Today's post is sponsored by Fix.com

Ever wondered how to grow a successful garden muchless grow one indoors?

Keeping mold and mycotoxins out of your body starts with eating a "clean" diet.  Many fruits and vegetables sold in stores today contain mold, mycotoxins, bacteria and worse: Pesticides.  Start taking control of your health and detox your body with your own homegrown vegetable garden, indoors.

Check out this awesome infographic from Fix.com  They've taken the guesswork out of how to make it successful by  creating this awesome chart you can print out and put in your garage or garden shed.

Happy Gardening!!

Source: Fix.com

When I was super sick for over a year it became difficult and almost impossible for me to go shopping and buy the very things I needed just to get well.

Although I had two teenagers that helped me tremendously I still felt that trying to get in a car and go to a store more than once a week became almost impossible.

As you know, running out of products or supplements don't always time perfectly and it seems that you need to leave your home on multiple occasions throughout the week.

Being very ill with mold, epstein-barr virus and Lyme Disease did not allow me to leave the home but once....to get my meat and vegetables for my MOLD DETOX DIET.  Because this put such a phycial strain on me I researched ways I could possibly get items to my house without me having to leave home.  The only problem I saw was I ended up spending SO MUCH money on shipping costs..........until I found "Amazon Prime". 

Here are some of the ways I used Prime in 2013 and 2014:

• To buy my household cleaning supplies to keep my home "mold free" (baking soda, borax, vinegar, ammonia)
• To buy my Vitamins
• To buy detox supplements
• To buy personal products (toilet paper, non toxic shampoos, non toxic soaps)
• To buy birthday presents for my family and kids when I could not go shopping
• To buy all of my Christmas gifts because during Christmas I could not leave the home
• To buy more comfortable clothes while I was so sick
• To buy things my kids needed when I was not able to take them shopping
• and much more...................

With the cost of Prime I saved on 11 months of shipping.  Each month I was buying so many products and supplements that I was spending through various websites well over $100 in shipping fees.  I was releaved to pay Amazon a one time $99 fee so that for the rest of the year I could order "ANYTHING" at "ANYTIME" .........WITHOUT any shipping costs.

Here are the main features of the Amazon Prime program:  You pay ONLY $99.00 for a One Year Prime membership

• THE FIRST 30 DAYS ARE FREE - $99 doesn't hit your card until after the first month so enjoy all the FREE shipping you want.
• Free - 2 day shipping on online orders
• You can order one product or one hundred products and still get FREE 2 day shipping
• FREE Prime Instant Video - This is very similar to Netflix.  (Netflix costs $96.00 per year)
• FREE Prime music
• FREE Prime Kindle owners lender library

I have struggled and am struggling more than ever with inflammation.  This can be inflammation of the brain, your gut and even your skin or muscles.  Since I started having issues with this I've been doing some research that can help me.

Obviously one of the biggest problems is with what we are putting into our bodies: Foods, drinks and even our environment.  First off, make sure you are eating a MOLD DETOX DIET in order to keep inflammatory foods away from your body. 

I am by no means an expert when it comes to healing my gut or keeping inflammation under control, but I do a lot of research so that I can better help myself and others at the same time.

In my research I've compiled a list of some great inflammatory foods that I have added to my diet:

• Oily fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation. To get the benefits, however, you need to eat fish several times a week, and it should be cooked in healthy ways.
• Cherries (Caution: Do not eat fruit if you are detoxing on the strict one month or two month mold detox diet period)
• Nuts like Almonds and Walnuts
• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Collard greens
• Sweet Peppers
• Beets
• Ginger (See our anti-inflammatory juicing recipe for mold illness)
• Garlic (See our anti-inflammatory juicing recipe for mold illness)
• Turmeric
• Onions
• Olive Oil
• Raspberries (Caution: Do not eat fruit if you are detoxing on the strict one month or two month mold detox diet period)
• Blueberries (Caution: Do not eat fruit if you are detoxing on the strict one month or two month mold detox diet period)
• Strawberries (Caution: Do not eat fruit if you are detoxing on the strict one month or two month mold detox diet period)

Awesome Anti-Inflammatory plant: 

Aloe Vera

Here is where I order mine from
Because I'm not feeling well most days I like to order things online and have them sent to my home

Carrots and their amazing "Anti-Fungal" properties

Are Carrots friend or foe for a person exposed to Mold?

When I first found out my symptoms were related to being exposed to Toxic Mold I knew that diet was going to be at the forefront of my recovery.

