Struggling With Mystery Symptoms? Toxic Mold Might be the Culprit

Have you been experiencing symptoms that seem to appear unexpectedly and persist despite various remedies? If so, exposure to mold could be a factor to consider.

Unfortunately, there is a growing number of people unknowingly living with or working around mold – which may contribute to a range of vague and unexplained symptoms. So, let’s explore what mold is and how it might be associated with various symptoms.

[signup]

Mold: What Is It and How Does It Grow?

Mold is found just about everywhere in nature where it functions as a kind of “clean-up crew” by breaking down dead plants and animals. Molds reproduce via tiny cells known as spores that are released into the air where they float and spread far and wide.

As these mold spores are wafted through the air, we not only breathe them in, but they can also attach themselves to our clothes, belongings, and pets. Once these spores hitch a ride into our homes, they can stick to areas with moisture – like on our carpets, ceilings, or in the nooks and crannies of our walls.¹

Now, exposure to the small amount of mold spores found naturally in our environment isn't a problem in and of itself. But if the spores that sneak their way into your home belong to certain strains of mold that produce compounds known as mycotoxins, it can potentially impact your health.

What Are the Symptoms of Mold Exposure?

It’s estimated that indoor air is anywhere from 2 to a whopping 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. And mold is one of the common pollutants that may contribute to more than 50% of patients’ illnesses!²Some of the more common health issues associated with exposure to these mold spores include:^3,4

Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue and lethargy
Frequent chest cold
Headaches
Rash
Red, itchy, and watery eyes
Runny nose
Sinus inflammation
Wheezing

And if exposure to mold is prolonged, it may be associated with more serious symptoms, such as:⁵

Abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea
Anxiety
Appetite swings and weight gain
Difficulty concentrating
Hair loss
Increased thirst
Joint pain
Lightheadedness
Metallic taste in your mouth
Muscle cramps
Poor memory and confusion
Sensitivity to light
Tingling and numbness in your hands and feet

And what’s even more concerning is that over time, these mold spores may be linked to more serious health concerns.

The Long-Term Effects of Extended Exposure to Mold

Mold and other fungi can hide out within your body and may disrupt your immune system, which can eventually lead to long-lasting health issues. Some of the conditions that have been associated with long-term mold exposure include:^6,7

Balkan nephropathy
Bronchitis
Hemorrhage
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Internal organ damage
Kashin-Beck disease
Respiratory infections
Reye’s syndrome
Death, in some instances

Needless to say, exposure to mold is not something to be taken lightly. But what are your options if you’ve been unknowingly exposed to mold?

What Are the Options for Addressing Mold Exposure?

Addressing mold exposure requires a long-term, big-picture approach. There isn’t a “cure” for mold exposure in the sense that you can simply take a medication or undergo a procedure and heal. Rather, addressing mold exposure calls for a multi-pronged approach that includes:

Cleaning up your environment
Reducing exposure
Supporting detoxification
Promoting overall well-being

Let’s zoom in a little closer on each of these.

Cleaning Up Your Environment: How to Address Mold

If you know you’ve been exposed to mold, your first and most critical priority is to remove yourself from the moldy environment. You cannot even begin the process of supporting detoxification and well-being if you’re still in an environment that is exposing your system to mold spores. In some cases, you’ll be able to clean up mold on your own. But sometimes, you’ll need to call in a professional.

Cleaning mold yourself would be appropriate if:⁸

Only a small area is affected
The mold is growing on areas that are easy to clean – like glass or tile
There is growth on hard-to-clean areas, like carpet, that can be removed and replaced
You don’t have any current health issues that will be made worse with increased exposure to mold growth

It might be time to call in a professional who specializes in mold remediation if:

An area 3 feet by 3 feet or larger is affected
A flood occurred that may have been contaminated with sewage
There is mold in your HVAC system
The mold has grown on wood that cannot be removed
You are already experiencing symptoms that may be associated with mold exposure
You have a medical condition, such as asthma, that may be worsened around the mold
There is a smell of mold, but you cannot find it
You aren’t in possession of the correct tools
You have any concerns or doubts about how to remove the mold correctly

If you determine you do indeed need help from an expert, your best bet is to seek out an Indoor Environmental Professional. Now, let’s look at what you can do if you believe that your mold growth is suitable to be removed by yourself.

