There are several indicators that your indoor humidity levels are causing mold growth.   If you experience one or several of these indicators on a constant basis in your home, office or school, it's most likely that you have a moisture issue:

• Foggy condensation on the windows.  Windows can be fogging for two main reasons, one of those can be that the seal on the window has broken.  In this case, you will see fog "INSIDE" the two window panes.  However, if the condensation is on the inside of the window, you need to do more discovery inside the home to discover the cause of the moisture intrusion.  The 2nd one is more serious because this is the one that will grow hidden mold.
• Mildew-like smell, especially on fabrics.  Not ALL molds smell.  In fact, some of the most dangerous molds have "no smell" whatsoever.  But if you do smell a musty type of odor, be sure that you definitely have a humidity issue fueling mold growth that is releasing mycotoxin and VOC's that you are smelling.
• Spots of mold growing on the walls.  You'd think this would be the most obvious to people, however with the hundreds of clients I see every year you'd be surprised that people literally aren't alarmed by small mold growth or even large mold colonies more than a 5 ft. radius.  It's pretty astonishing how little people know about the dangers of mold.
• Materials like wood or stucco easily crumble.  The common myth about crumbling wood or stucco is that it's just blown off as "wood rot" or "stucco rot".  It's not taken as serious as it should be.  If that particular spot was sampled and evaluated in an accredited lab, people would find more toxicity exists than they thought.

• Floorboard Signs.  Wood and even MDF floorboards are particularly reactive to changing humidity levels. If your home is dry and the humidity is controlled, the floorboards for the most part, will stay flat and flush against the wall and be nice and smooth. If floorboards are swollen, separated, cracked, stained, or coming loose, this could be potentially an age issue -- or it could possibly be a signal that you need to do more inspection for a moisture issue.

• Paint chips off of the wall easily.  When you see buckling in the paint, it's a clue that moisture is penetrating the drywall "behind" the paint itself. 
• Intense allergies.  Mold "allergic reactions" can include: burning eyes, sneezing, itching face or skin, runny nose/itchy nose/stuffy nose, draining sinuses, dizziness, off balance, ear infections, gook in your eyes, sore throat, lingering cough, skin rashes and more......
• Excessive moisture bugs.   Some bugs are dependent on moisture for survival. Some of these bugs can live in the house if they find sufficient humidity and food.  Silverfish, Termites, Earwigs, Mosquitos, Springtails, Spiders, Drain flies, Cockroaches, Ants, Dust Mites, Book Lice, Fungus Gnats, Mold Mites, Pill Bugs, Centipedes, Millipedes, Crickets, Scorpians, Pseudoscorpians, Bed Bugs, Stink Bugs, Slugs and Flees.
• Difficulty sleeping.  Waking up frequently, agitation during sleep, heart palpitations, sleep apnea, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty waking up in the mornings or you feel like you've never slept.
• Food left out goes bad quickly.  Fruits, Vegetables or Breads seem to show signs of going bad or visible mold on them quickly within days.

Your liver is your most important "soldier" in the fight against mold exposure. 

 Liver toxicity is an injury to the liver or impairment of the liver function caused by exposure to xenobiotics such as drugs, food additives, alcohol, chlorinated solvents in drinking water, peroxidized fatty acids, fungal toxins, radioactive isotopes, environmental toxicants, and even some medicinal plants

Here are my top 15 practical ways to support your liver and keep your liver detoxified to more easily handle getting rid of mold toxins.