However, not everyone who is dealing with Candida was directly exposed to toxic mold in their home or environment.  But I encourage anyone who is interested in solving their Candida issues read this article as it was "life changing" for me.

I was given diets and protocols by many mold sufferers as well as even mold doctors.

One of the things that seemed to be a common debate was that of the "Carrot".  I was told by 50% of the sources that carrot was NOT something I should consume because it was considered a root vegetable.  After all root vegetables have a bad rap for harboring mold & fungus under the ground correct?  Then the other 50% were telling me that no it was actually quite the opposite...that carrots had a natural anti-fungal property that prevents mold from getting into the carrot.

So I decided to do my own research and here is what I found:

Doug Kaufmann of "Know the Cause" has an ever-popular book called "The Fungus Link".  Since then he's written a few other extensions of the book. He has been a pioneer in the field of relating molds and fungus to almost every known disease humans are currently facing.  One of the conditions he focuses on quite a bit is that of "Candida". In his books he even talks about the benefits of Carrots as anti-fungal.

I began to research the subject more in depth by applying it straight to mold exposure and to my surprise I found a book by Kurt & LeAnn Billings called "MOLD: The War Within".  In the book they referenced that they had used carrots in their juicing protocol to fight Candida. 

My next step was to find the real scientific data to back it up.  Being skeptical by nature I needed more proof as I didn't want to put something into my body that was going to keep me sick, Lord knows I had suffered enough already.

I ran across a surprisingly "AWESOME" research and laboratory test that gave me all the confidence I needed to move forward. 

Aren't Carrots High in Sugar? 

This might shock you and be something hard to wrap your head around, but carrots are NOT HIGH IN SUGAR.  What?? "But I've been told this my whole life!!"  Well, guess what...you've been told wrong.  One carrot only contains 2.9 grams of sugar.  This is slightly a tick above your average lemon.  Remember, lemons and limes are the lowest sugar content of any fruit.  One lemon contains approximately 1.5 grams of sugar.  

1. Sugar is killing you if you've been exposed to mold
2. Ok so what kind of foods am I supposed to be eating?
3. If I go shopping today what are just some basic things I need to buy to really take this serious?

What does fungus and mold need to survive in your body? It needs Sugar (or carbohydrates). The more sugar, grains and carbohydrates you consume the more active your fungus and mold problem becomes. After being exposed to toxic mold this fungus can live in your intestines, fat, blood, joints, and organs. You are continually feeding the fungus infection by eating additional fungus and sugar containing foods. The more fungus in your body the more mycotoxins they produce. The more mycotoxins in your body the more inflamation, rapidly forming diseases and pain you will have as a result of being exposed to toxic mold.  Quickly after mold exposure, if unchecked you can develop cancer, lupus, MS, heart problems, brain damage, weight problems, skin diseases, diabetes, mental dysfunction and inflammatory and severe autoimmune disease.
 

1.  Sugar feeds Fungus: http://www.survivingtoxicmold.com/sugar_feeds_fungus

You have to come to terms with the fact that you will NEVER recover from mold illness unless you go through a period of at least 90 days with absolutely NO sugar (at a minimum).  Most often it takes about 12 months to make a full recovery.  Sugar, grains and yeast are relentless. 

Tried it my way....failed     Tried to eat only a little sugar.....failed    Tried to deny sugar was an issue....FAILED

No Sugars: No Processed Sugar, No Sweeteners, No Natural Sugars (Except raw unfiltered honey or monk fruit), Limit fruits (except the few I have on the shopping list that specifically have a low glycemic index and are low in sugar).

(PLEASE COMMENT BELOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC: questions, comments, statements etc.  This is how we break through and learn).

2.  Ok so what kind of foods am I supposed to be eating? https://www.survivingtoxicmold.com/mold_detox_diet1

When you visit our "FOODS LIST" page you will see a list of the food that you need to eat on the SurvivingToxicMold:
 "Mold Detox Diet". 

(PLEASE COMMENT BELOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC: questions, comments, statements etc.  This is how we break through and learn).

3.  Sample Shopping List:

Here are my top shopping list essentials: 

• Fresh "Cold-pressed" Olive Oil (Bigger bottle)
• Organic Grass-Fed Butter
• PINK Himalayan Salt
• 3-4 Cloves Organic Garlic
• Small raw Ginger (3-4 inches?)
• 2 bags of Organic carrots
• 4-6 Organic and non-GMO Green Apples
• 3-4 Organic Lemons
• Eggs (pastured are best, second best is organic but organic are fed grains so this is not going to help)
• Chicken Breast (a few packages? Pastured is best but hard to find)
• Wild caught Alaskan Salmon
• Pastured Ground Turkey
• Ground Beef (Grass Fed)
• Raw Almonds
• Raw Pecans
• Raw Walnuts
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Your favorite vegetables from the foods list on our mold detox diet that are approved to eat
• Spring Water

Green beans are great for those recovering from toxic mold or for anyone who wants to eat a healthy diet.

