tiktok trend shows people eating papaya seeds to treat parasites is it safe

Many of us never consider the possibility that we may actually have a parasite living in our gut when we experience stomach discomfort. But it’s more common than you might think for parasites to enter our digestive systems and cause some unpleasant side effects.

Living creatures known as parasites rely on another organism to survive. When you have a parasite infection, the organism makes its home inside of you and relies on your body’s resources to survive.

According to integrative medicine dietitian and spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Robin Foroutan, MS, RDN, HHC, parasitic infections are actually very common, even in the United States, even among people who have never travelled abroad. “It is completely false that parasites are a problem only in developing nations.”

Being infected with a parasite can cause nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting if it is not properly treated. Despite the fact that there are some tried-and-true methods of preventing parasitic infections, fad home remedies keep appearing on social media. Eating papaya seeds is one of the newest at-home remedies for parasite control on TikTok.

How to Include Papaya Seeds in Your Diet

There are primarily two uses for papaya seeds, according to Foroutan:

combining the seed’s powdered form with water after drying and grinding it
eating the whole papaya seeds with a spoon after thoroughly rinsing them.
Foroutan advises anticipating a flavour that is completely different from papaya flesh if you intend to eat them whole. Start out slowly, she says; take 1 tablespoon on the first day, then increase as your digestive system adjusts to the fibre boost.

In the long run, it might be best to save your efforts until there is clinical evidence to support the use of papaya seeds to prevent parasitic infections. Speak to a physician if you’re concerned about a potential intestinal parasite.