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House MoldWelcome to the ninth blog on Problems Prevented with Simple Steps. Many people are painfully aware of the problems associated with mildew, mold, and mycotoxins and yet many people are not yet aware. After Hurricane Harvey and the frequent flooding that occurs globally and in the US now is a great time to learn, prepare and even prevent mold problems. Due to cheap construction methods, frequent floods, high humidity and lots of water leaks these problems are leading to mildew and mold that is affecting many people, even if they do not know it. Even a new home can have mold that started during construction when the frame was rained on. My family and extended family have personally endured numerous problems due to mold resulting from contractor problems, poor construction and design, and water leaks. My best estimate is at least $500,000. dollars worth of damage in total over the last twenty years and that does not include potential health and wellness problems related to mold.

As a holistic health coach, my role is to identify potential problems that could rob you or family members of your money and quality of life. Coaching in simple steps helps anyone committed to avoiding the health issues related to mildew, mold, and mycotoxins which can be expensive and time-consuming problems. Our passion and purpose are to find resources and share simple steps for rapid results. Mildew, mold, and mycotoxins can lead to severe sickness and even death. Molds are causing a massive amount of pain and problems. Below are some resources and role models to help.

What are Mildew and Mold?

JanitorMany people have had mystery health issues for years that can be traced back to toxic mildew or molds. It is one of the many reasons why your illness can remain a mystery. Mildew is a form of fungus that frequently grows on organic material like cloth, paper, plants, and wood. Mildew is typically light gray, white and yellow and grows on the surface of organic materials where it can be fairly easily removed. It is normally referred to as powdery or downy. It may appear easy to identify mildew and mold but it is best to find an expert to advise and assist you in identification and remediation.

Mold on the other hand is a fungus that grows on organic material which is more deeply penetrating and persistent. Mold can typically be a wide variety of colors and shades such as black, blue, brown, gray, green and even red. There are probably over 10,000 molds according to science. According to the CDC there are five main molds that are most concerning if they have contaminated your apartment, car, home or office. The five molds that are most feared are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold). All mildew and mold must be taken very seriously and it is imperative to find an expert to identify what type of mold you may be dealing with and have them do proper remediation to remove it.

What Are Mycotoxins

Brain FogMycotoxins are natural compounds produced by fungi and molds that can be harmful and even deadly. Even low concentrations of mycotoxins can disrupt a person’s proper bodily functions such as the endocrine, nervous and respiratory systems. It can also affect your digestion and immune system so all mold must be taken very seriously. Years ago some family members in Austin, Texas died from black mold exposure in their home. The consequences and symptoms from mold toxins can include brain fog,  chronic digestion issues, fatigue, imbalances in our hormones and many autoimmune issues. Mycotoxins can include more than 300 different toxic compounds that are produced when molds or fungi are present.

In addition to common home and office sources of mycotoxins, there are many in foods. Bread, cereals, grains, and seeds can be a serious source of mycotoxins. Peanuts and peanut butter are other sources of mycotoxins because peanuts grow underground and stay moist. Molds can produce a lot of mycotoxins that are still harmful even after heating and processing. This is a reason many children have reactions to nuts and peanuts. Dr. Axe has some great information on his website for natural techniques for prevention and protection against mildew and mold. Evan Brand became very ill from mold in his new home and highly recommends you order a test kit from Immolytics Laboratory. The Toxic Mold Summit is also a great resource to help identify exposure, determine a course for treatment, and share techniques and tools for dealing with toxic mold.

The passion and purpose of the Morningstar NEWS are to condense hours of research down to two minutes of education, information and inspiration for a healthy lifestyle and mindset. Remember prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to molds.

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