You might have seen the news about the recent Cyclospora outbreak, otherwise known as the "exploding diarrhea parasite." While it's good to be informed, there's no need to panic just yet. So far in CA there have been fewer than 10 reported cases and the powers that be are trying to determine whether those cases are linked to the larger outbreak in other US states.

That said, this is no ordinary stomach bug. Infected persons can have symptoms for not days, but weeks. Oof! So it wouldn't hurt to exercise a little extra caution. For now it's being recommended that people avoid lettuce, and all other fresh leafy greens, especially bagged salad mixes. Fresh berries may also be implicated in this outbreak.

If your produce has the cyclospora parasite on it, washing it will not make it safe. Only cooking your vegetables will make them safe to eat. Interestingly this cooking recommendation lines up beautifully with Traditional Chinese Medicine. For thousands of years TCM doctors have encouraged people to cook their food. Cooked foods are already partially broken down by heat so they are easier to digest and gentler on the digestive system.

In Chinese medicine we say that cooked foods nourish the Spleen Qi. Warm cooked meals are especially good for people with fatigue, bloating, and weakness of the digestive system. While raw vegetables are healthy for most people they are not the best choice for everyone. Enjoying more cooked vegetables for a few weeks may add an extra layer of protection from disease and also give you an internal energy boost. And don't worry! You won't have to forego your salads for forever, but for now cooked foods are definitely the safer option.