Parasites controling your cravings. How true?

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  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
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    There was a very old method used at the turn of the century. You could swallow a capsule of tapeworm eggs, but...why???

    Thankfully it was banned.

    Nasty.
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
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    In for mind-controlling urge generating parasites (from space?)
    Eta-asstr mc
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
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    Ooh ooh ooh! This reminds me of the episode of Futurama where fry eats the bad egg salad and gets infected with worms that make him super healthy, and smart. I can has those ones?!

    Parasites_Lost.jpg

    "I was born here. I raised a cloud of spores here. My ancestors came over on the sandwich!"
  • in_the_stars
    in_the_stars Posts: 1,395 Member
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    http://www.pnas.org/content/72/11/4445.full.pdf

    http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v29/n3/abs/0802830a.html

    http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2008/04/16/a-deeper-look-into-adenovirus3/
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    If you are concerned, OP, I'd suggest you go see your doctor. They should be able to test you for common parasites and help put your mind at ease.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
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    http://www.pnas.org/content/72/11/4445.full.pdf

    What is your point? That article isn't salient to the discussion as far as I can tell.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
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    Parasites can sure be fascinating! There is a fluke that infects the "brain" of ants and makes them climb to the top of a piece of grass and hang on all night, waiting to be eaten by a cow so the fluke can infect the cow.

    Dicrocoelium_LifeCycle.gif

    But I don't think any of these have been correlated with any specific craving issues in humans.

    And another parasite (flatworm) that does similar things to snails so they'll be eaten by birds. Pretty cool (and gross, because you can see the juvenile parasites in the eyes of the snails).
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    Dear sweet baby Jesus, how did I miss this one??
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
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    Dear sweet baby Jesus, how did I miss this one??

    Was waiting for you.
    Here.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22740641

    Leptin influence by tapeworms.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    Actually, despite all the fun gifs and jokes this is partially true.

    There are a few parasites and diseases that can influence your thinking.

    There is toxoplasmosis. Or the crazy cat lady parasite. Read here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206203240.htm

    Rage is a mind altering disease prior to killing you. But don't worry about that one, if you catch it you are going to shortly die.

    Neurosyphilis can also affect the brain processes in early stages as a disinhibition process or result in periods of euphoria.
    Several books of research cover this.

    Recent research also suggests that gut bacteria influence cognitive processes.
    http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2011/03/25/gut-bacteria-may-influence-thoughts-and-behaviour/

    Happy reading. What's your concern?

    Chances are good OP just eats too much.

    We're talking parasite influence of cognition - not the OPs weight. And while, in terms of weight-loss, we can mostly ignore infections there are a few interesting conditions in gut flora that influence serotonin. And serotonin has been shown to play a role in binge eating disorder. So while the first reaction is to "pshah!" at these claims I find it more interesting to consider potentials. It is likely that some rare conditions of uncontrolled eating are parasite influenced - this makes both biological and evolutionary sense.

    For example, helminths (worms) are known to usually reduce appetite but there are cases of increased hunger reported too.

    Have you seen this?

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677729/
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    Dear sweet baby Jesus, how did I miss this one??

    Was waiting for you.
    Here.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22740641

    Leptin influence by tapeworms.

    Ooh. Tasty. Of course it makes perfect sense for the parasites to influence the host in order to increase their chances of survival.
  • gabbygirl78
    gabbygirl78 Posts: 936 Member
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    You have been watching " monsters inside me" Too haven't you? Love that show!
  • in_the_stars
    in_the_stars Posts: 1,395 Member
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    http://www.pnas.org/content/72/11/4445.full.pdf

    What is your point? That article isn't salient to the discussion as far as I can tell.

    That there are parasites, bacteria and viruses that cause weight gain.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
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    Actually, despite all the fun gifs and jokes this is partially true.

    There are a few parasites and diseases that can influence your thinking.

    There is toxoplasmosis. Or the crazy cat lady parasite. Read here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206203240.htm

    Rage is a mind altering disease prior to killing you. But don't worry about that one, if you catch it you are going to shortly die.

    Neurosyphilis can also affect the brain processes in early stages as a disinhibition process or result in periods of euphoria.
    Several books of research cover this.

    Recent research also suggests that gut bacteria influence cognitive processes.
    http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2011/03/25/gut-bacteria-may-influence-thoughts-and-behaviour/

    Happy reading. What's your concern?

    Chances are good OP just eats too much.

    We're talking parasite influence of cognition - not the OPs weight. And while, in terms of weight-loss, we can mostly ignore infections there are a few interesting conditions in gut flora that influence serotonin. And serotonin has been shown to play a role in binge eating disorder. So while the first reaction is to "pshah!" at these claims I find it more interesting to consider potentials. It is likely that some rare conditions of uncontrolled eating are parasite influenced - this makes both biological and evolutionary sense.

    For example, helminths (worms) are known to usually reduce appetite but there are cases of increased hunger reported too.

    Have you seen this?

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677729/

    I had, someone posted it a few months back (you?) as an interesting twin study but I don't remember the reason why. Mechanism there is absorption or digestion or metabolic function and not "mind control" although I can see interrelationships ....
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
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    http://www.pnas.org/content/72/11/4445.full.pdf

    What is your point? That article isn't salient to the discussion as far as I can tell.

    That there are parasites, bacteria and viruses that cause weight gain.

    But that article doesn't talk about weight gain. "High molecular weight precursor" is the weight of a molecule.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    250px-Animorphs_29_The_Sickness.jpg
  • christinemadden0223
    christinemadden0223 Posts: 175 Member
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    I hear they die off if you OD on Vegetables
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
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    250px-Animorphs_29_The_Sickness.jpg

    I REMEMBER THESE!!! You just nostalgia'd me to death.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
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    I like my parasite. Keeps me company when I'm alone.
  • chelstakencharge
    chelstakencharge Posts: 1,021 Member
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    BAHAHAHAHA!!!! ME TOO!!!
    What?!

    I've had 2 parasites in my body controlling cravings... but I gave birth to them after about 40 weeks...

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