Mycotoxins: the hidden mold that could be impacting your health
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Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain molds that can be found in our environment and food. The mycotoxin load in food increases due to exposure to heat and humidity. The world’s largest agri-food exporters being in warmer climates such as Brazil, Argentina, parts of Asia including India and China, along with collective global warming on the rise, results in our food supply chain becoming more and more concentrated with mycotoxins.
According to ‘Toxic, Heal Your Body’, by Dr. Neil Nathan…
“In the case of mold toxins, if a person has the right genetic makeup (which exists in 75% of the human population), he or she can make antibodies to these toxins that will help bind the toxins so that the body can get rid of them. But for the 25% of the population that is not genetically engineered to make these antibodies, the only means to deal with these toxic molecules is to bring them to the liver or other systems of elimination including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lymphatic system and lungs, which have the important job of finding a way to move the toxins out.”
Types of mycotoxins include:
Trichothecenes
Zearalenone
Fumonisins
Ochratoxins
Aflatoxins.
These mycotoxins can induce diverse and powerful toxic effects on the body including altering DNA, increasing estrogen levels, bleeding of the GI tract, diseases of the kidneys, liver, skin, nervous system and cancer.
The number of mycotoxins absorbed and the type of mycotoxin also play a role in symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
Chronic fatigue
ADHD
Rashes
COPD
Depression.
Less common symptoms include:
Dementia
Parkinson's
Cancer.
Foods most commonly known to be high in mycotoxins include:
• Cereals/Grains (including corn, wheat, barley and rye)
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Nuts (including peanuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts)
• Sugar (sugar cane and sugar beets)
• Hard cheeses.
• Coffee beans.
• Chocolate.
• Dried fruit.
Eating Leftover Meals
How to cleanse mycotoxins naturally
In Dr. Hulda Clark’s book, “A Cure For All Diseases” she recommends adding 1/4 tsp ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) to a bowl of water for soaking grains prior to cooking to clear mold from grains. You would then drain the grains and rinse before cooking as directed.
A healthy individual may take 6 months to a couple years to process mycotoxins out of their body. Most mycotoxins do break down and decrease their toxicity over time. However, there are natural and pharmaceutical binders that attach loosely to specific mycotoxins and carry them out through the gastrointestinal system.
To determine if you have a problem processing mycotoxins and which ones specifically, you can get a mycotoxin urine test through either Great Plains Laboratory or Real Time Laboratory. Based on your results, it is best to work with a healthcare practitioner that specializes in mold toxicity to create a comprehensive detoxification protocol along with dosing instructions. You will find great resources available in Dr. Neil Nathan’s book “Toxic, Heal Your Body”.
The Best Natural Binders
Natural Binders are found in foods and minerals and have the ability to gently bind to mycotoxins similar to how iron filings are drawn and gently bind to a magnet. Once this gentle binding has occurred the binders need the support of fiber, water, and other phytonutrients to assist in bringing the mycotoxins through the liver and out of the body through the digestive tract.
Here are the best natural binders that you can incorporate into your daily routine. You can find these easiest to take as a powder in a soft capsule form since their taste can be strong and unpleasant.
Activated Charcoal is best for binding to ochratoxins, aflatoxins, and trichothecenes. Although activated charcoal is a great binder it binds indiscriminately to mycotoxins and nutrients alike. If you take too much you may also be eliminating important nutrients from the body. Again work with a healthcare professional to determine proper dosage.
Bentonite Clay is best for aflatoxins, trichothecenes, and gliotoxins. Available in liquid and powdered capsule.
Glucomannan is a water soluble polysaccharide which comes from the elephant yam, konjac. This has been touted as a weight loss solution because of its ability to absorb 50 times its weight. Glucomannan is an effective binder for aflatoxin, ochratoxins, trichothecenes and zearalenone.
Chlorella is a freshwater algae touted as a superfood due to its highly nutritious profile. It is high in protein, vitamins A, C and E and is a great source of fiber. This profile makes it a great binder for all populations including children and pregnant women. Not only a binder for aflatoxins but a heavy metal binder as well.
Probiotics Specific strains such as S. cerevisiae bind to aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and zearalenone. Saccharomyces boulardii binds to gliotoxin, aspergillus and fusarium molds in the GI tract. Strains of lactobacillus specifically L.pentosus, L. beveris, and L.plantarum C88 bind to aflatoxins and up regulate antioxidant activity.
Bodywork to Assist Mycotoxin Detoxification
Colon Hydrotherapy uses warm filtered water to bathe and dilute stool that is then evacuated by your body’s own peristaltic movement. This process of filling with warm filtered water to your comfort level than releasing the diluted waste is repeated for an hour. Learn more about our colon hydrotherapy services here.
Sweating via exercise or a far infrared sauna are great ways to reduce mycotoxin levels in the body. Schedule a far infrared sauna session after a colon hydrotherapy for doubling up on your detoxification efforts.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a form of bodywork in which we increase lymph circulation to the main lymphatic drains of the body. This excess fluid processes through the kidneys and is urinated out. Great for supporting the immune system. Learn more about this service here.