The Parasite Everyone Is Talking About (And Why I'm More Committed Than Ever to My Quarterly Cleanse)

If you've opened social media this week, you've probably seen the headlines.

A parasite.

Thousands of people sick.

Hundreds hospitalized.

A nationwide investigation.

I'll be honest...

I saw the headlines.

I just didn't think they applied to me.

I wasn't avoiding fresh produce. I wasn't changing what I was eating. In fact, I spent the weekend enjoying plenty of fresh fruit—especially berries—without giving the news much thought.

Then, almost overnight, it became personal.

A night I don't want to repeat....

The timing honestly couldn't have been stranger...  I was already about 10 days into my quarterly parasite cleanse when everything unfolded.

I wasn't following the news all that closely, and I certainly wasn't thinking about parasites while I was snacking on fresh berries over this past week.

Then last night everything changed.

I climbed into my steam sauna like I normally do, and within minutes I broke out in hives. That's never happened to me before.

About ten minutes later my stomach became so swollen I was curled up in the fetal position.

I'll spare you the rest of the details, but trust me when I say it was one of the roughest nights I've had in a long time.

Then almost as quickly as it came...

It was over.

Today I feel like I got hit by a bus. My body aches, I'm exhausted, but thankfully the stomach symptoms are gone.

Can I prove that already being 10 days into my quarterly parasite cleanse is the reason my experience was nothing compared to what I've been reading from so many others?

No.

But after reading story after story from people who have been sick for days—and in some cases weeks—it certainly makes me stop and think.

This experience sent me down a rabbit hole researching everything I could about Cyclospora.

If sharing what I learned helps even one family avoid going through what I experienced, then this blog was worth writing.

What Exactly Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine.

Unlike bacteria or viruses, parasites are living organisms that survive by living inside another host.

In the case of Cyclospora, people become infected after consuming contaminated food or water. Once inside the body, Cyclospora can cause symptoms like:

• Severe diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever

One of the reasons this parasite has spread so widely is because symptoms usually don't begin immediately.

In many cases, it takes a few days to 1 week before people even realize they're sick.

By then, it's nearly impossible to remember exactly what you ate or where you bought it.

That makes it incredibly difficult for health officials to track the source.

Why This Outbreak Has Become So Widespread

Fresh produce doesn't stay local.

One contaminated shipment can be distributed to grocery stores across multiple states before anyone realizes there's a problem.

Because many of the foods linked to Cyclospora are eaten raw, there's no cooking step to destroy the parasite before it's consumed.

By the time people start getting sick, thousands of others may have already purchased the same products.

That's why outbreaks like this can spread so quickly and why identifying the exact source often takes time.

Can You Actually See Parasites?

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people think they'd somehow notice a parasite before eating it.

Unfortunately, that's not how Cyclospora works.

It's microscopic.

You can't see it sitting on a strawberry.

You can't spot it hiding in a bagged salad.

You can't tell if fresh cilantro or basil is contaminated simply by looking at it.

Produce can look absolutely beautiful and still carry things you can't see with the naked eye.

That's exactly why this outbreak has caught so many people by surprise.

Foods Most Commonly Linked to Cyclospora Outbreaks

At the time I'm writing this article, health officials have not yet confirmed the exact food responsible for the current outbreak.

However, previous Cyclospora outbreaks have most commonly been linked to:

• Fresh raspberries
• Blackberries
• Mixed berries
• Bagged salad mixes
• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Parsley
• Green onions
• Snow peas
• Snap peas

Before you swear off fresh produce...

Please don't.

These are some of the healthiest foods we can eat.

This isn't about living in fear.

It's about becoming a little more intentional.

Why Washing Isn't Always Enough

One thing this experience reinforced for me is that simply rinsing your produce isn't enough—especially right now.

I've owned a  fruit and vegetable purifier for quite some time now and I clearly need to remember to use it more often.

Is it perfect?

Probably not.

But I'd much rather have another layer of protection than rely on a quick rinse under the faucet.

Every single time I have used it, I literally watch impurities rise into the water.

Whether it's dirt, wax, residue, pesticides or who knows what else, seeing what comes off my fruits and vegetables is enough to convince me it's worth the extra few minutes.

If you're someone who keeps fresh berries, salad mixes, herbs, and vegetables stocked in your refrigerator like I do, I highly recommend adding one to your kitchen.

This is the produce purifier I personally use in my own home.

Simple Ways to Lower Your Risk

None of us can eliminate every risk, but we can absolutely make smarter choices.

• Pay attention to food recalls and outbreak updates.
• Take extra care when cleaning fresh produce.
• Consider using a produce purifier as an extra layer of protection.
• Refrigerate fresh fruits and vegetables promptly.
• Stay hydrated if you become sick.
• Listen to your body. Don't ignore digestive symptoms that seem unusual or persist longer than expected.
• Parasite cleanse 2-4 times per year depending on your lifestyle 

Sometimes it's the little habits that make the biggest difference.

Why I'll Continue My Quarterly Parasite Cleanse

After everything that happened this week, one thing is certain...

I won't be skipping my quarterly parasite cleanse.

In fact, this experience only reinforced why I've made it part of my wellness routine.

If it's been six months—or longer—since you've done a parasite cleanse, or you've never done one before, this may be the perfect time to make your gut health a priority.

One thing I don't recommend is trying to build your own parasite cleanse by purchasing random products.

A successful cleanse isn't just about supporting your body's natural cleansing process.

It's also about supporting your body during that process.

That's exactly why we created the No Crap In It Parasite Cleanse Bundle. 

The parasite support herbs are incredibly important—but so is what comes next.

The second product in the bundle contains ingredients specifically chosen to support your body during the cleanse, including one of the most important pieces in my opinion...a binder.

In our protocol, that binder is bentonite clay.

As parasites die, the binder helps bind to them so they can be carried out of the body instead of simply lingering. That's one of the reasons I believe using a complete protocol is so important.

Trying to piece together a cleanse yourself often means leaving out one of the most important parts.

That's why I always recommend the bundle exactly as it was designed.

If you've been thinking about doing a parasite cleanse, this might be the reminder you've been waiting for.

One More Thing That Helped Me...

If you do end up getting this, I have one more tip from personal experience.

For me, the nausea was honestly one of the worst parts of the entire experience.

It came in waves, and it was intense.

Thankfully, I had our Lemon Ginger Cookie Inhaler on hand. 

Within just a few minutes of using it, that awful nauseous feeling started to settle down. It became one of those little things I kept reaching for throughout the night.

Hopefully you'll never need it for something like this, but after my experience this week, it's definitely earned a permanent spot in my wellness toolkit.

My Biggest Takeaway

This week reminded me of something I already knew—but maybe hadn't thought enough about.

Parasites aren't rare.

They're not just a problem somewhere else.

And they're certainly not something to ignore.

I can't say with certainty that already being ten days into my quarterly parasite cleanse changed my experience.

What I can say is that after seeing how many people have been affected by this outbreak, I'm incredibly thankful I was already taking steps to support my body.

I'll continue eating fresh produce because the health benefits are simply too great to give up.

I'll just be cleaning it a whole lot better.

I hope this article doesn't leave you feeling afraid.

I hope it leaves you feeling empowered.

Clean your produce.

Take care of your gut.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you.

And maybe let this week's headlines serve as a reminder that being proactive with your health is almost always better than being reactive.

Here's to healthier guts and cleaner produce!