Giardia and Gut health: Is There a Connection?
This post will delve into the parasite’s characteristics, transmission, symptoms, prevention, and ways to clear Giardia.
We’ll also touch on Giardia and gut health.
Your gut bugs have been found to be able to regulate parasites when they want to set up in your intestines. The make up of your microbiome in your digestive tract plays a role in immunity and modulation when any invader comes in, including Giardia.
First, let’s take a look at what Giardia actually is, what symptoms look like, how you can get it, and then … your gut health and Giardia. We’ll also look at natural support for your gut if you resonated with Giardia on any one of your CBH tests!
What is Giardia?
The species of giardia is one of the most common parasites of the intestines. It affects humans and livestock. Giardia can also affect your pets. It exists globally, and although the infection rates are lower in developed countries, they still exist. There are many unreported incidences of digestive distress that may be contributed to giardia (2).
Giardia, scientifically known as Giardia lamblia, or Giardia duodenalisis, a flagellated protozoan parasite that affects the intestines of humans and animals. This is a cloaking parasite, as it forms a cyst and survives in contaminated water or food. Cysts that can survive outside the host’s body for extended periods, making it highly resistant to environmental conditions.
When a person becomes infected with giardia, they develop giardiasis, a diarrheal illness that can cause a range of gastrointestinal symptoms. The severity of the disease varies, with some individuals experiencing mild discomfort, while others suffer from severe dehydration and malnutrition.
Giardia and Gut Health: Transmission
There are a few ways you might come into contact with a species of Giardia
- Food
- Water
- Pets
- People
Food and Water Transmission
The most common route of giardia transmission is through the consumption of contaminated drinking water or recreational water, such as lakes, rivers, or pools. The cysts can be in tap water as well. “!n tap water, Giardia cysts were infectious for 56 days at 0°C to 4°C and 14 days at 20°C to 28°C (2)”
The parasite can survive in water for several months, posing a significant risk to those who drink or swim in contaminated water sources.
Giardia can also spread through the consumption of contaminated food. The parasite may be present on raw or undercooked food items, particularly those that have come into contact with contaminated water or surfaces. Consuming these contaminated food items can lead to infection.
Person-to-Person Transmission
Giardia can spread from person to person through direct contact with an infected individual or their feces (3). This type of transmission is particularly common in settings such as childcare centers, nursing homes, or among family members.
Animal-to-Person Transmission
Giardia is considered a zoonotic microbe, and can be transmitted from infected animals to humans. Pets, particularly dogs and cats, can carry the parasite and pass it on to their owners through contact with feces or contaminated water. We also bioenergetically test pets, and YES, we do have the resonating toxin Giaridia in our customized testing equipment!
Visit our Pet Testing at Petmedella!
While supporting your pet’s gut is a good idea, it’s also good to remember to wash your hands after cleaning their poop, or handling their food.
Symptoms of Giardia
The symptoms of having Giardia in your gut are quite varied. They can be short term or long term.
Common short term symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- gas
- bloating
- stomach cramps
- nausea
- weight loss
These symptoms can last for several weeks if left alone. Some of these symptoms can be quite sever in certain people, and individuals may experience dehydration due to excessive diarrhea, malnutrition from poor nutrient absorption, and fatigue. Severe symptoms may require medical attention and intervention to prevent complications.
At CBH Energetics, formerly known as Creating Balanced Health, we always recommend you seek help from your licensed health care practitioner. Many of our clients are helped immensely by bioenergetic testing, however we do not diagnose or treat health issues.
Silent “symptoms”
It is important to note that not everyone infected will exhibit symptoms with Giardia and gut health concerns. Some individuals may be asymptomatic carriers of the parasite, meaning they can still transmit the infection to others despite not experiencing any symptoms themselves.
Diagnosis of Giardiasis
There are different diagnostic tests for parasites including
- Stool Test
- Blood work
- Ultrasounds
Blood tests and imaging studies, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, may be performed to rule out other gastrointestinal conditions that could be causing the patient’s symptoms.
