Heidi Klum is doing a ‘worm and parasite cleanse' — doc warns how it could do more harm than good
Heidi Klum believes her body is infested with worms and parasites — and now the German supermodel and her husband Tom Kaulitz are embarking on a months-long cleanse to purge them from her system.
'I'm going to deworm and de-parasite for the first time,' Klum, 52, told the Wall Street Journal. 'I heard that you're supposed to do this once a year, and I've never done it. So I feel like I'm really behind. I don't know what the heck is going to come out.'
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3 While Heidi Klum doesn't follow any diets, she recently started a 'warm and parasite cleanse' with her husband.
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Asked whether she had any reason to believe her gut is infested, Klum didn't hesitate.
'Apparently, we all have parasites and worms,' the 'Project Runway' host said. 'If you are someone who eats raw things every now and then, like, for example, sushi.'
While she didn't share specifics about her regimen, Klum said she's taking herb-packed pills to evict the freeloaders she believes are living inside her.
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'There's a lot of clove in there. The parasite hates clove. They also hate the seeds from a papaya,' she explained. 'We have all this metal inside of us, and it's also very important that you use this de-metaling stuff.'
But should the rest of us be panicking about parasites — or is this just another celebrity wellness fad trending on TikTok? The Post spoke to Dr. David Purow, a gastroenterologist at Huntington Hospital, to find out.
Do all of us really have parasites and worms?
The human gut is teeming with trillions of microorganisms, including both beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria. But Purow said Klum's claims are a bit overblown.
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3 Common parasites found in human guts include roundworms, hookworms and pinworms.
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'Not all people have parasites and worms as part of their normal microbiome,' he said.
While parasites in humans occurs more commonly in certain parts of the world, Purow said they're still considered infections — not a standard issue.
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'Types of protozoa, a different type of microorganism, are considered parasitic and can cause harm to the host. There are some types that can be found in the human body that don't appear to have harmful effects,' he explained. 'However, more research needs to be done in this area.'
Are there any benefits to a cleanse like this?
'There are no clear, proven benefits to these cleanses,' said Purow, who is also VP, Medicine Service Line for Northwell Health Eastern Region.
Scientists rely on rigorous, placebo-controlled clinical trials to determine whether treatments work, but he noted that such research is lacking for cleanses like these.
'It is unlikely that we will ever see someone fund a study to see if these natural herbs and byproducts can be proven to be effective,' Purow said.
3 Klum sported a worm costume at her 2022 Halloween party.
Getty Images for Heidi Klum
In lab settings, many of the ingredients featured in these cleanses appear to have positive effects, but they haven't been well tested in humans.
For example, research suggests clove may help kill worms, while turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
'I truly believe that some of these are potentially helpful, but not enough research has been done for us to truly know which are best,' Purow said.
Are there any downsides?
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On day 10 of her parasite and worm cleanse, Klum shared an Instagram video stirring a beige liquid.
'This is yucky as hell,' she admitted.
But beyond the unpleasant taste and the cost of unproven treatments, Purow cautioned that some herbal and alternative remedies carry some serious risks.
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'Wormwood can cause neurological damage, for example,' he said. 'High doses of turmeric and clove oil can cause liver damage.'
In his practice, Purow has also seen patients who deliberately ingested pinworms in hopes of benefitting from their potentially anti-inflammatory effects.
'I have done colonoscopies on such patients and found pinworms living in their colons,' he said. 'Possible harmful effects of these worms include itching and genitourinary complications.'
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Without specifics, Purow said it's hard to comment on the safety and effectiveness of Klum's particular cleanse.
'I definitely have concerns about many cleanses people choose to do, but when carefully researched, there are some that my patients have found helpful,' he said.
But if you actually think you've been infected with a parasite, he urges you to see a doctor.
'It would be best to seek medical attention if one is concerned that they might have a parasite or a worm,' he said.
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