When ‘It’s Everywhere’ Becomes a Dangerous Excuse”

Mold toxicity receives little attention from conventional medicine, whether you’re going through medical school, visiting a primary care provider, or running to a specialist. As a result, not only is this common condition ignored, but many myths have grown up around it.  Such myths are propagated because no one takes the time to read the actual studies from clinical medicine or the agricultural world.  Taking time to read this blog or the article it is based on will dispel many myths if you read it with an open mind.

Myth #1 Mold is everywhere so it cannot be so toxic (a.k.a. my clinical experience)

Like many myths, this one begins with a grain of truth.  Yes, we are surrounded by mold from the dirt between our bare feet in the yard to the spores flying off our mulch beds, not to mention the fuzz on some overripe fruit on the counter, we encounter mold on a daily basis.  However, any and all toxins depend on the amount of toxin to which we are exposed.  For example, the seeds on strawberries are technically toxic, but we would have to eat a truckload at once to experience toxic symptoms.  The toxins produced by outdoor molds may never affect someone walking through their yard given the wind constantly diluting any toxins.  On the other hand, if sufficient toxin is growing on your food or in your home, you may get a high enough exposure to develop symptoms. 

Myth #2 Cooking foods in high heat destroys the toxins

Most mycotoxins can withstand a lot of heat.  Food science and agricultural research confirms that temperatures used in normal cooking do not lower the content of mycotoxins in human or animal foods.  In fact, molds and mycotoxins can persist for long periods of time. Indeed, some were found in ancient Egyptian tombs, millennia after their production.  (Some suspect mold toxins contributed to the deadly ‘curse’ on those who discovered certain tombs).

Myth #3 We clear these toxins out of our bodies rather quickly

Agricultural research indicates that many of these mycotoxins can accumulate in animal tissues and organs.  One mycotoxin, Aflatoxin, is transported by blood cells and albumin in the blood to the liver.  Another mycotoxin, ochratoxin has an 840-hour blood half-life (meaning that 25% of the initial amount is present in the blood 70 days later) and also binds to albumin in the blood so that it is transported to kidneys, liver, muscle, brain, and fat.  The very toxic T-2 mycotoxin is known to enter the brain given its lipophilic (fat-loving) traits.  Patulin, a mycotoxin often found in juices, can form covalent bonds with various amino acids, prolonging its stay in one’s body.

Myth #4 Mold toxins do not leave behind any permanent damage

This can be believed for aflatoxins only if one does not consider liver cancer as a permanent problem given that aflatoxin B1 may cause up to 28% of liver cancer cases worldwide.  This comes through its ability to cause DNA mutations.  Then one considers the effects of ochratoxin that include increases in lipid peroxides (oxidized and damaged fatty acids), apoptosis (programmed cell death), and DNA damage.  If that were not enough to be concerned about, T-2 toxin is known to cross into the brain and cause oxidative brain damage through lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation.   This toxin also increases liver damage in mouse models.  To add insult to injury, T-2 toxin even damages skin in ways similar to radiation injury.  The paper mentions other long-term effects of patulin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone. 

With a few mold myths dispelled, we should be able to agree with some conclusions from the paper below about the potential effects of mold toxicity on humans.  There is little comfort in the conventional myth that mold only affects other animals and no peace from knowing that mold is everywhere.  Instead, we should take this threat seriously and realize that a large number of our patients may be adversely affected by mold toxin exposure.  This is especially true for the chronically ill in our clinic who have been suffering for years without answers from conventional medicine.  Helping them to restore healthier, more abundant lives requires recognizing the root causes of their chronic illnesses. 

Have mold toxin concerns? Let's talk.

Contact Us

Original article: 

Janik, E., Niemcewicz, M., Ceremuga, M., Stela, M., Saluk-Bijak, J., Siadkowski, A., & Bijak, M. (2020). Molecular Aspects of Mycotoxins-A Serious Problem for Human Health. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(21), 8187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218187