1. Intermittent fasting - from 6pm to 10am and only drink water or herbal teas during the hours of 6pm-10am.  Break your fast in at 10am with a protein-rich and good fat breakfast.  Good meal times are: 10am, 2pm and 5:30-6pm.
2. Completely change your diet.  www.PhazeMoldDiet.com
   • Avoid inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, sugar, processed seed oils and any foods that your body has a reaction to. 
   • Raw Juicing: The liver needs living enzymes, vitamin C, natural antibiotic substances, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and anti-cancer phyto-nutrients. Raw juicing is another way to gain the benefits from these foods. PhazeMoldDiet.com has great juicing recipes that are safe for a mold diet.
   • Consume more Vitamin K – green leafy vegetables and alfalfa sprouts.
   • Consume more Arginine – this helps the liver to detoxify excessive ammonia. Arginine is found in walnuts and seeds.
   • Manganese - this helps the liver to detoxify excessive ammonia from the liver.  these would be approved foods on the PhazeMoldDiet like: blackberries, Blueberries, Clove Spice, Pecans, Spinach,
   • Antioxidants – found in fresh raw juices such as carrot, celery, dandelion, (green) apple and green drinks from chorella and spirulina, and fresh citrus juice from lemons and limes. Try this Mold Detox Juicing Recipe
   • Selenium – sources of the antioxidant selenium are kelp, garlic and onions.
   • Methionine – is essential for detoxification. Is found in eggs, fish, garlic, onions, seeds and red meat.
   • Essential fatty acids – Seafood, cod liver oil, and fish oil. Seafood needs to always be fresh such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, trout, mullet, calamari, herring, blue eye cod. Fresh avocado, fresh organic raw nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans and seeds, green vegetables such as spinach, green beans, eggplant, cold pressed fresh vegetable and seed oils, freshly ground seeds, especially flax seeds (linseed), evening primrose oil, black-currant seed oil, star flower oil. Essential fatty acids are required for healthy membranes in every cell of the body and plentiful amounts are required for healthy liver function. This is why strict low-fat diets are not beneficial for general health, weight control or liver detoxing function.
   • Natural sulphur compounds – Found in eggs (pastured eggs only), garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
3. Get your bowel movements moving at least one a day if not twice (constipation causes mold toxins to recycle which is  huge stress on the liver) 
4. Eat good fats and proteins early in the evening (dinner at 5-6pm) and avoid eating or snacking after 6pm.
5. Remove non-life sustaining pharmaceutical drugs, smoking, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine (except for green tea) www.PhazeMoldDiet.com
6. Eat 30 grams of fiber per day  that is approved on the www.PhazeMoldDiet.com - my favorite are 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed per day (this helps dump the estrogen created by exposure to mold) Mangos, Green Apples, Chia Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans (small amounts of nuts are approved).  And LOTS of vegetables!
7. Incorporate the bitter foods into your Phaze Mold Diet - such as arugula, parsley, radishes, dandelion leaf; loose leaf herbal teas made from dandelion root, burdock root, turmeric, fennel, and ginger.  Or simply buy and add in digestive bitter tinctures into your smoothies, teas, soups or water. You can find digestive bitters here.
8. Add digestive enzymes before meals (This will also get your bowel movements more regular.  I use "Silver Fern Brand" digestive enzymes. 
9. Add NAC, the precursor for glutathione (the master detoxifier) - 900mg/day 
10. Add in liver detoxifying herbs like milk thistle, andrographis, gentian root
    
    One of the best herbs you can get for detoxing that liver and opening up those pathways from the liver is to take "Milk Thistle".  As I have mentioned before I prefer the NOW brands in my recovery so I use the Silymarin which is actually 2 times the Milk Thistle and has added artichoke and dandelion root which are also great liver detoxifiers. You can buy it HERE 
    
    (CAUTION for Pyrrolurics and the use of Milk Thistle): Most often Milk Thistle is a good herb for detoxing the liver, however if you are positive for pyroluria more than likely you are also copper toxic. Milk Thistle has high concentrations of copper which can make Pyroluria symptoms worse. So if you are pyroluric DO NOT use Milk Thistle to cleanse the liver."
11. Start your day off with a hot mug of filtered water and a squeeze of organic lemon juice from a lemon.  This detoxifies the liver firs thing in the morning.
12. Calcium D Glucarate - Is an excellent assistant in the detoxification pathways for the liver.  I take about 1000mg-1500mg per day to detox dirty estrogens caused by environmental toxins and mold. You can search online for the best brand that is right for you.
13. Get a water filter that filters out the majority of contaminants in your water that cause liver toxicity.  Not all water pitchers or water filters filter out everything.  Good water filters include: Berkey Systems, Auquasana, Aquatru
14. Grow your own Broccoli Sprouts - Broccoli Sprouts have been shown in studies to clean and detoxify the liver.  If you have access to a whole foods or other natural food store that sells fresh broccoli sprouts, these are a great addition to your diet to help facilitate the cleansing of the liver.  If you want to save money, they are also very easy to grow.  I grow my own broccoli sprouts from home every week.  You can purchase broccoli sprouting kits on Amazon and there are plenty of "how to videos" on YouTube instructing you on how to grow your own broccoli sprouts.  I grow my own every 5 days from home!!
    
