The low-mold diet

While mold itself is not a new problem, the dangers of it are unfolding in more recent years. It is becoming apparent that many symptoms have mold as an underlying cause, especially in those who have a genetic predisposition (those with the HLA-DR gene) to mold illness. Mycotoxins, very simply explained, are poisons from mold, and they have been found to contribute to serious problems, including immune deficiency and sometimes the onset of cancer.¹ At our office, we offer a blood test which can confirm mold toxicity.

Why follow a low-mold diet?

There are several components involved in tackling the problem of mold, and all of them need to be addressed. While getting rid of mold in your home or workspace may seem obvious, it is important to remember that mold and mycotoxins can wreak havoc from inside your body as well as outside. Therefore, one necessary element for healing is to follow a low-mold diet. While we know that exposure to mold can cause nutrient deficiencies,² we also believe in the power of nutrient-dense food to heal. The low-mold diet works to stop mold and fungus from growing inside your body and works to restore nutritional deficiencies caused by mold exposure.

Boycotting mold: what to avoid

There are four major groups of foods to avoid on the low-mold diet:

Aged cheeses, cured meats, dried fruit, nuts, and wine are common high-mold and high-histamine foods — often the first to reduce on a low-mold plan.

What is safe?

Don’t despair — you can still enjoy many foods that will satisfy. Here’s the split between foods to enjoy in moderation and foods to enjoy freely.

If you’ve gone grain-free for a period, you may want to try a gluten-free grain like brown rice, quinoa, or buckwheat and see how you tolerate it — moderation is key, and if you don’t tolerate them well, avoid them. And remember to “eat the rainbow”: include lots of colorful vegetables to give your body the variety of vitamins and minerals it needs for both healing and function.

To satisfy your thirst, choose filtered water, mineral water, fresh vegetable juice, or non-fruity herbal teas. And while coffee is often contaminated with mold, there are brands that are mycotoxin/mold free — our office provides Purity and Bulletproof coffee for purchase.

Neuroprotective foods

Given the damage mold can do in regard to brain inflammation, it’s important to incorporate foods that serve a neuroprotective function:

• Wild-caught salmon — contains DHA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid for brain health.
• Egg yolks (if tolerated) — contain choline, which the body uses to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter necessary for optimal brain and nervous system function.⁷
• Cruciferous vegetables — cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and cabbage contain sulforaphane, shown to protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases.⁸
• Polyphenol-rich foods — low-sugar blueberries are powerhouses for brain health, working to protect the brain against damage by neurotoxins such as mycotoxins.⁹