Cyclospora Outbreak: What You Need to Know

Every summer we tend to see an increase in foodborne illnesses, and this year is no exception. There is currently a multi-state outbreak of Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes prolonged diarrhea and digestive illness. In past outbreaks, Cyclospora has commonly been linked to fresh produce, especially imported cilantro, basil, bagged salad greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, raspberries, snow peas, and other fresh herbs and vegetables. Because these foods are often eaten raw, they don't receive the benefit of cooking that would kill many organisms.

This is also a good reminder that parasites are far more common than many people realize. They aren't just something you pick up while traveling internationally. We can be exposed through contaminated food, untreated water, and unwashed produce. While we can't eliminate every exposure, we can build a resilient digestive system that helps protect us.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually begin about 1 week after exposure and may include:

Frequent watery diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Bloating
Gas
Fatigue
Abdominal cramping
Weight loss
Low-grade fever (sometimes)

Unlike many stomach bugs that resolve within a few days, Cyclospora can last for weeks if untreated, with symptoms often coming and going.

How can you protect yourself?

The goal isn't to live in fear - it's to support your body's natural defenses.

Wash produce thoroughly

Even organic produce should always be washed.

For leafy greens:

Separate leaves.
Rinse each leaf under running water.
Use a salad spinner to dry.

For berries and delicate produce:

Rinse just before eating.
Avoid soaking for long periods.

A produce wash or a vinegar-water rinse (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, followed by a clean water rinse) may help remove dirt and some surface contaminants.

Cook produce when possible

Cooking greatly lowers the risk.

During outbreaks, consider:

Lightly steaming spinach
Cooking herbs into meals
Roasting vegetables instead of eating everything raw

Your gut immune system is your best defense

About 80% of the immune system lives in the gut.

A diverse, healthy microbiome helps:

Compete with harmful organisms
Strengthen the intestinal barrier
Produce beneficial compounds that support immunity
Reduce inflammation

We can never guarantee prevention, but a healthier gut is generally more resilient when exposures occur.

Daily focus should always be on:

Plenty of colorful vegetables and fruits (a diversity of fiber foods helps build a strong microbiome)
- Berries
- Apples
- Pears
- Cruciferous veggies
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Garlic
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Green bananas
- Avocado
- Beans and lentils
- Nuts and seeds (ground flaxseed, chia)
Omega-3 rich fish
Fermented foods (if tolerated)

Remember: Adequate protein and sleep are just as important.

Don't Forget Your First Line of Defense: Stomach Acid

One of your body's greatest defenses against foodborne illness isn't a supplement - it's healthy stomach acid.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach creates an extremely acidic environment (around a pH of 1.5-3.5) that helps neutralize and destroy many bacteria, parasites, viruses, and other pathogens before they ever reach the intestines. While it won't eliminate every organism, healthy stomach acid significantly reduces the number that survive and continue into the digestive tract.

Unfortunately, many people today have low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) due to chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies (especially zinc and B vitamins), long-term use of acid-suppressing medications, H. pylori infection, or years of digestive dysfunction.

When stomach acid is too low, unwanted microbes have an easier time surviving the stomach and reaching the intestines, where they can contribute to infections, bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), parasites, nutrient deficiencies, and digestive symptoms.

A Simple At-Home Check: The Baking Soda Challenge

A simple screening tool you can try at home is the baking soda challenge:

First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything, mix ¼ teaspoon baking soda into 4 ounces of cold water.
Drink it all at once and start a timer.
Measure how long it takes to produce your first noticeable burp.

General guideline:

2-3 minutes: Often suggests adequate stomach acid.
More than 5 minutes: May suggest lower stomach acid production.

This isn't a diagnostic test, but it can be a helpful clue when considered alongside symptoms like reflux, bloating, burping, indigestion, or feeling overly full after meals.

Natural Ways to Support Healthy Stomach Acid

If low stomach acid is suspected, simple habits can often make a meaningful difference:

Try 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar in a small amount of water 10-15 minutes before meals (if tolerated).
Include bitter foods regularly such as arugula, dandelion greens, radishes, ginger, artichokes, and lemon to naturally stimulate digestive secretions.
Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly, and avoid rushing through meals.
Take a few deep breaths before eating to activate your "rest and digest" nervous system.
If appropriate, work with us to determine whether taking bitters or if digestive enzymes with Betaine HCl may be beneficial.
Eat adequate protein, as protein naturally stimulates stomach acid production.

A strong digestive system starts at the very beginning of digestion. Supporting healthy stomach acid doesn't just improve nutrient absorption - it also strengthens one of your body's most important defenses against unwanted microbes that enter through the foods we eat.

What if you do get sick?

If you develop persistent diarrhea lasting more than several days, especially with significant fatigue or weight loss, contact your healthcare provider. Cyclospora is typically treated with a prescription antibiotic (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). People who cannot take sulfa medications or prefer not to may require alternative management.

From a Functional Nutrition Standpoint, Helpful Strategies Include:

1) Stay hydrated

Replace fluids and electrolytes.

Think:

Water
Homemade electrolyte drinks (water, lemon or lime juice, pinch of sea salt)
Coconut water (if tolerated)
Mineral-rich broths

2) Saccharomyces boulardii

One of our favorite probiotics during diarrhea because research suggests it can help support recovery from infectious diarrhea and restore microbial balance.

3) Multi-strain probiotic

To help rebuild microbiome diversity. Look for 10-15 strain and 30+ CFU.

4) GI Revive (or similar gut lining support with glutamine)

Can help nourish and support the repair of the intestinal lining after inflammation.

5) Zinc

Supports immune function and intestinal barrier health.

6) Activated charcoal

Can be used early in acute digestive illness to bind certain toxins and reduce gas/diarrhea. Activated Charcoal (like Integrative Therapeutics) should always be taken on an empty stomach, 2 hours away from food and medications. You can take 2 capsules, 2-3 times daily as needed. Take with plenty of water.

7) Plenty of Fiber

To bulk up your stool. The easiest way to do this is 1-2 tbsp ground flaxseed 2-3x/day in these cases. Mix in coconut-based yogurt or no-sugar-added applesauce (can add cinnamon). Or Chia Seed Puddings.

What about natural herbal antimicrobials?

This is where it's important to individualize care. Please reach out to us.

1) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can be helpful in some situations because it supports glutathione production, helps reduce oxidative stress, and has been studied for disrupting microbial biofilms. It can be a supportive tool as part of a broader gut-healing protocol for some.

2) Herbal antimicrobials (such as formulas like GI Microb-X®, ParaGard®, oregano oil, wormwood-containing blends, etc.) can be very useful for certain bacterial overgrowths, yeast, or some parasitic infections.

Don't forget about food safety

Wash hands before preparing food.
Keep raw meats separate from produce.
Refrigerate foods promptly.
When possible, buy local and know your farmers.

This is a great time to revisit our Farm-to-Fork guide featuring local farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Buying locally allows you to ask growers about their farming and food safety practices while supporting our local food system.

Final thoughts

Outbreaks like this are a good reminder that our health isn't just about avoiding germs - it's about building resilience. A strong digestive system, diverse gut microbiome, nutrient-dense diet, and healthy lifestyle all help your body respond more effectively when exposures happen.

If you've been dealing with chronic bloating, diarrhea, unexplained fatigue, recurrent digestive infections, or suspect an underlying gut imbalance, this may be a good time to investigate what's happening beneath the surface. Functional stool testing can often provide valuable insights into the health of your microbiome and guide a more personalized treatment plan.

Stay healthy, eat colorful foods, wash your produce well, and remember - supporting your gut every day is one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health.