The issue with a stool test for parasites, is this: what if there are no cysts or parasites in that particular sample? All parasites have a life cycle, and some (like borrelia) leave the gut and travel to other areas of the body.
Conventional Treatment of Giardia
The primary approach from a licensed car practitioner may be medications in the form of anti-parasitics. Maybe you’ve gone though this and your lingering digestive symptoms have you wondering if you’re truly rid of Giardia and gut health issues. Or, you may be wanting to approach this parasite with something natural. to make sure you’ve covered all your bases.
Some of the conventional methods may be necessary, and they can include:
Rehydration
In cases of diarrhea, you may become dehydrated. We all need proper hydration, and minerals, to keep electrolytes and fluids properly balanced.
Nutritional Support
Lingering symptoms can affect the balance and absorption of nutrients. Consuming bone broth can help with easily absorbable amino acids, and minerals, while providing that necessary hydration. Ginger tea can help with your gut lining. It is also a natural, gentle anti-parasitic.
Probiotics
As we’ve mentioned, the balance of your gut bacteria influence the kinds of invaders that can take hold in your gut. Yes, conventional and integrative support of Giardia and gut health can (and should) include probiotics! Probiotics are an important part of keeping that bacteria balanced. We have a few to select from including Symbiome, Flora Syntropy and ProDefense.
Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that promote gut health, may be used to help restore the balance of the gut microbiome after a Giardia infection.
Prevention of Giardia Transmission
Water Safety
To reduce the risk of giardia and gut health issues, it is crucial to practice proper water safety. This includes treating or filtering drinking water from untreated sources, avoiding swallowing water when swimming in recreational water sources, and not using contaminated water for cooking or washing dishes.
Food Safety
Practicing good food hygiene can help prevent giardia and gut health issues. This includes washing fruits and vegetables, cooking meat thoroughly, and avoiding raw or undercooked food items that may be contaminated.
Hand Hygiene
Regular hand washing with soap and water can help prevent the spread of giardia, particularly after using the restroom, changing diapers, or handling animals.
Pet Care
Regularly cleaning up after pets and ensuring they have access to clean water can help reduce the risk of giardia transmission from animals to humans.
Gut Health and Giardia: What’s The Connection?
We know now that your intestinal bacteria play a huge role in the balance of your body. We call it homeostasis. It’s important to your overall health. When there is dis-ease in the digestive system, one thing that gets altered is the bacteria make up. Giardia itself interacts with your gut bacteria, both directly and indirectly, and changes your immune response, and your mucosal lining.
The mucosal lining of your gut is very important.
Giardia can even change pain signaling, and a lot of the aftermath of these critters can remain in the gut, long after the Giardia is gone (1).
If your gut bacteria is already challenged, otherwise known as some form of dysbiosis, from chronic illness, stress, or medication, then the virulence of Giardia is amplified.
Impaired Nutrient Absorption
One of the most significant consequences of giardia and gut health is impaired nutrient absorption. The damage caused by the parasite to the intestinal lining can lead to difficulty absorbing essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
Altered Gut Microbiome
Giardia infection can also disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria. This imbalance can contribute to ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms even after the giardia infection has been treated.
Increased Risk of Other Gastrointestinal Conditions
Individuals who have experienced giardiasis may be at an increased risk of developing other gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Ultimately, caring for your gut any time, is supportive.
You never know when you might be exposed to a parasite like Giardia and gut health issues.
Keeping your gut health supported enhances you ability to fight off parasites, absorb nutrients needed for all your cellular functions and even support your mental health. Gut health is critical in the entire process of creating balanced health.
Understanding the impact of giardia and gut health is essential for preventing, and helping yourself, if this common parasite shows up on your energetic, or physical, radar.
By practicing good hygiene and being aware of the risks associated with contaminated food and water sources, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of giardia and gut health issues. If you suspect you may have been in contact with Giardia and gut health is a concern, seek support from a licensed practitioner, and consider a Full Scan to support all your body systems while going through this challenge.