15. Do your liver a favor and give it a "Coffee Enema" - If you want to get rid of mold toxins, have better digestion, get back your energy and a healthier liver, this is the best procedure you can invest your time in. This is by far a superior process for cleaning up the filtering processes of the body. 
    • Benefits of a coffee enema:
      • Enhances the liver enzyme, glutathione, which removes many toxins, including toxic mold from the blood
      • Dilutes and increases bile flow (Which is needed to transport mold toxins from the body)
      • Coffee enemas also help eliminate bacteria’s and candida in the colon. 
      • Reduces inflammation of the gut caused by Candida, poor diet and mold exposure
      • Coffee enemas are used as part of the Gerson Therapy cancer cure protocols. (which in an of itself is amazing to know).
      • Warnings: You should always seek the advice of your physician before taking coffee enemas.   Coffee enemas are not for everyone, but many people have had good results.  If you have issues with low potassium, or electrolytes please contact your doctor before doing them

 To find out who can and who cannot use coffee enemas. Make sure you have plenty of electrolytes and nutrition right before you do an enema. (coconut water, fresh juicing, himalayan salt in fresh filtered water, proteins, leafy greens also). Another contraindication reported is for people with heart or kidney ailments, as enemas can cause an electrolytic imbalance. BUY THE GERSON THERAPY BOOK HERE

In those first few weeks after escaping our moldy home I began to feel feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment and even hatred.  Don't get me wrong, being human we all have these feelings creep in ever so often.  But this was completely different. 

The weeks following us abandoning everything, all the pictures, all the mold tests and all the attempts to reach out to the landlord to "fix this" seemed to be purposely ignored.  At this point I didn't know how mold could affect my reaction to being purposely hurt and abandoned by others. 

Throughout the years I realized that the mold industry was ugly and in fact, extremely demonic in many ways.  From what feels like calculated assaults of financial destruction, landlords, insurance companies, remediators, colleagues in the mold industry and even friends and family, I couldn't escape these feelings that somehow I was justified in my abuse and hurt.

Today, as I sit here preparing food in my kitchen, I had these thoughts come flooding back through my head due to several people in the past few months that have purposely and also not purposely tried to hurt me or hurt our family in some of the ways I have mentioned above.  As I began slicing and dicing and food prepping, my breathing became shallow, I felt sick all over and just stood there asking myself "Why do I feel like this?".

It wasn't but 15 minutes later that another Christian had reached out to me to ask me some questions about someone that had actually hurt me in the past.  It was as if God knew exactly how to answer my questions about why I was feeling so bad and why I am struggling with these feelings of bitterness over and over since our mold tragedy in 2010.

See, God uses others to bring us back to Him.  Halfway through my conversation with this friend I realized this wasn't about "that person that hurt me", it wasn't even about "this Christian friend who felt the reason to reach out to me today", but it was in fact God.  He just works this way.  Immediately there was a lightbulb in my head shining brighter than ever saying: "Jennifer, put away all bitterness and wrath and anger".  And that was it....yes..that was IT!  Got knew I'd do the rest and go back to my Bible and find the rest of what I needed to search out to know what my reaction NEEDS TO BE MOVING FORWARD to people who maliciously say terrible things about me, my family, my business, my decisions or physically harm me financially, legally or otherwise. 

Ephesians 4:31 -

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

First, I realized that Bitterness brings a curse to our bodies.  When we don't properly respond to others who hurt us we don't hurt THEM, we hurt OURSELVES.   It's like a mental or emotional state of mind that eats away at our bodies.  It literally acts like a poison to our bones.

