You May Develop Asthma Symptoms
If youre someone who consumes moldy food on a regular basis, you might start to develop asthma symptoms. This is because the spores of mold can get into your lungs and cause all sorts of problems. If youve been having trouble breathing or have been coughing more than usual, it might be worth getting checked out by a doctor to see if theres any connection between your asthma and eating mold!
What Causes Nasal Congestion
You May Get A Stuffy Nose Wheezing And Red Or Itchy Eyes Or Skin
“Molds produce allergens and irritants,” says the EPA. “Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.”
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Does Mold Cause Tuberculosis
Despite recent progress and advances in medicine, tuberculosis is still not a disease of the past. In Canada alone around 1 600 new cases of tuberculosis are reported each year.
On March 24 this year, the Ontario Lung Association stated that tuberculosis remains a serious public health concern in Ontario, with one-third of all cases in 2009 occurring primarily in the Greater Toronto Area.
With that in mind, learning more about tuberculosis causes and what you can do to prevent it is the key to keep you and your loved ones safe from this disease. In fact many things we do in our daily routine can be the cause behind the weak immune system and increase risk of tuberculosis. Living with mold is definitely one of those things
Foods You Should Discard
If you find mold on these items, discard them :
- Soft fruits and vegetables: Such as strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes.
- Soft cheese: Like cottage and cream cheese, as well as shredded, crumbled and sliced cheese. This also includes cheese that is made with mold but has been invaded by another mold that was not part of the manufacturing process.
- Bread and baked goods: Mold can easily grow below the surface.
- Cooked food: Includes casseroles, meat, pasta and grains.
- Jam and jellies: If these products are moldy, they may contain mycotoxins.
- Peanut butter, legumes and nuts: Products processed without preservatives are at a higher risk of mold growth.
- Deli meats, bacon, hot dogs
- Yogurt and sour cream
Summary:Soft food with a high moisture content is generally more likely to have mold. You can cut mold off of hard or firm food.
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Nausea Treatment When You Eat Mold
When you eat mold you may start feeling nauseous. While there are foods that help in settling nausea, laying down for a while is a good option, too.
Moving around too much can disturb the balance mechanism of your ear, leading to an enhanced feeling of nausea and vomiting.
Drinks with high sugar levels can work wonders in settling nausea. Nibbling on light foods like a toast or some crackers can be a good idea. Ginger tea is also a good idea to relieve nausea.
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How To Prevent Mold
Whether you just got rid of the mold or you dont ever want to see it in your house you need to know the mold prevention rules. To prevent mold from appearing in your house:
Small investments in prevention can go long waysand keep more cash in your pocket!
As a family owned business, we understand the importance of protecting your family, employees, and customers without breaking the bank.
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Cutting Mold From Hard Foods
Generally, its OK to just cut the mold off hard foods and keep on eating. The bacteria finds it tricky to get much of a foothold in solid, dense foods. Youre relatively safe to salvage the following:
- Firm fruits and veggies.Apples, peppers, and carrots should be A-OK.
- Hard cheeses. Your Parmesan and Gorgonzola are safe!
- Salami and dry-cured hams. Yes, that includes steamed hams, Principal Skinner.
Pro tip: Make sure you dont drag the knife through the fuzzy bits.
How To Prevent Mold Exposure
Denying them a place to grow is an important step in preventing mold. And for that, you need to control the moisture inside your home. You should make sure that your home and the workplace is free of visible mold growth or strong moldy odor. Here are a few tips for that.18
- Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low.
- Make sure that your floor and wall are dry after flooding.
- Fix water problems such as roof leaks and plumbing leaks.
- Provide enough ventilation for your house.
- Use mold-killing products while cleaning bathrooms.
- If absorbent materials like carpet become moldy, they should be removed.
- Cleaning frequently keeps mold to a minimum.
- Do not paint moldy surfaces without cleaning up the mold and drying the surface.19
Cleaning up the mold in your home is the first thing you should do. These are a few ways to do it:
- Remove mold growth from hard surfaces using soap and water.
- You can also use a bleach solution.
