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"Rice starch is an essential addition in xenic cultures, and is ingested by D.fragilis trophozoites, together with bacteria".

"In the cytoplasm, digestive vacuoles were common and contained rice starch, myelin or bacteria".

"In stained smears, using higher magnification, food inclusions can be found and various bacteria, yeasts and Bacillus hominis may also be ingested.
D.fragilis: the unflaggelated human parasite. JJ Windsor & E.H.Johnson. Br.JBS 1999; 56: 293-306

Histochemical studies detected carbohydrates in the cyst wall and fat globules in the cytoplasm. Morphology, histochemistry and infectivity of Blastocystis hominis cyst.
Abou El Naga IF, Negm AY.
J Egypt Soc Parasitol 2001 Aug;31(2):627-35

A distinct band of capsular material, or slime, may surround the cell and is apparent because it forms a transparent circle of variable thickness delinieated on the inside by the cell membrane and on the outside by bacteria, cells, and food debris in the fecal suspension.
Blastocystis hominis —
Past and Future
C.H. Zierdt Clin. Micro. Reviews.
Jan 1991, Vol. 4, No.1 (61-79)

The presence of membrane fusions of the cytoplasmic vesicles with the central vacuole indicated the accumulation of carbohydrates in the central vacuole.
Histochemical detection of carbohydrates of Blastocystis hominis.
Yoshikawa H, et al
J Eukaryot Microbiol 1995 Jan-Feb;42(1):70-4

diet
Pattern of excretion of D.fragilis following dietary adjustments:-
Researchers placed an infected subject on a diet of mainly carbohydrates. Between day 1 and 30 - increased numbers of D.f. were found. The subject was then placed on a protein diet and retesting began at day 60. Between day 60 to 80 less D.fragilis were excreted.
(D.fragilis. A review with notes.
J.Yang et al. AJTM&H 1977)

"I read on your site that a low or no carbohydrate diet can make you feel a little bit better. That happend to me as well. What is also very strange is when I eat a lot of carbohydrates I lose weight, and now I am on a very strict diet with no carbohydrats and sugar I am gaining weight."
October 2005

DIET & PARASITES

 Parasites survive by obtaining nourishment from their host. Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis ingest carbohydrates, bacteria and yeasts (see side bar for references). Here is a photo of Dientamoeba fragilis ingesting rice starch.

The majority of people who contact this site report symptom reduction by limiting, or completely restricting, starchy foods.

Below are a few examples out of thousands who people who have tried to recover from their infections without resorting to drug treatment.

The following woman was misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for seven years, until a specialist lab diagnosed Dientamoeba fragilis. She found relief, as most people do, by restricting her diet of grains and sugars:

"There was a period of two months in 2002 when I was able to exclude all sugar and grains from my diet, as I figured maybe it was candida. Just like the information on your website said, restricting carbs made me feel better. That's a pretty harsh way to live though and when I lost the willpower to stick to a very restrictive diet, all the symptoms returned, and have since been getting worse."

Karen's story is similar to the one above. After several years of ill health misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome by her GP, Karen turned to an alternative therapist for help. The therapist was quick to diagnose Candida when Karen improved slightly on an anti-Candida diet which restricted sugars and starchy foods:

"The diet caused immediate improvement in a way nothing else had. I was much less tired than I had been for 2 months. My head was clearer. (I had previously been eating refined sugars in an attempt to boost my energy). But I was still quite unwell.".

When Karen discovered the information on this site about the importance of specialised testing to diagnose parasites, she decided to undergo stool testing with a specialist lab. D.fragilis and B.hominis was diagnosed. Her GP did not believe the parasites were causing Karen's chronic, long term health problems, but prescribed her Flagyl in case her symptoms being caused by an undiagnosed Giardia infection. Ten days after finishing the treatment her symptoms returned.

The Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis treatment pages contains many examples metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole failures.

Another example:

When a US man's symptoms returned in force after finishing an extended course of doxycycline to treat suspected Lyme disease, he turned to natural therapists in the hope of finding relief from years of "fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, brain fog, diarhea/constipation, gas, mucousy stools, abdominal discomfort/inflammation, weight loss, depression":

"This is when I began seeing a series of alternative practicioners and adressing my digestive issues.  I discovered that if I stayed away from sugars and simple carbs that I felt a little better.  I also noticed that I had developed quite a few food alergies. I did multiple herbal cleanses and colonic irrigations that seemed to improve things a little but
it was always short lived.  I also tried many anti-parasitic herbal and homeopathic remedies with the same experience.  To date I have spent thousands of dollars on tests, treatments, and supplements to little or no avail."

Specialised stool testing detected Dientamoba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis. (April 07)

Here's another:

"I am interested in finding out about the treatment for blastocystis hominis. I have had one course of Flagyl which helped initially, but then symptoms returned. I have been suffering for over 3 years. I tried using the black walnut, clove and wormwood tincture, which helps as long as I take it every day, but if I stop, symptoms return. I also use
a colon cleanse program from Dr. Natura. This product REALLY helped to eradicate symptoms, but if I stop the treatment, symptoms return. Right now I feel that I am keeping the worst of the symptoms at bay with this (very expensive) herbal treatment, but I would like to kill off these buggers for good!" (April 07)

PROBIOTICS:

Parasites also survive by by ingesting bacteria and fungi, and many people - but not all - experience an increase in symptoms whilst taking probiotics. This anomaly could be explained because:

"Axenisation is successful with some cultures but fails in other because some B.hominis strains seem to depend on bacterial support." (B.hominis - Past and Future. Zierdt. 1991)

CARBOHYDRATES & STARCHES:

Because most foods contain varying amounts of either complex or refined carbohydrates, assessing which foods are contributing to the symptoms can be difficult.

SPECIFIC FOODS:

 The following foods all contain a low/very low carbohydrate content, and should not aggravate the symptoms:

Pumpkin, artichokes, beetroot, cabbage, green peppers, tomatoes - grilled/fried, parsnips, summer squash, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, string beans, asparagus, onions, egg plant, salsify, okra, kohlrabi, endive, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, chard, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, onions (caramilised onions - ie. heated to a high temp as in frying - contain high levels of starch), salad greens, kale, spaghetti squash, bok choy, collard greens.
Fish

The following foods are high in carbohydrates/starches and should be avoided:

All grains: wheat, rye, oats, barley, corn, rice;
Potato & sweet potato, dry beans and peas, tapioca, sago, peanuts, chestnuts, bananas; green peas.

Many prepared foods contain starches, including:
 couscous, breads, cookies, muffins, cakes, biscuits, pastas, and tabouli, breakfast cereals.

A comprehensive list of carbohydrate foods is here.