7 Everyday Ways You Can Get Parasites (and How to Avoid Them)

I’ll be honest…the more I learned about parasites, the more everyday things started to feel a little suspicious. That perfectly fresh sushi roll, the crunchy salad bar, and even the sandbox at the park can all be unexpected hiding places for parasites.

It came as a surprise to me that you don’t need to travel to some far-off country to pick one up. Parasites are pretty common, affecting millions of people around the world, including right here in the U.S.

In this post, we’re zeroing in on the how. From raw fish to drinking water, I’ll share the most common ways parasites find their way into our lives (and what you can do to keep them out).

? Before we dive in: Have you ever been curious what a full parasite cleanse looks like? If you’re ready to get started now, check out The Ultimate Parasite Cleanse Starter Kit. It includes the exact herbs and support tools I recommend, all bundled into an easy 8-week plan. You can grab that below!

7 Sneaky Ways Parasites Can Get Into Your Life

Whether it’s raw fish, a salad bar, or even contaminated water, parasites are experts at finding their way into our lives. Here’s how they do it.

1. Raw Fish, Shellfish, and Sushi

I love sushi. But the unfortunate truth is… parasites can live inside raw fish and shellfish. Some chefs have literally seen them while cutting fish. I’ve even seen videos of parasites wriggling in fish at the grocery store.

Now, if a restaurant freezes the fish for at least three days, most parasites will be killed.¹ That’s why it’s so important to eat sushi at places you trust.

These days, I usually stick to cooked fish. Not quite as exciting, but a lot less risky.

2. Undercooked Meat

It’s not just fish. Parasites can also come from undercooked meat, especially pork and wild game. If pork isn’t cooked through (no blood, no “rare” pink centers), you risk picking up trichinosis, a parasite that can cause worms to crawl under your skin.

I know rare meat feels closer to “natural” and less processed, but with pork and game, fully cooked is the only way to go if you want to avoid some very unpleasant surprises.

3. Contaminated Salad Bars

Here’s one you probably haven’t thought of: salad bars. They can be an easy way to pick up parasites if the veggies were washed in contaminated water or touched by dirt carrying bacteria.

At home, give your produce a good wash before eating it raw.

4. Sandboxes and Soil

Sandboxes can be parasite hotspots. All it takes is one animal (like a mouse or cat) using the sandbox as a litter box, and now your kids are playing in it, touching their mouths, and unknowingly swallowing parasites.

And it’s not just kids. If you have open wounds exposed to soil, parasites can also sneak in that way.

5. Animal or Human Stool

Parasites spread through contact with stool, whether it is from an animal or a human. If you don’t wash your hands well enough after handling pets, changing diapers, or gardening, you can accidentally pick up germs.

Hot water, soap, and a good scrub make all the difference.

6. Infected Drinking Water

This might be the easiest way to get a parasite: contaminated water.²

Whether it’s tap water, a pond you swim in, or a stream you drink from while hiking, if it’s infected, parasites can enter through your mouth, nose, or even eyes.

7. Contaminated Dry Goods

This one surprised me. Even dry foods like beans or rice can carry parasites. If a bag of beans has microscopic feces from a mouse in it, there’s a chance parasites are in there too.

But here’s the upside: cooking kills them. So if you’re cooking your beans and rice (which, let’s be honest, most of us are), you’re safe.

Quick Recap

Parasites can sneak in through everyday things like:

✅ Raw fish, sushi, or shellfish
✅ Undercooked pork or wild game
✅ Salad bars washed in dirty water
✅ Sandboxes or soil (especially with open cuts)
✅ Animal or human stool (poor handwashing)
✅ Infected drinking water
✅ Contaminated dry goods like beans or rice

Final Thoughts

Parasites might sound like something out of a horror movie, but the truth is they’re just a part of our world. Cooking your food well, choosing trusted spots for sushi, washing your produce, practicing good hand hygiene, and being mindful of your water sources can make a huge difference.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! Which one of these surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments below. For me, it was the salad bar. Who knew?

? If you’re ready to dive deep, my Ultimate Parasite Starter Kit gives you the exact 8-week protocol I use to flush out parasites, along with natural remedies, food guides, and everything you need to get started.

Additional Resources

• The Hidden World of Parasites: 3 Main Types Explained
• 7 Clear Signs You May Have Parasites (And How to Get Rid of Them for Good)
• 4 Overlooked Reasons Parasite Cleanses Fail (And What Actually Works)
• 9 Powerful Herbs That Kill Parasites and Cleanse Your Body
• 4 Hidden Signs of Parasite Infection (That Most People Overlook)

Footnote:

1. Evidence Brief: Control of parasites by freezing in fish for raw consumption ↩︎
2. Freshwater Fish in U.S. Carry Introduced Human-Infecting Parasites ↩︎

? Like this and want to save it for later? Tap the Pinterest Pin button below—it’s an easy way to keep it on hand when you need it.

Join the community and gain instant access to

our free wellness library of e-books, worksheets, and resources.

SEND IT MY WAY!

Built with Kit