Easy strategies to help prevent and treat Worms, Parasites, and the Bad Bugs in your child’s GUT

WRIGGLY WORMS! Easy strategies to help prevent and treat Worms, Parasites, and the Bad Bugs in your child’s GUT

             

Pharmaceutical medication can be an effective first line treatment for some worms, however, unless the treatment is taken over a prolonged period, which isn’t recommended, the eggs remain and re-hatch. Cross contamination between family members and other children at school can make it difficult to treat.

Worms, parasites and bad bugs will thrive in an unhealthy GUT so dietary strategies are essential to keep your child’s gut well and parasite free.

Here at Nourished Naturopathy and Nutrition in Bunbury we utilize food as medicine. Below are some great natural antimicrobial’s, prebiotics and probiotic foods for a healthy GUT. Along with some easy and tasty recipes that can be incorporated into your weekly meals.

Herbs and Spices

• Garlic is rich in sulfur that can destroy pathogens and improve our immune system. Garlic is known for killing bacteria and parasites in the human body. The presence of allicin and ajoene compounds kill amoebas causing diseases and regular use of garlic also detoxifies the body and protects against oxidation caused by parasite toxins. Include garlic in your meals and cooking. Garlic used raw is even better.  Try it crushed in a salad dressing or in a hummus dip. Check out Nourished Naturopathy’s recipes below.
• Ginger is ideal for improving stomach acid production, which indirectly helps destroy parasites and protects the gut from any sort of internal damage.
• Turmeric is also effective against bacteria and parasites and is a good blood purifier.
• Thyme destroys intestinal microorganisms and is naturally antibacterial.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain a substance that can paralyse worms and help remove them from the body. Ground up pumpkin seeds can be added to baked treats and meals or eaten whole in a trail mix. Check out the recipe below.

Lemons

Lemon water is particularly good for the digestive tract. Freshly squeezed lemon in water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is best or it can be used in salad dressings and a healthy hummus recipe. Check out Nourished Naturopathy’s recipes below.

Pineapple

Pineapple and pineapple juice is high in Bromelain, the core of the pineapple being the highest. Bromelains help fight parasites and improve your immune system. Check out Nourished Naturopathy’s recipes below for a Gut Cleansing Super Smoothie.

Prebiotics

Prebiotic foods contain  indigestible fibres that feed your good bacteria helping them produce short chain fatty acids that nourish our digestive system and boost our immune system. Prebiotic foods to include are garlic, onions, leeks, apples, bananas(slightly unripe), asparagus and seaweed.

Probiotics

Probiotic foods contribute to your GUT microbiome by adding a population of good bacteria to your digestive system. The “good bugs” are essential for digestive function, immune health and even mood and brain function. Foods high in probiotics include Fermented vegetables like Kimchi, Sauerkraut, Kefir, yogurts  (these need to be sugar and sweetener free and preferably pot set. Did you know a flavored yogurt has the same amount of sugar as a chocolate bar! )

Coconut yogurt is also a great option for those needing to avoid cow’s dairy.

Nourished Naturopathy’s extra tips to support Gut health and prevent Worms and Parasites

Limit sugar and processed carbohydrates Sugars and starches will feed bad bacteria, yeasts such as candida and parasites in the GUT. You can read more about digestive health and Candida overgrowth here.

Ensure adequate water intake Water will keep the bowel and stool hydrated and healthy and supporting regular bowel movements and detoxification. Filtered water is preferred. As a guide –

Children 1-3yrs –  4 cups

Children 4-8yrs – 6 cups

Children 9-13yrs – 6-8 cups

Children 14+yrs – 8+ cups

Include foods to support immune system and the GUT and digestion such as Vitamin C and Zinc rich foods such as capsicum, kiwi fruit, citrus, broccoli, tomatoes, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, animal protein and eggs.

                 

Stomach acid is our first line of defense against infections.  Adequate stomach acid is essential to destroys whatever first enters our gastrointestinal tract. Our bodies require good zinc levels to make our stomach acid. At Nourished Naturopathy and Nutrition Bunbury we offer Zinc Testing to assess zinc status. Find out more here about zinc testing and other tests we provide here. https://nourishednaturopathy.com.au/diagnostic-testing/

Other factors that impair stomach acid activity include overeating, processed and sugary foods, gluten and dairy intolerance’s and taking antacid and stomach ulcer medications.