I also realized that bitterness isn't a natural long term process...it's literally a WILLFUL ACTION done by ourselves to hold on to angry feelings, always being ready to take offense to everything or making ourselves vulnerable to the lack of respect of others.  If we don't let go of the WILLFUL ACTION part, we become a person easily able to break out in anger, malice, judgement or worse: do something in revenge.

I really felt God speaking to me through this fellow Christian who told me in response to me asking how I should handle a certain hurtful situation.  His reponse was the inspiration for this post today.  He said:

"I would simply make basic generalizations that don't point fingers at any one person but lend education on how to ......{do things differently}"

not the exact last words but they were omitted for subject privacy.

This really convicted me to be better, to do better and to act better in the future when people are pointing right at me.   How have you been wronged during this process and what positive measures have you put in place to react better and do better?  leave your comments below

How can Functional Lab testing help with mold diagnosis and treatment?

What is Functional Medicine?

According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual's illness. Diagnosis can be the result of more than one cause.

What function does Funtional Medicine play for a person who is exposed to toxic mold?

It means that Functional Medicine is going to offer you a more detailed look at confirming or denying that fungus may or may not be an issue...but it more importantly will bring out the possible downstream effects that mold or other pathogens are having on the body as a result of a mold exposure OR infection or exposure to something else. 

Functional Medicine is "NOT" mold specific:  This means that in Functional Medicine there is not a specific lab that can 100% identify or diagnose toxic mold exposure...however, you have to keep in mind that (where we are in history right now - 2021), we still do not have a reliable lab testing process that could offer a "black or white" answer to "Have I been exposed to toxic mold, and is it causing all of my symptoms".  I know how vague this sounds, however...hiring a knowledgeable team of professionals CAN help them gather all of the baseline data they need to make a proper diagnosis such as:

• Conventional Medical Labs
• Functional Medicine Labs
• Patient history of possible environmental exposures
• Patient history of health issues
• Past labs
• Environmental lab tests

Keep in mind that only by collecting ALL of the data above can a professional make an informed diagnosis.  Also, don't be surprised that you may have several diagnosis based on the findings above.  When you combine traditional and conventional methods you will reveal the most data possible to help your overall health and possibility of healing.

What are some of the most common Functional Lab Tests that can be beneficial for those who are exposed to mold and why?

Gi Map - One of the first Functional Tests I ever ran was a Gi-map test.  In Functional Medicine most of the findings revolve around the condition of the gut. 

When you are exposed to toxic mold, one of the first processes in the body to become affected is the gut.  Mold spores are inhaled through the mouth and nose and mycotoxin enters the digestive system via the mouth and esophagus.  Once these dangerous spores and toxins enter the biome, other pathogens begin to "retreat" OR "fight back and overgrow".  When the Gi-map test is done it can reveal some of this imbalance which can be called "Dysbiosis".

What is the Gi-map test?

Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) is an innovative clinical tool that measures gastrointestinal microbiota DNA from a single stool sample with state of the art, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi and more!

You can read more about the Gi-Map test here: https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map

How do I order the Gi-Map test?

You'll need a qualified Functional MD, Chiropractor or Naturopath Physician to order a Gi-Map test.  You can also work with Health Coaches and FDN practitioners who are contracted with qualified doctors that CAN run the test for them.  Just make sure that whoever is running the tests can ALSO INTERPRET & TREAT!  (This is so important).  Wasting throusands of dollars on Functional Testing is useless unless you have someone that can interpret or treat it. 

If you are a "health geek" yourself, like me...you can try to find other practitioners who are offering opportunities to learn how to interpret the tests yourself.  Just make sure that you ask someone more knowledegable than yourself first before you try to treat.

OAT Test (Organic Acids Test)

What can cause a UTI? (Urinary Tract Infection/Bladder Infection)

A urinary tract infection is usually caused by the presence of E. coli (approximately 80% of all of these infections) The other 20% of bacteria can be from klebsiella, enterobacter, staphylococcus, and other bacteria. These bacteria have protective properties that allow the bacterium to /stick/adhere to the lining of the bladder and the mucosal wall of the entire urinary tract.  Their presence causes inflammation, cloudy urine with an unpleasant odor, and bladder and pelvic pain.

