Remember Grandpa eating a piece of moldy cheese and saying “it’s good for you!”.

I would head to Wisconsin every year at Thanksgiving and I’ll never forget opening the meat drawer in my Grandparents fridge and see moldy cheese. Yuck! My Grandfather and Father would laugh and say, “it will put hair on your chest!” yeh and make me sick to my stomach. 

We have all come across that moldy bread or piece of fruit and still live to talk about it. On the flip side some of us may know people that have been exposed to toxic mold and it greatly impacted their life. Let’s learn a bit more about both.

What is mold, how do we treat it and what can we do about it?

Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant and animal matter which grows from tiny spores that float around in the air. Mold is a fungus that is found anywhere there is moisture. Right now, in Minnesota we are experiencing very high levels of snow mold. It happens every year and some years are worse depending on how much sun and rain we receive along with snow and freezing temps. This snow mold affects our grass causing it to die in areas, but it can also cause allergy reactions in people who are susceptible. 

Mold can be found in food, a strawberry for example when it is taken from the bush and packaged, then transported in containers where the humidity varies. Spore’s land and then multiply causing a moldy berry.  Mold can be found in your home, like windowsills, bathrooms, air ducts, flooring and really anywhere that has moisture present. Basically, Mold is everywhere. 

No one knows for sure, but it is estimated that there are perhaps 300,000 or more different types of fungi. 

Are molds dangerous?

The majority of molds are not considered dangerous. However, some molds produce mycotoxins, which is a poisonous substance that can make you sick. Another type of mold that can be harmful is Aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a cancer-causing poison produced in or on foods and feeds especially in field corn and peanuts. It’s why most health professionals do not recommend corn or peanuts to clients with autoimmune diseases or compromised system. 

How do I know if mold is affecting me or my family? 

 At Dr. Greg Functional Medicine, we don’t guess we test!

Mycotoxin Tests:

As mentioned, mycotoxin are mold spores that have been shown to be harmful to the body. We run our tests through Vibrant America Labs which measures for mycotoxins in your urine. The labs cost $1,000 which includes the lab panel, Dr. Greg’s interpretation and findings. These tests are not typically covered by insurance. 

Other tests available:

Visual Contrast Sensitivity Tests: 

These tests can be done at home. VCS test online

Blood Test:

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone: this hormone possesses antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Low levels have been linked to mold toxicity symptoms. 

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide: This hormone regulates inflammation; it’s been shown that people with lower levels tend to have mold toxicity. 

Genetic testing

What we have found is people with the MTHFR and HLA gene greatly increases the risk of developing symptoms associated with mold exposure. 

What to do if you see mold

We do recommend cleaning the mold with pure white vinegar. The EPA does not recommend using bleach to kill or remove mold.

1.      Fill a spray bottle with undiluted pure white vinegar, spray on surface and let sit for 1 hour. We do recommend you wear gloves along with eye and face protectant like goggles and a mask. After the hour wipe the area with a clean wet cloth or sponge. Let it dry and spray again with vinegar and let dry.  

2.     If your area is large say for example under carpeting or flooring, we do recommend removing it or having professionals like Service Master take care of it for you. 

Unseen mold

More often we can have mold under flooring, leaking rooftops or between floors and it goes unnoticed. If you have mold symptoms like memory loss, breathing issues, heart issues and vision problems, we recommend you get tested. Be aware these symptoms can also be contributed to many other health related problems. 

If you test positive you will want to look for the source. This may take a professional. Here is a link to a directory of professionals you can have look into the problem. Check with your homeowners or renter’s insurance to ask about coverage. It is rare but some policies help with restoration.