Green beans are a great nutritional source.  In fact, green beans have over 211 grams of pottassium so if you are looking to boost your potassium levels this is a way to add these into your diet.

My simple and fast way to prepare green beans make it easier than sitting around all day and snapping the ends off of beans.

Here is my simple and quick method of preparing beans:

1. Wash beans under water and for those recovering from mold exposure I suggest soaking the beans in a water solution after rinsing of 1 teaspoon of baking soda.  The baking soda will kill off any mold spores that might be lurking in the green beans.
2. Get a cutting board, sharp knife and a solid surface to work on.
3. Place the uncut beans in the middle and line up 4-5 beans at a time and cut off the ends.  Turn that group of beans around and repeat. 
4. Once you are done cut the beans into 1-2 inch pieces.
5. Place these "cut" pieces to the left.

Research Sources: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2903?qlookup=11052&max=25&man=&lfacet=&new=1

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms are usually the #1 indicator that you have been exposed to toxic mold in your environment. The first step is to identify your symptoms. Most victims will exhibit one, ten or up to twenty or more of these symptoms on a daily basis. Here is a VERY detailed list of symptoms. I have listed them A-Z.

• Acne (even after a healthy diet free of sugars and fried foods)

• Alzheimer's symptoms without a "Dimentia" diagnosis (brain scan/people under 60)

• Anxiety/Anxiety Attacks/Panic Attacks/GAD

• Asthma Symptoms

• Blotchy Skin

• Blurred Vision

• Brain Fog (Present but not present in the mind)

• Bumps on skin (that cannot be diagnosed by a doctor)

• Congitive function disorder

• Calculation difficulties (Numbers, lists putting things in order)?

• Chemical sensitivity (Sudden onset)

• Chronic Fatigue

• Cold hands or feet

• Cold fingers/Hot fingers (some are cold and some are hot simultaneously)

• Cough: Constant unexplained coughing

• Delayed healing for viruses, colds, wounds etc.

• Depression

• Drunk feeling (without any other known cause: no medications, food or poisons that you are aware of)

• Dysequilibrium

• Eye Twitching

• Facial flushing

• Fainting feeling (without actually fainting)

• Fatigue

• Fight or Flight feeling (losing control/feeling like you are going to die)

• Food Sensitivities: (New onset of food sensitivities especially grains, carbs, breads, sugar)

• Fulness or pressure in the ear canal

• GI Issues

• Green stool

• Hair Loss

• Headaches

• Heart Palpitations (no known reason...just all of a sudden feel your heart beat funny then go back to normal)

• High Blood Pressure

• Insomnia

• Intolerance of bright lights

• Joint aches and pain

• Jolts: Feeling of an electrical pulse running through your brain, arms or legs

• Lightheadedness

• Loss of Balance

• Low Potassium Levels (even with a balanced potassium rich diet)

• Memory disturbance

• Muscle Weakness: severe

• Mood Changes

• Narcolepsy Symtpoms (falling asleep quickly)

• Nervousness and Jittery feeling constantly

• Nightmares: Frequent/Unusual

• Nightmares: Night Terrors (Extreme Fear)

• Numbness and tingling (especially in finders)

• Rage: Getting extremely upset about mundane things (suddenly)

• Rapid heart rate when doing normal activities ie: sitting, standing or laying down (absent of a known heart condition)

• Ringing in ears

• Scratchy throat that won't go away

• Seizures

• Severe Allergies

• Shortness of Breath

• Sinus Infections that keep reoccurring

• Skin Changes

• Sleep disturbance (Being awaken several times during sleep for no other known medical reason)

• Speech: Saying the wrong words or repeating the same things over and over again

• Speech: Talking in excess about everything that is on your mind (Others notice you are talking way too much)

• Thinking: Can't think of the right words to say

• Thinking: Can't remember simple things like words, events, methods, descriptions, definitions.

