All articles tagged with #parasitic infections
Health experts debunk social-media parasite cleanses as unproven and potentially unsafe, noting that parasitic infections exist and require medical diagnosis and treatment; home remedies from herbal supplements or restrictive diets are unlikely to help and can cause harm, even as high-profile figures discuss trying them.
A neurologist highlights three foods to avoid for optimal brain health: large tropical reef fish like barracuda and grouper due to ciguatoxin, undercooked pork because of parasitic infections like neurocysticercosis, and damaged tin cans which may contain deadly botulinum toxin. Cooking does not neutralize some toxins, making avoidance crucial for neurological safety.
A family reunion in South Dakota resulted in six people contracting trichinellosis, a rare parasitic infection, after consuming undercooked bear meat. The CDC reported that three individuals were hospitalized with severe symptoms, and emphasized the importance of thoroughly cooking wild game meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill Trichinella parasites. The incident highlights the risks associated with consuming improperly prepared wild game and the potential for cross-contamination.
New research challenges the belief that behavioral changes in individuals infected with Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia spp. are solely due to compromised health, suggesting a direct link to personality traits and cognitive functions. The study, involving nearly 8,000 participants, found that infected individuals exhibited altered personality traits, lower disgust sensitivity, and impaired cognitive processing speed and accuracy, independent of their overall health status. However, the study's cross-sectional nature limits the ability to draw causal inferences, leaving the question of whether these infections directly cause the observed differences unanswered.