Heidi Klum’s Parasite Cleanse Helped One Woman Lose 95 Lbs

Supermodel Heidi Klum made headlines this week when she announced she is undergoing a month-long “worm and parasite cleanse.” The wellness practice is becoming increasingly popular on social media, with the goal of ridding the body of parasites to improve everything from digestion to gut health to energy. Here, one woman’s true story of how a parasite cleanse restored her health. And keep reading for expert info and important words of caution before embarking on your own cleanse.

Aubrey Howlett, 44, constantly felt drained

“Coffee, espresso, energy drinks…I was always reaching for those drinks,” Aubrey told Woman’s World. “I knew they weren’t healthy, but I had to try to push past a constant wall of exhaustion. And rest wasn’t an option. As a single mom, I was beyond busy. Brain fog, belly bloat, high stress—I had all of it. But I had to keep moving. As a bakery owner, I needed to fill my customers’ orders.

“I never really talked to doctors about my health concerns, because they didn’t seem to listen. They would assume, ‘Of course you’re feeling drained. You have five kids.’ So I just tried to survive.

A chance encounter changed her life

“Then one day, a woman ordered a gluten-free cake from me, and we got to know each other. Over time, she hired me to prepare healthy meals at her home. It was great working closely with this woman, a health guru named Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, who is the author of more than 35 health books.

“One day, Ann Louise asked, ‘What do you eat when you’re not here at work?’ I told her about my sugar cravings and my habit for grab-and-go items from McDonald’s, salad bars and sushi restaurants. I told her I’d been gaining weight even though I’d tried multiple diets and even got up at 4 AM to exercise.

“She explained that a lot of our wellness comes from having good gut health, saying, ‘I think you might have intestinal parasites that are affecting your energy and weight.’

“The thought of parasites had never occurred to me. But Ann Louise started educating me about how common it is to pick up a parasite from raw fish, salad bars, contaminated water while traveling or even a pet, and how a parasite cleanse might help.

“I knew that parasites existed, but I never imagined they were inside my body. Parasites are organisms that can communicate with the body through biochemical signals, triggering all sorts of issues like inflammation and wild cravings. And no matter how hard you diet or exercise, they can override that part of your body that says, ‘lose weight.’

A parasite cleanse restored Aubrey’s health

“I reluctantly decided to follow Ann Louise’s 30-day parasite cleanse. I started to eat clean and take supplements like the powerful anti-parasitic detoxifiers wormwood and black walnut. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think it was going to work. But I am so glad I tried it!

“It worked fast: On the second day, I noticed a big change in my bathroom habits. Suddenly, I felt convinced this protocol was working and bad stuff was being released from my system.

“After two or three weeks on the plan, I noticed my pants were loose. I actually lost three pant sizes those first three weeks and the bloat stayed off. My energy was returning, and even my cravings were calming.

“That’s when I realized how sick my gut must have been. I never learned what type of bugs or worms I had. But all the proof I needed was how much better I felt after my parasite cleanse.

“It’s been two years and I’ve kept off 95 pounds. My immune system has improved, and I almost never get sick. These days, I don’t eat food from salad bars or sushi. But there are so many more things I can do with my newfound energy. I love walking with my family—no crazy energy drinks needed. Best of all, since losing weight and getting healthy, my son says he can hug me tighter!” —As told to Lisa Maxbauer

Parasite exposure is on the rise

At least 60 million Americans harbor intestinal parasites, according to the CDC. “I call parasites ‘energy vampires’ since they rob the body of energizing nutrients such as iron and B-12, and produce toxins that impair metabolism,” notes Gittleman.

Parasites are easily spread via contaminated food and water and contact with infected pets, but doctors often dismiss them as a cause of fatigue, brain fog and GI distress, she says. The result: Women can suffer for years.

Complicating matters: “In the US, we like to believe that parasites are rare, but they are not,” notes chronic fatigue expert Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. “The problem is that most labs simply miss parasites when doing tests” such as blood tests or fecal exams.

A type of parasite known as herring worms has skyrocketed by more than 28,000 percent in fish since the 1960s, per the journal Global Change Biology. While freezing or cooking kills parasitic worms, they can lurk in raw fish dishes such as sushi. If the worms are ingested, they can burrow into the intestines and cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. To safeguard against foodborne infection, experts advise cutting pieces of sushi in half and inspecting them carefully prior to eating.

How parasites are diagnosed

If you suspect you have intestinal parasites, your doctor may order a fecal exam, endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests or an imaging test such as an x-ray, MRI or CAT scan, the CDC reports. Treatment depends on the type of parasite you have, but may include anti-parasitic drugs and/or antibiotics.

How to do an at-home parasite cleanse

While many over-the-counter parasite cleanses aren’t particularly effective—and those on social media can trigger unwanted side effects—the herbs wormwood and black walnut have been used by holistic practitioners as treatments for parasites for decades, says Dr. Teitelbaum. Studies show they contain compounds with anti-parasitic actions. One trusted product, developed by Gittleman and used by Howlett, that contains both herbal extracts is UNI KEY Verma-Plus.

What else might help? Coconut oil, which is high in lauric acid, a fatty acid that quelled parasites as effectively as prescription drugs in a Parasitology Research study. Gittleman advises aiming for 2 to 3 Tbs. daily. Use it in cooking or stir it into coffee or smoothies.

But above all, be sure to get your doctor’s okay before trying a DIY parasite cleanse, and continue to take any anti-parasitic medication or antibiotics your doctor has prescribed.

Copyright 2025 A360 Media

This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM.