10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Getting a Parasite While Traveling
Parasites are more common than you think, especially in Central America and SE Asia, but they're avoidable with this knowledge and some personal effort.
1. Use clean drinking water to brush your teeth
Avoid tap, use bottled.
2. Don’t swallow water in the shower or on a swim
Sorry, no singing in the shower.
3. Thoroughly disinfect produce
Use a store-bought solution to clean fruits and vegetables after bringing them back from the market. This powder or these wipes from Eat Cleaner work well and they're super convenient for traveling. You can also make your own solution with diluted vinegar or colloidal silver.
4. Eat on dry dish-wear
Bacteria grows on wet surfaces.
5. Stick to cooked food and fruit with thick, peelable skins
Fruit such as banana, mango, papaya, and orange.
6. Stay away from raw salads and non-skinable fruit
You don’t know what’s lurking in uncooked food. Some fruits to skip are berries, apples, and pears.
7. Wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds
Use your clothes to dry your hands instead of a communal towel in a public restroom.
8. Load up on probiotics
Build up your good bacteria and maintain optimal gut health. We recommend this one.
9. Take grapefruit seed extract
Drink the liquid concentrate regularly as a broad-spectrum antibiotic and antimicrobial supplement. Some claim its cure-all for infections.
10. Talk to locals
Nature tends to provide food and herbs needed to fight off infections and things that cause disease. For example, Mexico and Guatemala have papaya, pineapple, coconuts and epazote. Indonesia has turmeric, ginger and betel nut. They also have over-the-counter anti-parasite pills, some using it for a lifetime. Talk to people who live in these areas permanently for insider info.
Bonus tip
Avoid antibiotics before and during travels. They'll weaken your immune system and natural defenses against foreign invaders. Unfortunately, we learned this the hard way.
Have another tip to add? Comment below.
