The Top-10 MYCO-Toxic Foods

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The Top-10 MYCO-Toxic Foods

By A. Holland, M.D.

http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/learning/fungus-sinus.html

1. Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol is the mycotoxin of the Saccharomyces yeast--brewer's yeast.

Other mycotoxins besides alcohol can also be introduced into these

beverages through the use of mold-contaminated grains and fruits.

Producers often use grains that are too contaminated with fungi and

mycotoxins to be used for table foods, so the risk is higher that

you are consuming more than just alcohol in your beverage (Council

for Agricultural Science and technology. Mycotoxins: Economic and

Health Risks. Task Force Report Number 116. CAST. Ames, IA. Nov

1989). Before you drink for the health of your heart, consider the

other possible risks of drinking. There are safer ways of consuming

antioxidants.

2. Corn

Corn is " universally contaminated " with fumonisin and other fungal

toxins such as aflatoxin, zearalenone and ochratoxin (Council for

Agricultural Science and Technology. Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant,

Animal and Human Systems. Task Force Report No. 139. Ames, IA. Jan

2003). Fumonisin and aflatoxin are known for their cancer-causing

effects, while zearalenone and ochratoxin cause estrogenic and

kidney-related problems, respectively. Just as corn is universally

contaminated with mycotoxins, our food supply seems to be

universally contaminated with corn--it's everywhere! A typical

chicken nugget at a fast food restaurant consists of a nugget of

corn-fed chicken that is covered by a corn-based batter that is

sweetened with corn syrup!

3. Wheat

Not only is wheat often contaminated with mycotoxins, but so are the

products made from wheat, like breads, cereals, pasta, etc. Pasta

may be the least- " offensive " form of grains since certain water-

soluble mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin), are

partially removed and discarded when you toss out the boiling water

that you cooked the pasta in. Unfortunately, traces of the more

harmful, heat-stable and fat-soluble mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin,

remain in the grain. Regarding breads--it probably doesn't matter if

it's organic, inorganic, sprouted, blessed or not--if it came from a

grain that has been stored for months in a silo, it stands the

chance of being contaminated with fungi and mycotoxins.

4. Barley

Similar to other grains that can be damaged by drought, floods and

harvesting and storage processes, barley is equally susceptible to

contamination by mycotoxin-producing fungi. Barley is used in the

production of various cereals and alcoholic beverages.

5. Sugar (sugar cane and sugar beets)

Not only are sugar cane and sugar beets often contaminated with

fungi and their associated fungi, but they, like the other grains,

fuel the growth of fungi. Fungi need carbohydrates--sugars--to

thrive.

6. Sorghum

Sorghum is used in a variety of grain-based products intended for

both humans and animals. It is also used in the production of

alcoholic beverages.

7. Peanuts

A 1993 study demonstrated 24 different types of fungi that colonized

the inside of the peanuts used in the report (Costantini, A.

Etiology and Prevention of Atherosclerosis. Fungalbionics

Series.1998/99). And this was after the exterior of the peanut was

sterilized! So, when you choose to eat peanuts, not only are you

potentially eating these molds, but also their mycotoxins.

Incidentally, in the same study the examiners found 23 different

fungi on the inside of corn kernels. That said, if you choose to

plant your own garden in an attempt to avoid mycotoxin contamination

of corn or peanuts, it does you no good if the seed (kernel) used to

plant your garden is already riddled with mold.

8. Rye

The same goes for rye as for wheat and other grains. In addition,

when we use wheat and rye to make bread, we add two other products

that compound our fungal concerns: sugar and yeast!

9. Cottonseed

Cottonseed is typically found in the oil form (cottonseed oil), but

is also used in the grain form for many animal foods. Many studies

show that cottonseed is highly and often contaminated with

mycotoxins.

10. Hard Cheeses

Here's a hint: if you see mold growing throughout your cheese, no

matter what you paid for it, there's a pretty good chance that

there's a mycotoxin not far from the mold. It is estimated that each

fungus on Earth produces up to three different mycotoxins. The total

number of mycotoxins known to date numbers in the thousands.

On the other hand, some cheeses, such as Gouda cheese, are made with

yogurt-type cultures, like Lactobacillus, and not fungi (Costantini,

1998/99). These cheeses are a much healthier alternative, fungally

speaking.

Naturally, with this list coming from a group that opposes eating

food that is merely contaminated with fungi, we'd certainly oppose

eating the fungus itself! That would include common table mushrooms

and so-called myco-protein food products.

Other foods that could potentially make our list are rice, oats and

beans, given that these too are sources of carbohydrates. And

occasionally food inspectors will come across a batch of mold-

contaminated rice or oats. However, all other things being equal,

these crops are generally more resistant to fungal contamination

(CAST 1989).

*Diseases caused by fungi and their mycotoxins (Costantini, A. et

al. The Garden of Eden Longevity Diet. Fungalbionics Series. 1998):

.. AIDS

.. Alcoholic cirrhosis

.. Alzheimer's

.. Amyloidosis

.. Anorexia Nervosa

.. Atherosclerosis

.. Balkan Nephropathy

.. Bechet's

.. Biliary cirrhosis

.. Cardiomyopathy

.. Crohn's disease

.. Cushing's disease

.. Diabetes

.. DIC

.. Muscular Dystrophy

.. Encephalopathy . Ergotism

.. Familial Mediterranean Fever

.. Gout

.. Heart failure

.. Hyperactivity Syndrome

.. Hyperaldosteronism

.. Hyperlipidemia (high lipids)

.. Hypertension

.. Infertility

.. IgA Nephropathy

.. Kidney stones

.. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

.. Inflammatory bowel disease

.. Mollaret's meningitis

.. Multiple Sclerosis

.. Nephritis (kidney inflammation) . Obesity

.. Osteoarthritis

.. Osteoporosis

.. Precocious puberty

.. Psoriasis

.. Pulmonary Hypertension

.. Raynaud's Syndrome/disease

.. Reye's syndrome

.. Rheumatoid Arthritis

.. Sarcoidosis

.. Scleroderma

.. Shoulder-hand syndrome

.. Thrombocytopenic purpura

.. (low platelets)

.. Vasculitis