Toxoplasmosis and vitamin overdose

by Maya
(Indonesia)

Hi Sara,

How can we minimize the risk of getting infected by toxoplasmosis from raw vegetable/fruit juices? It is known that pregnant women shouldn't consume raw veggies/fruits due to the risk of toxo.

Also, if I take multivitamin, will drinking juices make me vitamin/mineral overdose since usually the multivitamin alone already contain more than RDA value.

Thank you for your answer :)

---

Sara says:

Hi Maya,

First of all, we need to know that toxoplasmosis is acquired from contact with cats and their feces or with raw or undercooked meat, not through plant foods.

However, if you're afraid that this parasite may come with your fruits/vegetables especially those that are grown low on the ground (close proximity to cats), though highly unlikely, there are some things you can do to prevent infection:

• Wash and rinse all your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, then soak them in water with half a cup vinegar and sea salt for about 10-15 minutes.


• Scrub them using a soft vegetable brush and rinse again.


• For further prevention, remove the outer layer or the peel after washing.


• Wash all utensils especially those used to handle ground/root vegetables.

Know also, that a body that has weak immunity system is more likely to host this parasite. In a healthy body, there may never even be any symptoms at all. Eating fresh fruits/vegetables helps to boost your immunity so you want to eat them. You can't not eat fresh fruits/vegetables especially during pregnancy as this is when your baby needs the most high quality nutrients that can be obtained from nature's best.

Multi-vitamin supplements have all kinds of vitamins packed into a small tablet. They are hardly (usually) enough to meet the RDA requirement. Moreover, you may do your own reading to find that the RDA value is now outdated . The current RDA value are only sufficient for "preventing" diseases, but in some cases, a much higher value is required to reverse our health issues especially that we're living in this very toxic environment.

If it's of any comfort to you, no one ever gets intoxicated nor died of overdose of vitamins. Lack of them cause sicknesses/diseases, not overdose.

Relax and enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables that nature has provided for you and your baby. There are more to be gained by eating them than not eating. :)