Parasites are organisms that live off a host, obtaining nutrients from the host's blood or organs. In humans, some parasites are beneficial, like the tapeworm in the small intestine preventing tape worms from growing further in the host's intestines.
While most parasitic worm infections are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms in healthy hosts, chronic parasitic infections can lead to significant illnesses and be fatal. The best-known parasitic worm in humans is the tapeworm, which can cause a spectrum of illnesses ranging from flu-like symptoms to severe disseminated infection.
Parasites can enter the body through various routes, including food, water, air, or direct contact with an infected person. Ingesting food or water contaminated with parasite eggs, such as those from tapeworms or roundworms, can lead to human infection.
In recent years, scientists and health researchers have been studying the effects of fasting on parasites and how it might help in the prevention or treatment of parasitic infections. Fasting refers to the temporary abstinence from food for self-neglect or dietary restrictions.
There are several theories as to how fasting could kill parasites. Firstly, fasting may starve the parasites by reducing their nutrition, as the host's metabolism is lowered during fasting. Secondly, fasting could cause the host's immune system to ramp up, killing off any parasites that are not killed off by the nutritional deprivation.
One study looked at the impact of dietary restrictions on giardia lamblia, a common intestinal parasite. The researchers found that Giardia-infected mice that were fed a high-fat diet exhibited enhanced immune responses compared to those fed a low-fat diet.
Another study investigated the effects of a two-day fast on hookworm infection in laboratory mice. Although the fast did not clear the giardia or hookworms entirely, the results indicated that the fast led to the expression of certain genes in the intestines of the infected mice and seemed to boost their immune response.
