Before we dive in: if you want a real read on where your terrain is at right now, take my free Gut Health Diagnostic before reading. It takes 2 minutes and will make everything below much more personal.
Are you craving sugar all the time? It’s not you. It’s your parasites.
Parasites literally feed on sugar. They thrive on processed carbs, refined sugars, and junk food. And, the more they feed, the more they manipulate your cravings, because they want to survive.
So, if you’re constantly reaching for sweets, cookies, bread, pasta, or late-night snacks, it might not be your body asking for fuel.
It might be an uninvited guest asking to be fed.
The Context Nobody in the Wellness Space Is Naming
Parasites are having a cultural moment because 5,000+ Americans across 34 states are being infected with cyclospora, a microscopic parasite spreading through fresh produce.
Everyone is asking whether they should stop eating salads.
Nobody is asking the more important question: why cyclospora hits some people hard, while others exposed to the exact same food never develop symptoms.
The answer is terrain.
Which brings us back to what I have been teaching for years.
Parasites are not a distant concern.
They are far more common than you think.
What A Parasite Actually Is
A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside a host, feeding off the host’s nutrients, often at the host’s expense.
Some parasites live externally (lice, ticks, mites). These are called ectoparasites.
The ones that cause deeper dysfunction in the human body are internal (endoparasites), living in your blood, tissues, or intestines.
Two main types of intestinal parasites exist in humans:
Protozoa — Single-celled organisms that can multiply rapidly inside the body. Cyclospora, giardia, and blastocystis are all protozoa.
Helminths — Multi-celled organisms including roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes. Adult helminths do not multiply in the intestines, but they lay eggs excreted in feces and spread to others.
How You Actually Get Infected
You do not need to travel to a tropical country to acquire a parasite. Most infections happen in ways that feel completely mundane:
Contaminated food or water (the cyclospora outbreak is exactly this)
Poor hygiene (inadequate handwashing after using the bathroom, changing diapers, handling animals)
Undercooked or raw meat or fish (especially pork, beef, sushi)
Contaminated soil (gardening barefoot, walking on soil where animal waste is present)
Insect bites (mosquitoes and kissing bugs introduce parasites directly into the bloodstream)
Animal contact (pets, livestock, wildlife pass parasites through fecal matter or close contact)
Sexual transmission (certain parasites, especially urogenital)
Cyclospora, specifically, is a food-and-water exposure.
The source of the largest cluster of this specific outbreak was finally identified on July 16 — shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, imported from Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states.
But, even with this cluster identified, the CDC has confirmed that other cyclospora clusters remain unlinked.
Symptoms That Most Doctors Do Not Connect To Parasites
Sugar cravings are one signal. There are many others.
Bloating or gas, especially after meals
Brain fog or mood swings
Unexplained weight loss due to poor nutrient absorption
Itchy skin (including anal or vaginal), rashes, skin ulcers, or lesions
Trouble sleeping, especially waking between 2 and 4 a.m.
Teeth grinding or jaw tension at night
Constipation or irregular bowel movements
Anxiety or irritability for “no reason”
Muscle and joint pain or stiffness
Fatigue, weakness, or chronic exhaustion
Iron deficiency anemia (weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath)
Neurological symptoms including tingling, confusion, seizures
Symptoms vary widely depending on the parasite involved, your immune response, and your terrain. Some people have no noticeable symptoms, especially in cases of low-grade or chronic infections.
Experiencing some of these symptoms does not automatically mean you have a parasitic infection. But, the risk is higher if you have:
Traveled to or live in tropical or subtropical regions
Consumed undercooked or contaminated food or water
Spent time in areas with poor sanitation
Lived with pets or livestock
Had recent mold exposure, heavy metal toxicity, or yeast overgrowth
Your symptoms are not random. They are your body’s way of communicating that something deeper may be going on.
A Parasite Is a Sign of Underlying Toxicity
Parasites do not just show up in a healthy, balanced body.
They thrive in an internal environment that is already compromised.
If you have been struggling with persistent gut issues, skin breakouts, fatigue, bloating, extreme sugar and carbohydrate cravings, brain fog, and mood swings, it is not just about the parasites.
It is about what is making them want to stay.
Parasites feed on waste, toxins, and imbalances already present in your body. They are not the root cause. They are a symptom of a deeper problem.
Common underlying issues that allow parasites to flourish:
Candida and yeast overgrowth — Creates the perfect sugar-rich environment for parasites.
Mold exposure — Suppresses immunity and weakens your body’s defense mechanisms.
