Summary: Parasites are a serious health problem. Most doctors have an attitude that parasites are a myth or rare occurrence. If you have an overactive immune system parasites are one of the first things to treat. Skip any attempts to test for parasites as they often are not conclusive or do not test for all kinks of parasites. If you are sick in any way do a parasite clense. I have had succes with Para-Cleanse from my health food store. Keep in mind to kill parasites you have to do the clense twice or more. The first ten day process kills the parasites then ten days later sart the second which will kill the the eggs that will begin to hatch.

"Parasites destroy friendly flora just like antibiotics do. Many parasites excrete ammonia and other toxic chemicals that destroy friendly flora like acidophilus. Some parasites also depress the immune response in the intestinal tract allowing yeasts to overgrow. Anything that destroys friendly flora can cause an overgrowth of Candida since friendly flora holds Candida in check." This site claims parasites must be the first step and heavy metal elimination the last step in treating Candidia.  (2)

"Giardia is the most prevalent intestinal parasite in humans and found in (city treated) drinking water. Giardia resides in the smaller intestine and at times in the gall bladder. Millions of these giardia organisms will coat the intestinal walls, prevents the absorption of nutrients and later causing illness. Symptoms are mild to moderate abdominal cramps, intestinal gas, light colored stools, bad absorption, weakness, chills, stomach bloating and diarrhea. (14 um x 10 um) There can be over 100 different types of parasites worms living in human bodies. Some are microscopic in size while others can be seen quite easily. These common organisms can be found everywhere in our environment, in the air we breath, in the water we drink, or in the food we eat. Parasites worms can invade your bodies through food and water intake, through a transmitting agent (like a mosquito), sexual conduct or through the nose and skin. Once established, they will eat the same foods you eat or they will eat you. People with intestinal parasite infections are usually under-nourished and weak, infected with viral, fungal, or bacteria, and have various types of chemical and metal poisoning. Human intestinal parasites can be present in any disease, in any person, at any age. They are responsible for many health problems because they secrete toxins and steal the vital nutrients from our bodies. They can irritate or exaggerate other health problems you may be experiencing. Everyone is at risk and under their mercy during parasitic infections. We create the perfect living environment for parasites when the bowel becomes ineffective in the elimination of our waste products. The build-up of fecal material on the walls of the colon is attributed to constipation and the amounts of junk food, chemicals, bad fats and sweets we consume. Testing for parasites are only available for about five percent of the known varieties with twenty-percent accuracy. Cancer cases are afflicted with worms that often lump together and look like tumors. Female worms can release 3,000 to 200,000 eggs per day depending on their type. This is a topic that most people do not want to discuss, let alone think about, but now reality must be faced. There are 3200 varieties of parasites in the four major categories, Protozoa, Trematoda, Cestoda and Nematoda." (1)

"An article in June 27, 1978, in the Miami Herald states that a nationwide survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 1976 revealed that one in every six people selected at random had one or more parasites. Louis Parrish, M.D. a New York City physician who specializes in parasites, wrote in 1991, "based upon my experience, I estimate in the New York metropolitan area that 25 % percent of the population is infected . . . . . . . . Projections for the year 2025 suggest that more than half of the 8.3 billion people on Earth will then be infected with parasitic diseases. We have a tremendous parasite problem right here in the United States - it’s just not being identified." - Peter Weina, Ph.D., Chief of Pathobiology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1991. I strongly believe that every patient with disorders of immune function, including multiple allergies (especially food allergy), and patients with unexplained fatigue or with chronic bowel symptoms should be evaluated for the presence of intestinal parasites." - Leo Galland, M.D. Townsend Letter for Doctors, 1988. Make no mistake about it, worms are the most toxic agents in the human body. They are one of the primary underlying causes of disease and are the most basic cause of a compromised immune system." - Hazel Parcells, D.C., N.D., Ph.D., 1974" (3)

CDC: "About Parasites A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans: * Protozoa, * Helminths
* Ectoparasites" (4)

USDA: "Parasites may be present in food or in water and can cause disease. Ranging in size from tiny, single-celled organisms to worms visible to the naked eye, parasites are more and more frequently being identified as causes of foodborne illness in the United States. The illnesses they can cause range from mild discomfort to debilitating illness and possibly death." (5)