Ginger and lemon are easy foods to include to support stomach acid production and digestion. Adults can try swapping out a coffee or tea for a Ginger and fresh Lemon tea.

Herbal Medicines can provide safe and effective regular worming and prevention treatment. They helps rid the body of a variety of unhealthy organisms such as worms, yeasts, and bacteria. Natural herbal wormer’s are a safer treatment to use regularly and as a preventative for school aged children. Here at Nourished we use TGA approved herbal medicine products for worm treatment and prevention.

I hope these tips and information gives you some tools to take health into your own hands and keep your child’s GUT healthy and happy and worm free! Please note this information was given to provide you with some guidance. For further support a consultation may be required and please seek medical advice if you have any serious concerns about your child.

Nourished Naturopathy & Nutrition GUT Recipes

Seed trail mix

• Raw Pumpkin seeds (also called Pepita’s)
• Tamari Almond’s or raw almonds
• Organic sultanas
• Coconut flakes or coconut chips
• Dark chocolate chips (sugar and dairy free)

1. Mix an even ratio of nuts and seeds and add ¼ amount portions of coconut, sultanas, and choc chips.

Gut Cleansing Super Smoothie

• ½  cup chopped Pineapple
• 1 small or half large slightly unripe banana,
• 1 TBS pumpkin seeds
• 2 TBS coconut or natural pot set yogurt
• 1 -2 cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk
• Optional
• Handful spinach, or kale leaves and or  ½ TBS Greens powder
• 1 serve  of a Good quality probiotic powder

1. Blend all ingredients in the blender or thermomixer and serve. Makes 1 serve or two small serves.

Zesty Hummus

• 1 can chickpeas or 1 ½ cups (250 grams) cooked chickpeas
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice, 1 large lemon
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) well-stirred tahini
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt to taste
• 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 ml) water
• Dash ground paprika

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process for 30 seconds more. This extra time helps “whip” or “cream” the tahini, making the hummus smooth and creamy.
2. Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process another 30 seconds or until well blended. Open, drain, and rinse the chickpeas. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until thick and quite smooth; 1 to 2 minutes.
3.  Most likely the hummus will be too thick or still have tiny bits of chickpea. To fix this, with the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until you reach the perfect consistency. Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week. Serve with vegetable sticks such as  celery, capsicum, carrot and cucumber.

GUT loving Anzac biscuits

• 1 1/2  cups rolled oats
• 1  cup desiccated coconut
• ½ cup ground pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup wholemeal spelt flour
• 1/2 cup macadamia nut oil or melted butter
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda

1. Pre heat oven to 160°C fan-forced.
2. Mix oats, coconut, pumpkin seeds, spelt flour and bicarb soda into a mixing bowl.
3. Add the oil, maple syrup and hot water then mix well to form a soft dough.
4. Divide biscuits onto baking trays, lined with baking paper. I use a small ice cream scoop. Then down with your fingertips.
5. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until golden.

Zesty Garlic Salad Dressing

• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest (grated lemon peel)
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2-3 TBS extra virgin cold presses olive oil
• 1/4 tsp mustard powder
• Pepper to taste

1. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and mustard. Whisk to combine everything (or seal and shake the jar).
2. Whisk in the olive oil (or, again, seal the jar and shake it vigorously). Add salt pepper to taste.

Healthy Garlic Bread

• Good quality Sourdough bread (baker’s yeast free and gluten free if needed)
• Fresh Garlic
• Cold pressed Olive oil
• Fresh Parsley
• Good quality Sea Salt

1. Crush garlic and mix with oil chopped parsley and pinch salt. Spread over sliced sourdough and grill to golden.

Various Herbal Medicines can provide a safe and effective regular worming and prevention treatment. They help rid the body of a variety of unhealthy organisms such as worms.

Natural herbal wormer’s are a safer treatment to use regularly and as a preventative for school aged children. Here at Nourished we use TGA approved herbal medicine products for worm treatment and prevention. Please contact us for more information at admin@nourishednaturopathy.com.au