Toxic Mold & Diet
by Margot B
Some type of mold or yeast
fungus disease affects an estimated 50% of patients, and
can cause as many diseases as bacteria
and viruses.
This affects digestion and the absorption of essential
vitamins and minerals. Over time, the result is chronic
progressive disease such as cardiovascular ailments, arthritis,
gout, asthma,
allergies, sinusitis, gastritis, tuberculosis, cancer, and
more. The
most common symptoms include sneezing, wheezing, joint
pain,
muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety,
irritability,
confusion, rashes, itching, poor memory, numbness, digestive
ailments, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation hives,
rashes,
vaginal yeast infections, and urinary frequency, attacks of
anxiety
and shaking when hungry, and the symptoms can be flu-like.
Mold
can cause fungal diseases of the skin, nails, ears and
lungs.
You may experience a few of these symptoms or many to have a
mold or yeast infection. [Candidiasis].
This can be caused by a poor diet [high in sugar and
carbohydrates] and high stress levels, which keep feeding the
yeast
overgrowth. Mold can grow on bread or cheese, overripe
fruit,
vegetables, grains, and other foods and get food by
absorbing
minerals, sugars, and water or from decaying matter on
which
they live.
Candida albicans is a harmless yeast that naturally lives in
every one’s gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes and on the
skin.
It lives there in a symbiotic world in a healthy person's body
but
when your body’s eco- system becomes unbalanced, Candida
overgrowth can occur, thus allowing it to attack any organ
or
system in your body, primarily targeting the nerves and
muscles,
but can attack any body tissue or organ depending on your
body’s
predisposition.
Dietary changes can help reduce yeast as well as can a number
of herbs and supplements and can promote a healthy digestive
tract.
Studies have shown that herbs such as garlic, barberry,
oregano,
Oregon grape and goldenseal, as well as the fatty acid
caprylic
acid, can inhibit the growth of yeast.
In case there is evidence of mold allergy, a four-day rotation
diet
is recommended to minimize contact with allergens. This is a
diet
where foods are eaten once every four days and food families
every two days. Foods that my contain mold are peanuts,
beef,
tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, soy, MSG, sulfites and
aspartame [Nutrasweet/Equal].
This diet restricts foods that contain yeast and gluten,
brown
rice, popcorn, corn products, honey, smoked, dried, pickled and
cured foods such as buttermilk and sour cream, [live
cultured
yogurt helps to replenish your bacterial intestinal bacteria],
no
aged cheese of any kind – [some cheeses are okay if milk is
not
a problem, e.g. cottage cheese, mozzarella, provolone, ricotta
and
farmer's cheese].
Avoid soy sauce, Tampeh and tamari, mushrooms, dried fruit,
alcohol products, especially beer [the darker the beer, the
more chance of mold] and wine, mustard, tomato products; juice,
sauce
paste, ketchup, are made from moldy vegetables, salad
dressings
containing vinegar.
Avoid eggs, beef, corn, and potatoes. mushrooms, nuts or nut
butter [except almonds and almond butter], fruit juices,
[frozen
fruit juice is fine], dried or candied fruit and coffee, black
tea, caffeine, cider and homemade root beer [commercial root
beer
is fine].
No canned tomatoes, unless homemade . Avoid citric acid,
which is a very common food additive; not derived from citrus
fruit].
Eat leftovers within 24 hours. Multi-B Vitamins - Many contain
either yeast or mold [Rice hulls are moldy]. Some are all
right. Check with manufacturer.
Organic foods, although much better for the body effected by
toxic mold due to the lack of chemicals tend to mold more
quickly as they lack artificial preservatives.
Drink bottled water. Tap water contains mold. Try to drink
distilled or reverse osmosis water as it retains the good
bacteria in the digestive tract.
To fight Candida it is best to reduce all foods high in
carbohydrate; sugars and starches in order to starve the
Candida yeast. Wheat
does not directly feed yeast but since it is a common food
sensitivity it is a good idea to eliminate it in the
beginning.
The Causes of Candida Overgrowth can be antibiotics, steroids
such as cortisone, prednisone, birth-control pills, and
estrogen
replacement therapy, poor diet, chemotherapy, radiation,
stress,
and alcohol over-use. Avoid all chemical foods and drugs.
Strong
antibiotics, steroids, cortico-steroids and tobacco must be
avoided.
This diet is necessary for the first critical weeks. This is
the only way to deprive the yeast of nutrients and kill it
off.
Symptoms are often worsening in damp and/or moldy places.
The Candida cleansing diet should include the following foods,
in the correct proportions; 65% high fiber, low starch
vegetables
such as broccoli, celery, radish and asparagus. Plenty of
fresh
steamed vegetables, especially onions, garlic, ginger root,
cabbage, carrots, peas, sweet potato, cauliflower, yams.
Onions
and garlic are very good anti-fungals. All root vegetables
should be peeled.
20% high protein foods such as antibiotic-free fish, fowl,
nuts, seeds and eggs. Note: spray all nuts and seeds with a
solution of
15-30 drops GSE [grapeseed extract] in 2-cups water to kill
any
aflatoxins mold or fungus that may be present. All nuts
should
be roasted.
10% complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, beans, millet,
amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat.
5% fruit; papaya pineapple, grapefruit, peaches, pears, and all
types of berries. Other acceptable foods are seafood and
sea
vegetables, olive oil, eggs mayonnaise, white rice, soy and
vegetable pastas, white rice cakes and crackers, some citrus
fruit,
herb teas and unsweetened cranberry juice.
This type of diet also reduces the unpleasant effects of
headaches, nausea and fatigue, known as the "herxhiemer
reaction", which
are caused by the release of toxins when pathogenic microbes
"die-off".
Sources:
Alpha Nutrition Health Education Series
The Book of Allergy and Immunology
Dr. William Crook, M.D.
"The Yeast Connection"
Lady B Enterprises
2226 Rudy Court
Midland MI 48642
DR.SHAHID`S ALLERGY CENTRE
HOUSE NO. 7, F10/3
MAIN DOUBLE ROAD
ISLAMABAD
TEL.NO.051-211395
E.MAIL:- shahida@paknbet2.ptc.pk
Visit our HOME PAGE OF ALLERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES
http://members.tripod.com/~DR_SHAHID_ABBAS/allergyclinic.html
Linda Knittel
Coauthor of The Soy Sensation (McGraw Hill, 2001).
Hypoglycemia Association, Inc.
Box 165,
Ashton, MD 20861-0165
[Founded in 1967]
http://www.mold-survivor.com
[May 18 2002]
About the Author
Margot B is a writer and web site developer. Has written a
book as well as numerous articles on health and the
environment.
mailto:margotb@wonderport.com
Website: http://www.writers.OrgHQ.com
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