How to Clean Mold and Prevent Future Mold Growth

To tackle mold in your home without the help of a professional, you’ll first want to clean all surfaces with a mold-cleaning solution that contains ingredients known to neutralize mold spores. There are several good mold remedy products available online, or you can go the do-it-yourself route by using either undiluted white vinegar or a 50/50 mixture of water and ammonia. You’ll also need to address a couple of other, easy-to-overlook places that might be harboring mold spores, such as your laundry as well as your air ducts and vents.

Once you’ve addressed all signs of mold, it’s time to be proactive and take some steps to prevent mold growth from coming back. Some steps you can take to discourage future mold growth include:⁹

Control the moisture in your home by investing in a dehumidifier and keep humidity levels under 60%
Dry wet spots quickly
Improve airflow by opening doors and moving furniture away from walls
Keep your basement ventilated
Leave your bathroom fan on for 30 minutes after showering
Dry your bathtub or shower with a squeegee
Clean shower curtains, towels, rugs, and loofahs regularly
Open a window or turn on a fan while cooking
Keep areas prone to mold growth cleaned, disinfected, and dry
Drain and unclog HVAC units regularly
Fix leaks immediately

While you can’t be 100% certain that mold growth won’t return, being proactive can go a long way in keeping your home mold-free. Once you’ve cleaned up your environment and addressed the source of your exposure, it’s time to begin reducing overall exposure, supporting detoxification, and promoting well-being.

Minimizing Mold Exposure: Adopting The Low-Mold Diet

If you’ve been exposed to mold, minimizing exposure to mold-harboring foods can be a pivotal piece of the puzzle. Following a low-mold diet means avoiding potentially mycotoxin-tainted foods like:

Alcoholic beverages
Barley
Black pepper
Bread
Chiles
Cocoa
Corn
Cottonseed
Dried fruit
Peanuts
Rye
Spices
Wheat

Click here to learn more about the low-mold diet. Once you’ve got your environment and diet dialed in, you can begin focusing on supporting detoxification.

How to Support Detoxification From Mold Exposure

Mold and other compounds can accumulate in your body – potentially affecting your body’s natural detoxification pathways. So it can be helpful to give your body a little support in mobilizing and eliminating any mold that’s present within your tissues and cells. Some ways you can do this include:

Upping your glutathione – a naturally occurring antioxidant that also serves as a master detoxifier that helps draw out, bind to, and transport compounds across cell membranes so they can be properly flushed out of your body.
Supporting your liver – your body's primary detoxifying organ.
Incorporating detox binders – molecules that help trap compounds so they aren’t recirculated.
Prioritizing regular bowel movements – as your bowels are what shuttle trapped compounds out of your body for good.
Trying detox-supporting therapies – like infrared sauna therapy, IV vitamin therapy, or dry brushing.

To take the guesswork out of supporting detoxification from mold exposure, I teamed up with Dr. Christopher Shade and Quicksilver Scientific® to create a comprehensive detoxification protocol that contains many of the above strategies (and more) to specifically target mold exposure. Each Miracle Mold Detox Box contains a powerful and simple-to-follow 30-day protocol that is designed to help support your body's ability to manage any accumulated mold that’s present within your body and get you on the path to well-being.

Click here to learn more about my Miracle Mold Detox Box.

How to Support Your Body in Recovering From Mold Exposure

Some other important ways you can support your body in recovering from exposure to mold include:

Prioritize gut health – your gut is a key player in detoxification, immunity, and just about every other facet of your health
Address underlying infections – like candida overgrowth or bacterial colonizations
Focus on rest and relaxation – getting quality sleep is key to ensuring your immune system and detoxification pathways are functioning optimally
Manage stress – mold can be highly dysregulating physically, mentally, and emotionally so it’s crucial to keep stress levels in check

Recovering from mold exposure doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a big-picture, detail-oriented, and long-term approach – which is why it can be particularly helpful to partner with a Functional Medicine Practitioner to guide you along the way.

[signup]

Summary

Exposure to mold can be associated with a range of symptoms that can be difficult to pinpoint. And with the combination of modern construction practices that seal our homes up tight paired with our increasingly complex world that leaves our immune systems overtaxed – we’re becoming more and more vulnerable to the effects of mold.

But the good news is, you are not at the mercy of your environment. With the right steps and a little effort, you can not only address exposure to mold, but bolster your defenses against this stealthy intruder in the future.