I Just Found Out that Mold Loves Corn, Grains and Nuts

Well, I knew about avoiding wheat because of gluten. My OB/GYN told me he never met a person who did not feel better off wheat – well, all grains I guess.

However, I did not realize that the problems go much deeper than gluten.

Today, I have this weird headache that feels like a pair of tongs pressing on my temples, alternating with what feels like a band squeezing my head and a giant hand grabbing the back of my neck. Plus, I just feel rotten.

I don’t have migraines, and never really experienced these sensations before. So, hello, Google, what causes such symptoms? Surely not a stroke or anything so terrible. No insight.

I decided to think through my diet to see if I could figure out something unusual that I might have eaten. Ah, corn! Fresh, right out of the field corn for 2 days straight. Plus, Mexican for dinner. That rang a bell. Back to Google.

Hummm… Aflatoxins?

Aflatoxin is a cancer-causing poison produced by certain fungi in or on foods and feeds, especially in field corn and peanuts. They are probably the best known and most intensively researched mycotoxins in the world. Aflatoxins have been associated with various diseases, such as aflatoxicosis in livestock, domestic animals, and humans throughout the world. Many countries try to limit exposure to aflatoxin by regulating and monitoring its presence on commodities intended for use as food and feed. The prevention of aflatoxin is one of the most challenging toxicology issues of present time. Read more at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a87cdc2c-6ddd-49f0-bd1f-393086742e68/Molds_on_Food.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

Wait, There’s More!

Then I found this article: The health risk of mold in nuts, corn, and grains! Now, I realize I had all of these multiple times per day for the past few days. UGH! No wonder I feel so awful!

“You need to know what is causing your auto-immune, candida, respiratory problems, Epstein bar virus, MS, asthma, allergies, hormone imbalances, blurry vision, brain fog, and weight gain so you can easily and painlessly remedy the situation while watching your health improve daily!

“The answer to a lot of your health problems could be mold, and knowing where it lives! Most of us know that mold can hide under the floorboards or in the walls of a house or office. This is a big problem and takes some serious work to clean up. Did you know that a seemingly harmless nut, seed, or grain can also be at the root of your health issues? If you are not properly soaking and cleaning them, you are swallowing toxins! These food toxins are also known as mycotoxins.

“Mycotoxins are toxic chemical products that are produced from molds which grow on agricultural crops. In general, high moisture content, high relative humidity, and warm temperatures enhance mold growth and toxin production.

“Mycotoxins are natural and inevitable. No bean or crop is without some percentage of them but finding the companies that actively test for mycotoxin content is best. Mycotoxins are relatively harmless to the body on a micro level. It is only when we consume them on a daily basis that they become a problem. That means daily ingestion of poor ‘Starbucks’ quality coffee could have long-term effects on your brain health and increase free radicals which leads to radical premature aging!”

NO, NOT COFFEE, TOO!

The article goes on to say: What to avoid (unfixable)

• Corn – Give it your very best effort to stop eating all forms of corn. I know that it is a staple food in America, especially for the gluten-free crowd. But corn is a stored grain and is very high in molds. It is more often than not, a GMO! How about the well-known fact that corn is used to fatten cattle before they are slaughtered. Need another reason to quit? Corn is acid forming and over consumption leads to illness, weight gain, and disease.
• Peanuts – These are the moldiest legumes on the planet! Do you wonder why so many people are allergic? It’s the mold and fungus hiding in every crevice. Peanut butter is even worse. What do you think they do with all the ugly broken bits not suitable for bags? That’s right! It gets ground into butter. Same goes for every nut butter on the market. The safe bet? Make your own!
• Gluten grains – Includes all stored grains.

This article goes on to detail ways to clean and save certain seeds, nuts and legumes. I suggest you read the whole thing if you are struggling with your weight or your health (or both). As for me, I am certainly going to give up corn (very hard), and peanuts (not so major). For now, I’m going to take a couple of Advil and drink a lot of water. Then, research Mold-Help.org for suggestions on how to get this nasty stuff out of my body. Thank you, Mold-Help.org staff for all the great information for newbies like me!

Author: Carolyn Willbanks