Is It Your Diet... or Something Else? What the Cyclospora Outbreak Can Teach You About Listening to Your Gut
- Latreil
Just when I was planning my social media exit, I came across a headline about a multi-state outbreak causing serious digestive problems.
This time, it wasn't another diet trend.
It was a parasite.
If you've been experiencing unexpected digestive symptoms lately, I don't want you to panic. I do, however, want you to be informed.
As someone who teaches gut health for Blood Type Os, I also want to remind you of something important:
Not every digestive symptom is caused by your diet.
Sometimes our bodies react to something completely outside of our control.
And that's exactly why I teach the Wonder & Discover Method.
Instead of jumping to conclusions or blaming yourself, I want you to become a curious observer of your body so you can better understand what it's trying to tell you.
Whether your symptoms are related to food choices, stress, illness, something like the current Cyclospora outbreak or even a Mercury Retrograde purge, awareness is the first step toward finding relief.
Wonder Before You Worry
One of the first things I teach is to wonder before assuming.
Ask yourself and journal:
When did these symptoms begin?
Did anything change recently?
Have I eaten any recalled foods?
Is anyone else in my household experiencing similar symptoms?
Have my usual "safe foods" suddenly started bothering me?
These questions help you gather clues in your food journal instead of immediately blaming yourself or your diet.
What Is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food through soil and water.
People usually become infected after eating contaminated fresh produce or drinking contaminated water.
Unlike many foodborne illnesses, Cyclospora generally isn't spread directly from person to person because the parasite needs time in the environment before it becomes infectious.
Common Symptoms
Here are some common symptoms that you may have experienced with no warning or understanding, which can begin several days to a couple of weeks after exposure:
Watery diarrhea (some calling explosive)
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Stomach cramps
Bloating
Gas
Nausea and Vomiting
Fatigue
No symptoms at all, which lead to dehydration and other complications
When to Consult a Doctor
If left untreated, symptoms can last for weeks before they improve. Be sure to check in with your doctor if you have severe or prolonged diarrhea, signs of dehydration, or symptoms after eating a recalled product, since cyclospora can be treated with prescription antibiotics. (See my herbal anti-parasitic suggestions below.)
Foods Linked to the Current Outbreak
The FDA has linked part of the current outbreak to recalled iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico that were contaminated through the water and soil and used by certain retailers and restaurants like Walmart and Taco Bell. Taco Bell has been reported to have stopped using Taylor Farms to supply their lettuce, but the investigation is ongoing.
Other fresh produce like cilantro and parsley have been reported by patients who have gotten sick from consumption as well.
Here’s a list of fresh produce that has been associated with the Cyclospora outbreak:
Iceberg Lettuce (main one)
Bagged salad mixes
Cilantro
Basil
Raspberries
Snow peas
Sugar snap peas
Please use your own discretion and stay informed of the recalls in your state and city. I’d say to avoid lettuce specifically until you hear word that the coast is clear for your region.
Learn more on the CDC Cyclospora outbreak page
Learn more on the FDA Cyclospora outbreak page
Practical Ways to Reduce Your Risk
After reading those symptoms and food lists, I’m sure you want to stay far away from anything that will put you at risk, so here are some simple habits that can help protect you and your family.
Stay informed about current food recalls.
If a product has been recalled, do not eat it, even if it looks fresh.
Choose whole produce instead of pre-cut or bagged options.
Wash your hands before preparing food.
Rinse and scrub fresh produce thoroughly under running water (although this is not proven to eliminate the parasite)
Remove damaged outer leaves from unrecalled lettuce and cabbage.
Keep raw produce separate from cleansed produce and raw meat.
Inactivate Cyclospora by cooking the produce to at least 158°F (70°C).
People with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness and should be especially attentive to food safety.
Discover What Your Body Is Telling You
This is where the second part of my framework begins.
Once you've gathered information about how you’re feeling and what you’ve eaten recently, it's time to discover.
Take a positive approach and ask, "What patterns am I noticing?" instead of, "What's wrong with me?"
You may discover your symptoms began after eating a recalled food, and then notice they're improving after removing that food.
Or maybe you've learned your symptoms have nothing to do with the current outbreak at all.
The goal is to observe, learn, and make informed decisions, so that you don’t have to guess.
