DIET & PARASITES

 Why restricting starchy/high carb. foods reduces symptoms:

"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.
K. was diagnosed with the parasite Dientamoeba fragilis in October 2004. She had suffered seven years of chronic health problems diagnosed as an irritable bowel.

Many people with parasitic infections find restricting carbohydrates and starchy foods such as bread, cake, rice, beans, potatoes, decreases symptoms. Parasites survive by ingesting these types of food. Restricting these foods reduces the colony of parasites. Starchy foods are often used to increase the number of organisms in a laboratory setting:

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).

"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

Parasites survive by ingesting bacteria, fungi, & carbohydrates
Click to see a photo of D.fragilis which has ingested rice starch:

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

D., who suffered chronic digestive disorders for many years, found a restricted diet helped reduce her chronic symptoms:

"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.".

Based on the improvement her doctor felt her symptoms could be due to Candida overgrowth. After discovering this site, with it's emphasis on specific testing for the two most common parasites to infect humans, Blasto. hominis and D. fragilis, D. was tested tested with a reliable lab. (A list of labs which use the specific stool collection and testing methods necessary to detect D.fragilis and Blasto. hominis can be found here). She tested positive for both parasites.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many of those who contact me, her doctor wasn't convinced the parasites were causing her symptoms. She was treated with Tinidazole for two consecutive days (Tinidazole is similar to Flagyl and is used as standard therapy for parasitic infections)

She wrote:
"This made me feel really good (better than I had in years) for about ten days. I then became sick again."
Further stool testing confirmed that both parasites are still present.
March 02

Flagyl and the drug Tinidazole have a high failure rate in the treatment of D.fragilis & Blasto.hominis.
See also: Blasto. treatment & D.fragilis treatment
Contact the author of this site for the most effective treatments for these bugs.

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 & small amounts of meat are ok to eat. Avoid cheese & eggs. Milk in small amounts if ok if tolerated. Soy milk is generally better tolerated than dairy.
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 and should be avoided:
 couscous, breads, cookies, muffins, cakes, biscuits, pastas, and tabouli, breakfast cereals.

Sugar, honey, maple syrup & fruit should be avoided.

A comprehensive list of starchy foods here