Expert: Walter Hintz - 5/13/2010

Question
1) How have parasites had an impact on our history and how was our history been altered? How did these events/breakouts occur and could they have been prevented? Will the parasite come back again?

2) Why does spice use increase towards the equator? Does spice use increase with the frequency of food poisoning due to parasitic infection?

Answer
Hi Kit
1. There are a lot of parasites but the most important historically was the one which caused the black plague during the middle ages. This germ was  spread by rats and fleas. Its origin is unknown and it killed over half of the population in central Europe and changed everything.  The germ is still around but  with modern drugs an outbreak is unlikely.

2. It is believed that the use of hot foods in warmer climates has a cooling effect on the body. Temperatures increase as you approach the equator. I know of no connection between spices and parasitic infections