My Type O Perspective
Take a Parasite Cleanse
Besides seeing a doctor for antibiotics, you may also benefit from a more grassroots approach to health with an herbal parasite cleanse.
These are usually made of natural herbs that have been used for centuries to clear the human body of parasites. They usually come in either capsule or liquid form, and due to the taste, I find the capsule form much easier to stick to.
I’ve been taking a liquid parasite cleanse which worked well to calm my stomach when I felt related symptoms during July after coming home from a cruise.
In his blood type diet books, Dr. D’Adamo refers to wormwood, berberine (oregon grape) and goldenseal as natural anti-parasitics, which were all in the cleanse I took.
The Blood Type O Diet
Another thing that will support your body is to eat according to your blood type. Dr. D’Adamo, the creator of the modern blood type diet, explains that eating for our blood type supports our bodily functions. And with regards to parasites, our livers’ ability to function properly supports the removal of parasites from the body.
As Blood Type Os, our diet requirements lean more towards carnivorism, which means that we naturally prioritize red meat. And I’m not saying to avoid vegetables, but we can absolutely bypass lettuce for as long as needed.
Other greens like kale and collard greens are beneficial for Type Os and are usually enjoyed after being cooked, which is a process that kills cyclospora. So, eat more red meat and cook your greens.
Lately I've been enjoying things like:
Grass-fed beef
Grass-fed lamb
Broccoli
String beans
Kale
Collard greens
Feel free to use my recipes, created specifically for Blood Type Os.
Are you different blood type? Click here.
Thinking Beyond Quick Produce by Gardening and Farming at Home
Times like this make me wish I had my own garden and didn’t need to rely on international crops and mass production to supply food for me.
I’ve been thinking about it for years, really all things natural and holistic, because it just feels like that’s how things should be. Farming would bring us back to the land that we live on and help us regrow relationships with Mother Earth, her plants and her animals.
Related Reads: The Call of the Type O Woman: Balancing the Masculine and Feminine Within
Some solutions to think about are to learn about urban, small-space gardening, and to partner and shop with local farmers and butchers that you align with.
I’ve been learning from Cassandra at Becoming a Farm Girl on YouTube and let me tell you, this lady knows her stuff. And guess what, she doesn’t have any farm land. Since she lives in a townhouse, she can only use standing gardening containers like these ones on her back porch, which I’ve actually tried before in my apartment, and she’s producing all types of produce.
Cassandra speaks on all things:
Gardening in small spaces
Grocery shopping hacks
Seasonal buying
Predicting price behaviors based on weather, crop success and international shipping
Storing and preserving food like our ancestors did
Cooking tips
Homeopathic remedies
I think you’ll learn a lot from Cassandra if you’re interested in getting started with gardening.
A Reflection for My Spiritually Curious Readers
If you enjoy following astrology, you may have noticed many people talking about the recent Mercury retrograde in Cancer during June 29 to July 23, 2026.
Cancer is traditionally associated in astrology with nourishment, home, food, and the stomach. Many astrologers interpreted this Mercury retrograde as a time to revisit eating habits, family food traditions, and self-care routines rather than starting entirely new ones.
Whether or not astrology resonates with you, I think there's something beautiful about using seasons like these as reminders to slow down and pay closer attention to how we're caring for ourselves.
For me, this season has brought plenty of opportunities for deep reflection, adjusting, patience and paying closer attention to my own body's signals, while implementing practices like:
Food journaling
Meal planning
Meal prep
And that's really why my Wonder & Discover Method is at the basis of my teaching.
I don’t want you to fear what’s going on around you and within you, nor do I want you to expect perfection out of everything you do.
A healthier, more intuitive, approach is to become more connected to your body one observation at a time.
Final Thoughts
I know this is a lot of information.
Take a deep breath and empower yourself to and take good care of yourself and your family by staying informed, externally and internally.
Most importantly, remember that digestive symptoms don't automatically mean you've "failed" your diet.
Sometimes the answer is on your plate.
Sometimes it's in your environment.
Sometimes it’s energetic.
Paying attention to your body's signals includes considering all possibilities.
And sometimes what your body is asking you is to slow down and begin wondering before you start worrying, which is where understanding, hope and relief begin.
If you'd like to learn how to better understand your Type O body, I'd love to help you through my Wonder & Discover Method in my learning community Blood Type O Life Membership.