive or immune issues. Still, several telltale signs can suggest your body is hosting unwanted guests:
Digestive distress: Chronic bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea.
Unexplained fatigue: Persistent tiredness even with adequate sleep.
Skin issues: Rashes, itching, or eczema.
Unusual cravings or weight changes: Craving sugar or carbs, unexpected weight shifts.
Sleep disturbances or teeth grinding: Restlessness and jaw clenching at night.
Mood or concentration issues: Anxiety, irritability, or brain fog.
If you experience several of these symptoms—especially after travel, eating raw foods, or exposure to questionable water—it’s wise to work with a functional or integrative practitioner to test for parasites and begin a natural cleanse protocol.
Foods and Herbs That Help Cleanse Parasites
These five categories of natural parasite defense work synergistically to expel invaders and strengthen your body’s detox pathways.
1. Bitter Foods, Spices, and Herbs
Bitterness activates digestion and bile flow, making your gut an inhospitable environment for parasites.
Herbs like gentian root, dandelion, and artichoke leaf help flush out toxins and improve the body’s natural detox pathways. Research shows that bitter polyphenols can inhibit helminth growth and disrupt parasite reproduction cycles.
2. Clove and Other Spicy Botanicals
Pungent herbs act as nature’s defense system.
Clove contains eugenol, a compound shown to paralyze and kill parasitic larvae and eggs. A study in Antioxidants found that clove essential oil significantly reduced intestinal worm counts in animal models.
Other pungent spices like cinnamon, chili, and ginger may also enhance intestinal cleansing through their antimicrobial and motility-boosting effects.
3. Oak Leaves, Wormwood, and Black Walnut
Traditional antiparasitic herbs with a strong research base.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) contains sesquiterpene lactones that may help weaken parasite cell membranes.
Black walnut hulls are rich in juglone and tannins, compounds shown to help expel intestinal worms and disrupt their reproduction while fighting oxidative stress.
Oak leaves, often used in animal herbal medicine, have tannins that bind to parasitic proteins and suppress infection.
In livestock, these same herbs have been shown to reduce parasite loads comparably to conventional anti-worm drugs, making them powerful, natural alternatives for both humans and animals.
4. Tannin-Rich Leaves and Fruits
Tannins tighten, bind, and cleanse the gut environment.
Tannins have astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-parasitic properties that help defend both humans and animals against unwanted pathogens.
They’re naturally found in fruit tree leaves (such as walnut, oak, or grape) and bind to parasitic proteins, effectively immobilizing and killing them.
Examples include:
Fruits with skins: Pomegranates, cranberries, blueberries, aronia berries, wild grapes.
Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, almonds (with skins), hazelnuts, chestnuts.
Herbs and leaves: Oak, olive, black walnut hulls, wormwood, tea leaves.
Antioxidant beverages: Green and soursop tea.
Spices: Clove, cinnamon, sumac.
Helpful Supplements for a Parasite Detox
Each of the following supplement types supports a unique step in the cleansing process.
Soil-Based Organism (SBO) Probiotics
These microbial strains build resilience in the gut.
Strains like Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis produce antimicrobial peptides and enzymes that attack biofilms—the protective layers parasites build in the gut.
Proteolytic Enzymes
Break down parasite walls and reduce inflammation.
These enzymes dissolve the protein-based shells of parasites and their eggs, aiding elimination and reducing tissue irritation.
Lactoferrin and Colostrum
Starve parasites and rebuild immunity.
Lactoferrin binds to iron, cutting off parasites’ nutrient supply while supporting immune response and intestinal repair.
Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, and Shilajit
Replenish minerals and bind toxins.
These mineral-rich earth compounds chelate heavy metals, neutralize free radicals, and enhance nutrient absorption.
Calcium Bentonite Clay
Bind, trap, and escort toxins out.
Bentonite clay absorbs microbial toxins, heavy metals, and waste during the cleansing process, reducing die-off fatigue and supporting gut health.
How to Sequence Binders and Minerals During a Parasite Cleanse
Morning (Empty Stomach)
Drink water mixed with calcium bentonite clay or activated charcoal.
Wait 1.5–2 hours before eating or taking supplements.
Follow with mineralized water (trace minerals or sea salt).
Why it works: Starts the day by binding and removing toxins accumulated overnight.
Midday (With or After Meals)
Take fulvic/ humic acid or shilajit with food.
These restore essential minerals, enhance nutrient transport, and chelate toxins.
Why it works: Keeps energy levels steady and supports the body’s cellular cleanup.
Evening (Post-Dinner or Before Bed)
Take probiotics and proteolytic enzymes to rebuild gut balance.
Combine with herbal tea (chamomile, peppermint, or ginger).
Why it works: Supports overnight cleansing and repair while promoting calm digestion.
Key Takeaways on Why & How to Do a Parasite Cleanse
Parasites are more common and more disruptive than most realize. Yet God’s creation provides every tool needed to defend your body naturally: clean foods, bitter herbs, healing spices, and powerful minerals from the earth.
A Biblical, holistic parasite cleanse focuses not only on killing pathogens, but also on restoring balance, including by supporting the gut, liver, and immune system along the way.
Start simply: remove unclean foods like pork and shellfish, strengthen your gut with probiotics and bitter herbs, and use nature’s own medicines—clove, wormwood, black walnut, and tannins—to clear out what doesn’t belong.
A true parasite cleanse isn’t about killing—it’s about restoring balance.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/causes/index.html
https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/Fish-and-Fishery-Products-Hazards-and-Controls-Guidance-Chapter-5-Download.pdf
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