- Take less than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water to remove the mold. Remember, never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners as it produces toxic fumes.20
- Make sure that the windows and doors are open while you use bleach.
- Also, wear protective gloves and eye mask.
If you are worried about mold exposure from your workplace and the symptoms associated with it, you should consult an occupational health clinic.
References
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How To Cure Mold Related Asthma Symptoms
If youve ever experienced the effects of the persistent and hazardous micro-organism called mold, then you already know how unpleasant and debilitating these effects can be.
The very first step in doing away with your symptoms is to find the and the have it removed.
In most cases, mold problems can be traced back to some sort of moisture problem since water is the leading factor contributing to fungal growth. So, begin with detecting the problematic areas in your home. These areas most often include the kitchen sink, leaking toilets, condensation around windows and cracks in the foundation. Also keep an eye on areas that are poorly insulation and more humid.
In some cases, areas that are contaminated with mold are easily identified theyre unsightly, attract dust and release unpleasant odours. Once youve identified them, the next step is fixing them in an efficient manner.
Unless you are lucky enough to possess specialized equipment and knowledge of proper mold remediation procedures, your best option is calling a team of mold removal experts. Not only are they well equipped with all the latest equipment, but they also have years of first-hand experience dealing with all types of mold problems. Theyll be able to pinpoint with certainty the source of the mold contamination and plan for a strategic remediation. Also, theyll ultimately be able to minimize your risk of future mold growth.
Be Careful With Canned Food
Medical experts often talk about the harmful effects of processed food but what you might not have realized is that canned food can be moldy as well. Mold can start growing inside the can without you even realizing. You might think its an air tight can so you are safe, however a simple opening can be responsible for the growth of mold inside the can.
Canned food is another item that you have to be careful with. Many times, canned food can contain moldy ingredients and since the cans arent see-through its hard to tell which items are safe to eat. So always make sure to check the expiration date before purchasing any canned goods!
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Side Effects Of Breathing Mold And Mildew
The quality of the air you breathe is vital for your well-being. There are thousands of microbial contaminants in the air that may pose health hazards. Fungi, which are ubiquitous in distribution are one such grave threat to your health in indoor environments. Molds are the most common forms of fungi found on earth. And mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. They reproduce through the formation of spores, which are tiny microscopic cells that float through the air. These mild spores are not always dangerous. We are exposed to them daily, both indoors and outdoors.
Outdoors, molds take part in the decomposition of organic matter such as dead trees, compost, and leaves. But, when they land on a moist surface indoors, they may grow, posing dangers. Molds survive and grow in warm, humid, and damp conditions.1 So, usually they are found in places such as basements or showers where there is high humidity. They also grow on cardboard, wood products, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, paint, and paper products.
What Does Mold Do To Your Body
Time to get serious. Because if youve accidentally eaten some truly heinous mold, it can have some pretty serious effects.
Its all the fault of those pesky mycotoxins. If you ingest a large amount of them, you might experience symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. How severe the symptoms are will depend on how much mold youve eaten, as well as your age and overall health.
Ingesting one particular mycotoxin, aflatoxin, can lead to liver problems, immune system malfunction, and even cancer. Just dont mess with mycotoxins, mkay?
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Is Ingesting Mold Dangerous What Happens If I Eat Mold By Accident
Mold is very prevalent in the natural world, which means it is also very likely to be present in your home. It tends to travel through the air in the form of microscopic pores released by a mature colony. Once the spores enter your home, they can take up residence on just about anything. This includes things like your coffee-maker, your garbage can, your bathroom, the closet in your carpet, and even on your mattress!
Mold is particularly fond of the kitchen due to the presence of ambient moisture from cooking and washing as well as the high number of substances that can support it. This might be something as obvious as a kitchen sponge, or a wet spot on the backsplash, as well as food that is left out in the air. Even a simple bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter could become an attractive place for a wayward mold spore to call home!
One of the most obvious examples of mold on food is when it appears on your bread or in your refrigerator. If you have ever accidentally bitten into something thats been infested by mold, you likely felt a strong sense of revulsion. This is likely followed by the worry that you might get seriously ill.
