Mould, CIRS & your detox pathways

Did you know there is more research on at the impact of mould and mycotoxins and how to detox them on animals than on humans?

What we do know is that mycotoxins pass easily into human cells as they are very small. They're absorbed mainly through our lungs, but also via our gut and skin, circulating quickly into all our systems and deposit themselves into our organs.

Mycotoxins are partial to settling in our fatty areas like our liver, kidneys and nervous system where they cause oxidative damage (which leads to disease), also producing widespread inflammation, depleting and interfering with nutrient absorption, disrupting hormones (our messengers) and actually damaging our immune and digestive systems. Some are even believed to be carcinogenic, and are known to be teratogenic (causing birth defects or abnormalities in a developing embryo or fetus).

So how does out body get rid of them? The answer is, via Phase 2 liver detoxification is where the liver attaches a molecule to a chemical to render it less harmful and carry it out.

detox pathways

There are detox 6 pathways, and the body uses 5 to carry out mould, or mycotoxins. These pathways are...

1. Glutathione

2. Sulfonation

3. Acetylation

4. Methylation

5. Glucuronidation

We need all these detox pathways to be open and supported to detox well, including to get rid of harmful mycotoxins.

This becomes even more important if you have the ‘mould gene’ and have developed CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) where the body can't detox mycotoxins by itself and needs a helping hand.

Detoxing mycotoxins doesn't necessarily mean you need to take binding pharmaceutical drugs. It is possible to use natural binders successfully too.

BUT, you need to use the right binder for the right mycotoxin. Testing to find out which mycotoxins you have, and then using the right binder, can make ALL the difference. Alternatively, ensuring you take the right combination binder can be helpful in ensuring you have all 30 covered off.

But detoxing isn't just a matter of taking the right binder, it's also about supporting and unblocking detox pathways.

For example, if you're not methylating properly – and half of us have genetic glitches in this area – you may need targeted B vitamin support.

Another example is the Glutathione pathway. Many people believe Glutathione is where detoxification begins and ends. It can be a powerful detoxifier that also acts as an antioxidant (using a separate pathway) to fight disease. But, if your glutathione conjugation pathway is blocked or hindered by genetic glitches, taking NAC or glutathione may actually make you sicker.

It's usually not simply mould and mycotoxins that are the problem, but what they reveal about your body’s state of health.

mould, mycotoxins and food

By the way, did you know that food can also bind mycotoxins? For example, steamed beetroot is 73% as effective as one binding drug commonly used. Eating a balanced diet filled with a variety of vegetables, animal proteins and good fats or good general detoxification

So knowing WHAT you need to detox and HOW to detox it for YOUR body can really help when usual methods don’t work, or you want to avoid taking blanket medication or supplements.