Does it even need to be said? No, you don't need to do a parasite cleanse'

"Everything on my Instagram feed at the moment is about worms and parasites, she told the Wall Street Journal, ominously adding: I don't know what the heck is going to come out. Maybe your social media feeds aren't full of posts about worms and parasites, in which case, congratulations. But type parasite cleanse into TikTok or Instagram and you'll be inundated with so-called experts peddling expensive herbal supplements that promise to detox the body and rid it of harmful worms and parasites."

"One TikTok user, whose credentials are holistic mama, suggests people should do deworming cleanses if they experience sleep issues, gut issues, weight loss issues, mood swings, skin issues. It would be nearly impossible to find a single human not dealing with at least one of these issues. Does that mean everyone should be on a parasite cleanse? NO, Caroline Susie, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics wrote in all caps over email. She emphasized that there was no solid clinical evidence behind them."

"What are parasites? Parasites are organisms that live in, on or with another organism and get their food from or at the expense of its host, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example: tapeworms, fleas or me when I lived at my parents' house after college. Humans contract parasites in several ways, says Beth Czerwony, outpatient dietitian for Cleveland Clinic's Center for Human Nutrition. These include ingestion of contaminated food or water and direct contact with infected feces, she explains."

Parasite cleanses are trending on social media, with influencers and celebrities promoting herbal supplements that claim to detox the body and remove worms and parasites. Influencers suggest deworming for varied symptoms including sleep problems, digestive issues, weight loss, mood swings, and skin problems. Medical and nutrition professionals state there is no solid clinical evidence supporting such cleanses for the general population. Parasites are organisms that live in or on a host and obtain food at the host's expense, including tapeworms and fleas. Humans can contract parasites via contaminated food or water, contact with infected feces, or skin penetration by organisms like hookworm. Most people do not need routine parasite cleanses without specific medical diagnosis.

Read at www.theguardian.com