• Tingling in the scalp: Feeling an electrical type sensation move over your hair and scalp

• Twitching in Fingers: When hands are still fingers move and twitch on their own

• Twitching legs: Legs move or twitch on their own when standing

• Vertigo: Sensation that the room is tilted and moving around you

• Vertigo brought on by concentration

• Vision changes: (Sudden extreme or sudden mild vision changes needing an eye exam)

• Vision: Seeing halos around everything (White borders)

• Weakness: Overall body and mind weakness (more than normal)

• Wheezing in lungs

Here is another great article posted by www.HealthExtremist.com Check out her site...it's awesome!!
SOURCE: http://www.healthextremist.com/indoor-plants-that-clean-the-air-and-remove-toxins/
Indoor Plants that Clean the Air and Remove Toxins

March 24, 2013 By Lori,

6 Indoor Plants that Clean the Air in Your Home

Do you have any plants in your home? Typically, the indoor air quality is significantly worse than it is outside.  There are several steps you can take to greatly improve the indoor air quality in your home. One way this can be done, is by having several indoor plants that clean the air and reduce toxins.

Several years ago NASA studied houseplants and their ability to purify the air in indoor spaces. They found that certain plants were better at filtering the air and removing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) than others.

Why Indoor Plants that Clean the Air Improve Health

Not only are indoor plants beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in our homes, they have also been found to reduce the toxins in the air we are breathing.

The air in our homes has been shown to contain harmful toxins which ultimately end up in our bodies. Whether the toxins are from building materials, paint, out-gassing carpets, dust, or flame retardants, the levels of these toxins in the air can be reduced.

These plants can reduce many air pollutants including formaldehyde, microbial pathogens, benzene and microbial pathogens.

How Many Should You Have in Your Home

According to NASA it is recommended that you have about 15 to 18 of these plants in your home (this was recommended for a 1800 sq foot home). Remember to also place at least one plant in your bedroom, preferably more.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these indoor plants that clean the air are very easy to take care for and require little work.

6 Indoor Plants that Clean the Air:

These plants are the most beneficial for improving  indoor air quality. You should be able to find all of these plants locally.

 1. Aloe

Aloe plants are very beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in your home. They have also been found to absorb formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. According to Earthship, one pot of aloe is equivalent to nine biological air cleaners.

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are able to perform photosynthesis under minimal lighting. They aid in absorbing toxins in the air including formaldehyde, styrene, carbon monoxide, and benzene. One spider plant is able to effectively filter a room of 200 square feet.

3. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is another great indoor plant that removes toxins. This plant has been shown to reduce 60% of airborne mold and 58% of airborne feces after being placed in a room for only 6 hours!

4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ’Mauna Loa’)

Having a peace lily in your home greatly reduces the chemical toxins in the air. Peace lily plants filter out harmful benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

5. Snake Plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata‘Laurentii’)

This indoor plant that cleans the air is just about indestructible, if your looking to start out with easy to care for plant, this would be the one to choose. Snake plants aid in removing toxins from the air and require little to no lighting.

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants excel at removing  toxins from the air, particularly formaldehyde. These plants require minimal lighting and also easy to care for. Note: the leaves can be toxic, so if you have any pets in your home, be careful.

Want More Variety?

NASA also listed the following plants as beneficial for improving the indoor air quality in homes. These plants may be more difficult to find locally, but if you come across any of these plants, be sure to pick one up!

-Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
-Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
-Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
-Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn.Philodendron cordatum)
-Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn.Philodendron selloum)
-Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
-Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
-Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans Massangeana)
-Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig
-Warneck dracaena (Dreacaena dermenisis Waneckii)
-Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

Do you have any of these indoor plants that clean the air in your home?

Sources:

Photo source:

http://www.naturalnews.com/035593_indoor_air_plants_detox.html

http://thisgreenearth.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/top-10-plants-to-improve-indoor-air-quality/

After many doctor and ER visits one common thing would occur in my fight to fight mold:  "Jennifer, your potassium is VERY low".

In the medical world they see this as "your fault"...."your diet".  They scold me on how I should eat more bananas or more potatoes.  "You mean plenty of potassium-rich greens like a giant bowl of spinach a day aren't enough doctor?". 

This made me scratch my head and do more research.  What I found was astounding and how it LINKED directly to my exposure to toxic mold.

I found out that a "Mycotoxin" called PETULIN can inhibit the uptake of potassium meaning it blocks it from being used by the body.

Information about the mycotoxin, Patulin

• Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of molds, in particular, Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is commonly found in rotting apples, and the amount of patulin in apple products is generally viewed as a measure of the quality of the apples used in production. ...

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulin

• Patulin is produced by Paecilomyces variatii and P. expansum. Health effects: inhibits potassium uptake, possible carcinogen.
  
  http://www.dynamiclist.com/export/static_html.aspx?node=53687436-2e3a-4aec-9f29-cc878ce9974d