Taking the plunge ......

On Friday I got myself mentally prepared for my fasting period around 2pm. AT 6:30pm I had a scheduled Morphologic Hematology. Sounds far scarier than it was .... or so I thought. Morphologic Hematology is just a fancy word for a Live Blood Cell Analysis. With a small drop of blood from my finger, examined under a microscopic I was going to learn more about my general level of nutrition, the condition of my red blood cells, free radical damage to blood cells, the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, the presence of bacteria, parasites and candida or yeast, deficiencies in digestion if protein, fats and minerals, B12, folic acid and iron deficiency, inflammation and the increased risk of heart attack and stroke, circulation and nourishment of body tissues and the overall strength of the immune system. All this was displayed on a screen, magnified 1000 times.

So as my finger was being disinfected I thought what could be the worse information I got? I mean by doing this I was just being cautious and taking preventative methods to combat and concerns. Nothing that proper nutrition and supplementation couldn't cure, right? Well ....... I was not quite prepared. I have parasites ..... candida (not surprised) and poor protein digestion.

So we talked about my poor digestion of which I was kind of expecting. I consume 40-45% of my calories from protein and do this 4-5 times per week. I have read enough to know that the body only requires about 10% and functions best on this level in general is you are suppling it with the best protein sources such as eggs, beans and the occasional lean meats. I was told the body always craves what it had the day before. Seems only natural that I would want protein after protein in each meal. Recommended solution to insure that my digestive enzymes contain Betaine HCI, protease and lipase. And to switch brands every 3 months. Kind of like shampoo, if you use the same brand too long it becomes ineffective. B12 losenge was also suggested. To combat my mild candida -- watch my sugar intake. And now my profound parasite issue.

How do I get parasites? Different parasites are transmitted to humans by many different methods. Some are in the air that we breath, carried on the wind along with other dust particles. Others are carried by our pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and even fish have parasites that can and do infect humans. Another source of parasites is the foods that we eat, including beef, pork, poultry, fish, and even fresh vegetables and fruits. Contaminated water, even the chlorinated water that comes from the faucet can harbor certain parasites and outbreaks of illness do occur. Other parasites are spread by mosquitos, flies, fleas, and other insects. Some types of worms are reported to be able to jump from the ground to your ankles and bore into your skin. Some parasites live in wet grass, mud puddles, or other standing water and can penetrate bare skin.

Almost seems like it would be inevitable that I could catch this right? Well question than became, how can I prevent it?

• Wash your hands frequently as this is the primary source of contamination.
• Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Use a good air filter to keep your home air free of contaminants.
• Clean your vegetables and fruits well before eating.
  
• Rinse off meats before preparation and cook all meats thoroughly.
• Drink only properly filtered water.
• Keep your pets clean and free of parasites.
• Dispose of pet wastes immediately, wear a mask when doing so.
• Keep your home, carpet, and furniture clean.
• Keep your home free of bugs, mold, mildew, etc
• If your immune system is challenged or impaired, take high quality vitamin and mineral supplements.

So what we decided to do what to get me on Para Gone immediately and be prepared to do 2-3 treatments. A good fiber supplementation was also suggested. So this is my "treatment plan" if you will.

So now I have to take the appropriate steps. Sandy believes that if I can combat the parasites the digestive issues of protein will be highly reduced if I keep up with the digestive enzymes and the fiber. That is good to know. I'm going to follow-up with her in 3-4 months.

So now to take extra precautions in washing my fruits and vegetables, ensuring that the basement gets vacuumed weekly where our family pet cat roams and keep up with my high quality vitamins and minerals. This was a real eye opener to me and I am glad I got the information when I did as if parasites are left untreated they can manifest and in time compromise the immune system.