A man is holding a feeding tube
There are some diets to avoid due to being outright dangerous.

Tapeworm Diet

Photo Credit: dotana / iStockPhoto.com

3. Tapeworm Diet

Most people aim to avoid tapeworm infections, which are commonly caught by ingesting raw meat. Once inside the intestines, the tapeworm egg or larva grows into a very large tapeworm, feeding on the food in your gut as it grows and produces eggs that are passed in the feces.

Some tapeworms grow up to 12 – 30 feet long. Tapeworms may cause no symptoms but they can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloating or loss of appetite. Sometimes, a large tapeworm can cause an intestinal blockage, which is life-threatening.

Some tapeworm larvae also migrate out of the intestines into the rest of the body, where they can cause cysts, inflammation, and damage. They can even migrate into the brain and cause damage there.

While tapeworms may cause weight loss by eating your food, they can also cause vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies. You are also putting your friends and family at risk, who may become infected from you. It is illegal to advertise and sell tapeworm eggs or larvae in the United States for the purpose of dieting and it should remain this way. And if you try to get your tapeworm eggs or larvae from overseas, who knows what type you are getting.

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