Mycotoxins and Their Symptoms

Mycotoxins are harmful secondary metabolic products produced by fungi, which can cause cancer and lead to genetic damage.

Mycotoxins are those toxins produced during the metabolic and/or decomposition process of fungi.  Mycotoxins occur in and on foodstuffs, as well as in our bodies, such as inflammation of any kind or when fungus or pathogens are being killed.

Individuals fighting an overgrowth of candida fungi in the intestine and mucous membranes are likley to suffer from the effects of mycotoxins as well: if chemicals are used to kill off the candida fungi, the fungi will decompose and produce a multitude of mycotoxins.  Similar problems arise in individuals with periodontitis and other ailments involving open, inflamed wounds, since these attract not only bacteria, but fungi as well. As the fungi decay, mycotoxins are formed, which, according to experts, can reach a degree of toxicity similar to that of military warfare agents such as mustard gas.

Most of the mycotoxins we encounter, however, are those found in foodstuffs or in the air—in fact, mycotoxins can be found in approximately 20% of all grains harvested in the EU. Since mycotoxins are largely heat resistant and therefore remain intact during processing, an array of testing procedures are used in the food industry to detect contaminated products. The problem, however, is that Germany, unlike Switzerland, has no set limit for a maximum allowable amount of mycotoxins.  For this reason, small amounts of mycotoxins are tolerated in coffee, spices, and grains, and products such as cornflakes, popcorn, and grain-based snacks have a small degree of contamination.

Every 10th Foodstuff is Heavily Loaded

Experts believe that, if Germany were to follow Switzerland's example and set a mycotoxin limit at 1000 micrograms per kilogram of foodstuffs, approximately 10% of all currently available consumables would have to be removed from shelves.

Just how poisonous mycotoxins are becomes tragically clear when contaminated grains are sold to the feed industry. If the animal feed has been contaminated with mycotoxins, mass mortality can result on chicken, duck, and turkey farms.

Genetic Material Might be Harmed

Mycotoxins have a variety of internal and external effects on humans, such as damage to the liver, kidneys, bonemarrow, and nervous system. Aflatoxin, a toxin produced by fungal growth, can even damage an individual's genetic material and make them cancer-prone. Aflatoxin can also lead to a hayfever-like cold, as well as  infections of the respiratory system and asthma.

The molds found in today's indoor environments present a significant problem since the warmth and humidity of our well-insulated homes provide molds with the ideal conditions to reproduce.  In addition, molds are also often spread through heating and air conditioning systems.

The most important step in preventing mold growth is to properly air out the home—even in winter.  Humidity indoors should lie at 50%, with the temperature between 19 and 21 degrees Centigrade.

First Symptoms are Skin Irritations

Mycotoxin poisoning is accompanied by symptoms ranging from skin rash, headache, depression, tachycardia, agitation, itchy eyes, shortness of breath, lethargy, and nausea, to a compromised immune system and therefore a predisposition for infections and colds.

An increasing number of experts believe that the fungi used in the food- and pharmaceutical industries—for example in the production of cheese, yogurt, artificial hormones, and other drugs—present a relatively new problem. More and more people experience allergic reactions to these artifical fungi. Furthermore, it is entirely possible that the fungi used, for example, in beer- and bakers' yeasts may play a significant role in the development of arteriosclerosis and diabetes.  In animal experiments, it was possible to observe that both ailments could be provoked using yeast fungi.

Detox More Important Than Ever

Freeing the body of mycotoxins is therefore of growing importance in these days with growing contamination not only in the food. The detox products of the Biologo-Detox-Line (Biologo-Rescue, Biologo-Detox, Biologo-Detox Forte, Biologo-Detox-Cream) are ideal for a modern and yet natural detox, since they not only free the body of heavy metals and chemicals, but also sytematically remove mycotoxins from the system.