If you have been following the news, you have likely heard about cyclosporiasis, a GI infection that can cause moderate to severe symptoms, including diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. The most recent outbreak was caused by the presence of the cyclospora parasite in lettuce, leading to infections across the country. This outbreak has been declared over by the CDC, but we wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the best practices that you can follow to help prevent cyclosporiasis and keep yourself healthy. Let’s get started:
1. Follow Best Hand-Washing Practices
While this is a general piece of advice, it is repeated so often because proper hand-washing truly is one of the best ways to protect yourself against infections. By washing your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling fresh produce, you can lower your risk of getting sick or transmitting germs to others.
2. Thoroughly Scrub Produce When Possible
Next, when it comes to produce itself, washing fruits and vegetables under running water and scrubbing them when possible can help to lower your risk of infection. While washing your produce does not eliminate the possibility of cyclosporiasis, it is a helpful step to minimize potential exposure.
3. Avoid Visibly Damaged Areas on Produce
Another of the best practices to follow to prevent cyclosporiasis is to avoid consuming visibly damaged parts of any produce you buy. Damaged portions of produce are ideal environments for germs to thrive, and while cyclospora is not limited to damaged parts of produce, it is generally considered best to cut these portions away.
4. Cook Produce to at Least 158°F
The most effective way to protect yourself against cyclosporiasis is to cook produce to at least 158°F before consuming it, as this is the temperature that kills the parasite. Although this is the most effective way to avoid cyclosporiasis, you should still follow the other steps on this list to give yourself the best chance of avoiding infection.
5. Refrigerate Cut/Peeled/Cooked Produce Within 2 Hours
Finally, it is strongly advised that all produce be refrigerated within 2 hours of the time it is cut, peeled, or cooked. This helps to prevent any potential cyclospora parasites from multiplying.
Helpful Supplements We Offer
- GI Nourish: This supplement is designed to support your gastrointestinal wellbeing with key components like colostrum, which helps lower symptoms of diarrhea while also providing lgG that helps remove toxins. GI Nourish is available in both powder form and capsule form.
- Key Biotic: This probiotic supplement helps to promote a healthy balance of gut microflora, which both protects intestinal integrity and boosts immune function.
- Key Immune: This supplement offers a blend of nutrients that is designed to assist the body’s immune system and promote respiratory health.
We hope that this information is helpful to you as you work to keep yourself and your loved ones protected from cyclosporiasis. If you want to check out some of the supplements we mentioned above, as well as other useful health products we offer here at Keystone Compounding Pharmacy, you can visit our supplements shop right here.