Heavy metal toxicity — Parasites absorb and store metals, making removal much harder.
Liver and colon congestion — If your detox pathways are sluggish, the body cannot eliminate them.
Low stomach acid — Your first line of defense against ingested parasites. Chronic PPI use, chronic stress, and aging all suppress it.
Compromised mucosal barrier — Leaky gut lining lets parasites and their metabolic byproducts pass into circulation.
What happens when you try to kill parasites without addressing the root cause?
They come back. Your symptoms get worse. You feel exhausted, inflamed, and more toxic than before.
Why Parasite Testing Keeps Coming Back “Clean”
If you suspect exposure, functional stool testing (Vibrant Wellness Gut Zoomer, GI-Map, or Genova Diagnostics GI Effects) can be helpful.
But, a negative stool test does not mean you do not have parasites.
Here is why parasite testing is notoriously unreliable:
Intermittent shedding — Parasites do not shed consistently. If you happen to test on a day they are not shedding, you get a false negative.
Biofilm protection — Many parasites hide behind protective biofilms that prevent detection and elimination.
Collection issues — Most tests rely on a single stool sample. Parasites often live deeper in the colon, liver, or lymphatic system, not always visible in that one snapshot.
Limited scope — Some labs only test for the most common parasites (giardia, blastocystis) and miss the wide range of protozoa, worms, and flukes that may be causing issues.
Cyclospora specifically — Requires modified acid-fast staining or PCR. Standard stool panels MISS it entirely. Your doctor has to specifically request it.
Even if your results come back clean, your symptoms could still be pointing to a hidden parasitic load.
Many of my clients have passed parasites even after testing negative on a stool test.
The Order Matters (And This Is Where Most People Go Wrong)
Do NOT start with a parasite cleanse if your terrain is not yet ready.
The order I use with clients (and the order I stand by):
Phase 1: Open your drainage pathways. The colon, liver, lymph, kidneys, skin, lungs. Before anything else can be cleared, these have to be open and moving.
Phase 2: Rebuild the gut and colon. The colon is the foundational elimination organ. If it is not moving 1-3 times a day, nothing downstream of it works.
Phase 3: Support the liver. Only after drainage is open and the colon is moving does liver work become viable.
Phase 4: Address parasites and pathogens. Only after Phase 1, 2, and 3 is the terrain ready for antimicrobial work.
Skip the order and the body cannot hold the work. You end up sicker than when you started.
What You Can Do Today To Reduce Parasite Exposure
Filter your water. Tap water is a common source. I drink Alive Water (MEGHAN15 for 15% off) spring water at home. Find more options here.
Wash your produce carefully. Especially given the current cyclospora outbreak. Full protocol coming this coming Thursday.
Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, especially after pets, animals, gardening, or cooking.
Support your gut. A healthy gut is your first line of defense. Eat enzyme-rich, fiber-dense, organic produce. Include naturally antiparasitic foods (garlic, pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds, black walnut, wormwood in small culinary amounts).
Cook your meat thoroughly. Undercooked pork, beef, and fish are common vectors.
Do not walk barefoot on unfamiliar soil. Especially where animal waste is present.
Travel smart. Avoid tap water and street food in high-risk areas.
When To Consider A Parasite Cleanse
If you have unresolved gut issues, sugar cravings that will not quit, skin flare-ups, fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings, it may be worth exploring an at-home parasite cleanse. Even if you have tested negative on a stool test.
Parasite cleansing is extremely powerful, and in most cases, best done under proper supervision and guidance.
If you are dealing with multiple complex symptoms and unsure where to begin, consider working with a practitioner who specializes in drainage and detoxification.
The order is not optional. The sequence is what makes the work land.
Your body knows exactly what to do once the burden comes off and the terrain is ready.
If you want a personalized read on where your terrain is right now, take my free Gut Health Diagnostic. It takes 2 minutes.
If this resonated, I would love to know: which symptom on the list surprised you the most? Have you ever tested for parasites, and what were you told? Let me know in the comments. I read and reply to every response.
If you’re ready to address the actual terrain rather than layer more interventions onto a system that hasn’t been cleared, I’m currently taking a very limited number of new 1:1 coaching clients heading into August. The first step is a 45-minute Client Intake call where we map your full picture and figure out together whether the work is the right fit for where you are. Book your free Client Intake call.
And, if you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to ask me any time in my weekly Q&A in my paid subscriber channel. If you’re not a paid subscriber, sign up below.
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