DO YOU KNOW WHAT MOLD IS & HOW IT CAN AFFECT YOU?

By Carolyn Gorman




YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IT GROWING ON BREAD OR CHEESE OR SMELLED IT ON A DAMP DAY. DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK WHAT IT MIGHT BE DOING TO YOU?
 

WHAT IS MOLD?

Mold is a simple plant of the fungus group with no leaves, stems, or flowers and no chlorophyll or green coloring matter. Molds can appear as blue, black, green or white and can be microscopic or grow to be over two feet in diameter.
 

WHERE DOES MOLD LIVE?

Molds can live anywhere (in water, soil or the air, on plants, and in man and animals). Molds especially like to live in cool, damp, dark places such as the refrigerator drip pan, garbage pails, bathrooms, humidifiers, and central air ducts. They choose gardens, house plants, and compost piles; and find fruits, breads and cheeses a friendly host.
 

WHAT DOES MOLD EAT?

Mold cannot produce their own food, thus they are parasitic in nature. Molds get food by absorbing minerals, sugars and water from the plants, soil, animals or decaying matter upon which they live.
 

WHAT IS MOLD IMPORTANT?

Molds are important in medicine, fermentation, fertilization of soil, and in the production of some foods.
 

WHAT CAN MOLD DO TO YOU?
 

Mold can also cause allergy and illness. Some mold cause fungal diseases of the skin, nails, ears and lungs. Other molds cause allergy symptoms which can include sneezing, wheezing, joint pain, muscle ache, headache, fatigue, depression, itching, hives and rashes, and digestive distress; and mold symptoms can be flu-like in nature.
 

Molds far outnumber pollens as part of the total airborne allergy count. There are many different mold offenders, but the most common mold are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Sporobolomyces.
 

HOW CAN WE CONTROL MOLDS?
 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS:

Climate Controls:

Create a healthy inside environment for yourself and an unhealthy environment for mold by using:

Mold can be controlled if the humidity is kept below 45% with a temperature around 70-75 degrees, but it is best controlled if the humidity is 30%. Light helps discourage mold growth as does continuously circulating air
 

Wear a Mask

A filtration mask made with cotton or silk material can help reduce mold exposure when working in the garden or raking leaves. If tolerated, a 3-M mask with 99.97% efficiency at .3 microns will remove mold.
 

An Organized Plan of Attack

The following guidelines will help decrease incidence of mold in your office or home:
 

ALLERGY TREATMENT OPTIONS:

Diagnostic Procedures

Allergy skin testing (scratch or intradermal) or blood (RAST) testing can aid in the diagnosis of mold allergies.
 

Medications

Several medications are now available to the allergic patient. These include:

Nasalcrom ~ Sodium Chromolyn

Seldane ~ Hismanal

Sudafed ~ Vitamins
 

Immunotherapy provides the most effective, long-term relief for the allergic patient.
 

Care should be taken in the use of antibiotics, and they should always be supplemented with acidophilus.
 
 
 

4-day Rotation Diet

Individuals who evidence mold allergies can be greatly helped by a four-day rotation diet where foods are eaten only once every four days and food families every two days. This minimizes contact with allergens.
 

A low-mold diet includes avoidance of yeast, mushrooms, dried fruit and products containing vinegar (such as mustard, ketchup and salad dressings). Cooking and peeling of all root vegetables and roasting of all nuts is also important.
 

WE CAN WIN & DEFEAT THIS TRICKY OPPONENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS & ALLERGY TREATMENT
 

WHAT DOES MOLD GROW ON?
 

Cheese

Bread

Fruit & Vegetables

Plants

Animals

Wood, Dirt, Soil, & Rock

Grains

Other Foods