Claire Foy, of Crown fame, reveals she had parasites in her gut for 5 years, quit caffeine

Clair Foy recently revealed she had parasites living in her body for around 5 years. (Picture: Instagram/@gregwilliamsphotography)

• Claire Foy quit caffeine after a parasitic infection caught in Morocco
• Doctor says avoiding caffeine is not required for treating parasitic infections
• Foy also avoids gluten and sugar due to her autoimmune condition

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British actor Claire Foy who played the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Crown recently shared why she had to give up on drinking coffee. “Quite a few years ago (I gave up caffeine), I had parasites. Gross... I kept losing weight and I didn't know what was going on," she shared this on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware.

The actor went on to share that she caught the infection when she was travelling in Morocco. When she was diagnosed with the infection, she decided to make immediate changes in her diet and lifestyle to avoid taking hardcore antibiotics, "I basically had to go on this diet... and part of that was giving up caffeine," she said.

Moneycontrol team spoke to Dr Sunil Rana, Internal Medicine, Associate Director & Head- Internal Medicine (Unit III), Asian Hospital, to understand if there's a correlation between caffeine intake and treating parasitic infection.

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"It is likely that the actor decided to avoid caffeine so that she could work on improving her gut health. Sometimes when a person takes stimulants like coffee, it can irritate the gut health. So, it's good that the actor took the precaution," he opined.

Dr Rana clarified that there was no rule that suggested one had to stay from coffee when getting treatment for parasitic infections. "It is true that avoiding caffeine may help some people improve their digestion. However, avoiding caffeine per se is not a formal requirement when treating parasitic infection," he concluded.

Foy also shared on the podcast that she avoided caffeine to date even after having recovered from the infection. The actor also mentioned that she has an auto-immune condition. To deal with it she avoids eating gluten or sugar. "I don't actually eat gluten or sugar... except when I go out for dinner. It doesn't have an impact on me. It's just because I have an autoimmune condition, so I should avoid anything which causes more inflammation," she added.

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FAQs on parasitic infections:

Q. What are parasitic infections?

Parasitic infections occur when parasites such as protozoa, helminths (worms), or ectoparasites live in or on the human body and feed off the host. They can affect the intestines, blood, skin, lungs, or other organs.

Q. What are the common types of parasites that infect humans?

The most common human parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, pinworms, Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Plasmodium (which causes malaria).

Q. How do people get parasitic infections?

People can get infected through contaminated food or water, undercooked meat, poor hand hygiene, contact with infected soil, insect bites, or close contact with infected individuals or animals.

Q. What are the common symptoms of parasitic infections?

Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, nausea, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, anaemia, skin rashes, and in some cases, coughing or fever. Some infections may remain asymptomatic for years.

Q. Can parasitic infections stay in the body for years?

Yes. Some parasitic infections can remain in the body for long periods without causing obvious symptoms, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.