LIFE STYLE SOLUTIONS
Mold and Mycotoxins
LIFE STYLE SOLUTIONS
Mold and Mycotoxins
Did you know that 80 million people per year are affected by mold? Mold can be a common cause of many unexplained medical illnesses. Because mold can be present in up to 40 percent of homes and 85 percent of commercial buildings it is essential to be familiar with. Not everyone is sensitive to mold. People in the same family can have members who are very sensitive to mold spores and others are unaffected which can contribute to questioning whether it is a real problem.
Everyone has different susceptibilities to mold, usually based on their health status, but if you are exposed long enough, anyone can become ill from it. Mycotoxins are the chemicals molds can produce. Mold grows on surfaces with water leaks (sometimes not obvious) within 48 hours, are difficult to kill and even drying of the structure can release more spores than when wet compounding the problem and leaving those with a leak in a worse predicament.
Mold can trigger many responses in the body including allergic, toxic, immune suppression symptoms. If you have chronic upper respiratory and sinus infections, headaches, fatigue, gut challenges, autoimmune disorders, neurological challenges, anxiety, and sleep challenges mold could be a factor in your symptoms. Mycotoxins suppress the immune system which starts the process of what transpires in your body.
If you suspect you have mold related illness the first step would be to have your environment tested, have the mold remediated and then find a professional to help you with binding and detoxing the mold. This process is not easy, can be expensive and lengthy and requires methodical dedication to the process of healing.
Mold can trigger many responses in the body including allergic, toxic, immune suppression symptoms. If you have chronic upper respiratory and sinus infections, headaches, fatigue, gut challenges, autoimmune disorders, neurological challenges, anxiety, and sleep challenges mold could be a factor in your symptoms. Mycotoxins suppress the immune system which starts the process of what transpires in your body.
If you suspect you have mold related illness the first step would be to have your environment tested, have the mold remediated and then find a professional to help you with binding and detoxing the mold. This process is not easy, can be expensive and lengthy and requires methodical dedication to the process of healing.
Each type of mold is different in the treatment so self-prescribing is not recommended. Research on whether to follow a specific diet are mixed but adding mold fighting spices can be helpful in the process like garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, leeks, clove, and cumin.
Avoiding moldy foods is also a place to start – moldy or aged cheese, fermented beverages such as cider and kombucha, grains (most contain mold) except wild rice, peanuts and peanut butter, dried fruits, mushrooms, coffee (unless organic and certified mold-free), baked goods and corn.
Having mold is not something to be taken lightly or ignored as it can eventually lead to many medical challenges one would want to avoid.
If you suspect you have mold and need testing and treatment this is one area I am trained in and passionate about helping clients find solutions. It is not a death sentence but needs to be taken seriously.
