This Is The Health-Affecting Factor That's Not Talked About Enough, Says An Expert

I truly believe we don't talk enough about how damaging mold toxins (also known as mycotoxins) can be. In fact, many patients in my telehealth functional medicine clinic have struggled with chronic health problems that didn't start to truly get better until they addressed ongoing mold exposure in their life.

With that said, not everyone is going to be affected by mold the same way, or to the same degree, as someone else. There should be a grace and lightness to wellness and a respect for individuality. But it is helpful to educate ourselves about what to be aware of and what to do if mold is affecting how we feel.

In functional medicine, we aim to put the power back in the patient's hands, and the first step is education. While we can't avoid mold exposure altogether, we can bring attention to this often-overlooked trigger to health problems and apply it in whatever way is most applicable to our personal health journey.

Chances are you have been exposed to mycotoxins in one way or another. But the problem happens when your exposure becomes too much to handle for your individual threshold. Mycotoxins are a toxin, after all. And this is where we run into trouble.

In the short term, airborne mycotoxins can contribute to respiratory, allergy-like symptoms but in the long term can mimic symptoms related to other health problems. This can be one reason some people struggle for years without any real answers.

Some research suggests that effects may even trigger long-term health problems4 including autoimmune conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no single definitive test to determine mold toxicity. One way I test for mycotoxins in my clinic is with a urine test that will show if there are certain mycotoxins present in your body. I've found a urine test is the most effective form of testing since mycotoxins are not easily detectable in blood. I also run conventional inflammatory immune markers, which can give further evidence of mycotoxins driving inflammation.

Sweating is your body's way of naturally eliminating toxins. Work up a sweat and de-stress at the same time by relaxing in an infrared sauna. Epsom salt baths are another easy way to amp up your detoxification efforts.

Choosing organic food—especially grains and coffee—whenever possible will help mitigate your exposure to mycotoxins. Bonus points if the coffee company also tests for mold beforehand as part of their buying and roasting process.