Without going into extreme detail, there are several factors that can increase the likelihood of developing a UTI in people who are exposed to toxic mold.

• Being female - Women are more prone to UTI’s than men because of the close proximity of the urethra’s to the anus. The bacteria have a shorter distance to travel in order to colonize in the lining of the urethra and the bladder.  Estrogen and progesterone shifts during menopause alter the pH of the urine and cause changes in tissue structure. Women over 65 have the highest rates of UTI’s.
• Using too many anti-bacterial chemicals in your environment like: anti-bacterial body washes, hand soaps, kitchen dish soaps and toxic anti-bacterial cleaners.  This can kill off beneficial bacteria from your hands-to-mouth or on your skin that directly affect your gut health and urinary tract health.  I highly recommend ditching the "anti-bacterial" labeled products from your home and using "Purebiotics" which you can find on my website.
• Being exposed to toxic mold and mycotoxin in your environment directly affects the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, kidneys and urinary tracts.  Toxic mold directly affects the endocrine system of the body and changes the production of stress hormones in the body.  These stress hormones change the tone of the kidneys and cause the kidneys to empty slower which in-turn keep bad bacteria in the kidneys longer usual.  Being exposed to mold directly cause estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency in both men and women which will alter the pH of the urine and cause "ideal bacterial-growth conditions" inside the bladder.  It's important NOT to simply treat UTI's with temporary band aids but to address the "causes" of UTI from an exposure perspective.  Visit my "step-by-step guide" on the website to help you navigate HOW to remove yourself from toxic mold exposures first...then go after the UTI infections.  (but don't wait!!)

My easy 3-step  process to eliminate a UTI

Here are my "go-to" natural solutions for UTI

(that include ALSO removing myself from mold)

BIOFILM BUSTERS LIST

ANTIMICROBIALS LIST

GoldenSeal

Goldenseal is one of the 5 best-selling herbal products in the United States. Goldenseal is a potent natural antibiotic, which like Cranberries contains the active ingredient (berberine) that prevents bacteria from adhering to your cell walls.

ASTRINGENT LIST

Uva Ursi Leaf - (tea or tincture)

Uva Ursi contains several chemicals.  The main chemicals are hydroquinone and hydroquinones that make it useful for urinary problems. Uva Ursi is used to treat infections such as cystitis, urethritis and nephritis as well. The hydroquinone derivative, arbutin, is the chief active compound in uva ursi. This compound is absorbed in the stomach and then is converted into a substance that contains antimicrobial, astringent, and disinfectant properties. During the urination process, as it leaves the body it works on the mucus membranes of the urinary tract and soothes irritation, reduces inflammation, and fights infection. Reasearch has found that arbutin taken alone is not as effective as the whole Uva Ursi plant in controlling urinary tract infections. The reason for this is because intestinal bacteria breaks down arbutin, but they are not always able to do so in the presence of other Uva Ursi compounds.

Uva Ursi contains diuretic chemicals, including ursolic acid, powerful astringents, and a chemical that helps promote the growth of healthy new cells called allatoin. In addition to its antiseptic and *astringent actions, uva ursi may also help to flush out bacteria by promoting urination. (*An astringent shrinks and tightens the top layers of mucous membranes, thereby reducing secretions, relieving irritation, and improving tissue firmness.) Uva Ursi is also used to reduce the accumulation of uric acid and relieve pain of bladder stones. The diuretic action may relieve the bloating feeling associated with menstruation as well.

Uva Ursi has been approved for treating inflammation of the lower urinary tract by Commission E of the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, which is the German governmental agency that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbal products
Uva Ursi References:  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/uva-ursi

If there's one thing I learned, it's that biofilms have a huge part to play in the role of eradicating "ANY" pathogen.  With that being said, I didn't learn this concept until years after my initial mold exposure.  Unfortunately it was a hard lesson learned because I spent many years suffering from fungal infections, viral infections and bacterial infections.

Our recommended Morenga products for Mold Illness recovery and Overal Health