Mycotoxins May Be Present In Several Foods
Mycotoxins may be found in food due to contaminated crops.
In fact, mycotoxin contamination is a common problem in the agricultural industry, as mycotoxins are produced by mold in nature. Up to 25% of the worlds grain crops may be contaminated with mycotoxins .
Different types of crops can become contaminated, including corn, oats, rice, nuts, spices, fruits and vegetables.
Several factors influence the formation of mycotoxins. For instance, droughts weaken plants, making them more susceptible to damage and infestation (
13 ).
In a report from the European Food Safety Authority , 26% of 40,000 samples of various food items contained mycotoxins. However, the number of samples that exceeded the safe upper limit was very low for most items .
The highest levels were found in pistachios and Brazil nuts.
More than 21% of the Brazil nuts and 19% of the pistachios tested exceeded the maximum safety limit and would not enter the market. In comparison, none of the baby foods and only 0.6% of corn exceeded the safety limit .
Since mycotoxin formation cannot be completely prevented, the food industry has established methods of monitoring it. The levels of mycotoxins in foods are strictly regulated in about 100 countries .
While you are exposed to small amounts of these toxins through your diet, the levels do not exceed the safe limits. If you are a healthy individual, they probably wont harm you. Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid exposure altogether.
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How To Avoid Eating Mold
Preventing mold from forming can go a long way toward preserving your food supply and eliminating waste. This starts by storing fruits and vegetables in individual plastic bags in your produce drawer.
Keep food covered when serving to prevent exposure to mold spores in the air, and use plastic wrap to cover foods you want to stay moist to keep mold away.
Dont forget to always empty open cans of perishable foods into clean containers and refrigerate them right away. And never leave any perishables out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
Clean out your refrigerator and bread drawer often, Gravani says. Also, as a rule of thumb: Toss out the food when you spot mold as it will travel and invade the rest of your food, too.
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Dangerous Side Effects Of Mold In Your Home According To Science
With health dangers outside the home, we are being asked to stay indoors. But what if there is danger inside your house? Chances are, you’ve got mold nearly every house or apartment does. “Molds can be found almost anywhere they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present,” reports the Environmental Protection Agency. “There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.” “Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all,” reports the CDC. “Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to” the following symptoms. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss theseSure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus.
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It Can Cause Dental Issues
If you eat mold, it can cause dental problems. This happens because the fungus will start to grow in your mouth and eventually damage your teeth. It can cause bacteria to start building up in your teeth so it is very important to take proper care of your teeth especially if you have accidently consumed moldy food. If this is happening to you regularly, see a dentist as soon as possible!
Mold Is Used To Make Certain Foods
Mold is not always undesirable in food.
Penicillium is a genus of molds used in the production of many types of cheese, including blue cheese, Gorgonzola, brie and Camembert (
9 ).
Other safe molds are koji molds, including Aspergillus oryzae, which are used to ferment soybeans to make soy sauce. They are also used to make vinegar, as well as fermented beverages, including the Japanese drink sake .
Its important to note that even though some molds are added to particular foods during production to achieve certain effects, the same molds can still spoil other products.
For example, Penicillium roqueforti is used to make blue cheese, but it will cause spoilage if it grows in fresh or grated cheese .
Summary: Food companies use particular molds to make cheese, soy sauce, vinegar and fermented beverages. These molds are safe to eat, as long as they are consumed as part of the foods they were intended for and dont contaminate other foods.
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Treatment For Vomiting Caused Due To Eating Mold
Eating mold may often result in vomiting. It can be prevented by having water, sports drinks, or broths. You should avoid having juices and soft drinks. It is a good idea to eat light and bland foods, such as plain bread or some crackers.
If the vomiting sensation prolongs, you might find it useful to find vegetables and proteins that dont upset your stomach. You must avoid sweets and fried and greasy foods. Do not eat too fast and do not eat much.
Small meals eaten slowly, should help you retain your meal. You must also rest after eating, but make sure you elevate your head.
