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Is Your Home Slowly Making You Sick? The Truth About Toxic Mould Exposure
33 Plays12 days ago
If you have been struggling with unexplained fatigue, brain fog, sinus issues, or mood changes and nothing seems to explain why, the answer might be hiding in the walls of your home.
In this episode of The Bean Talk, Rhiannon and Jeremy unpack one of the most commonly missed drivers of chronic illness: mould exposure. They explore how mycotoxins from hidden mould trigger inflammation, disrupt your immune system, and drive a wide range of symptoms that are so often dismissed or misdiagnosed.
In this episode, we cover:
- What mould is and why indoor exposure is so harmful
- The most common places mould hides in your home
- Symptoms of mould exposure and why they are so easy to miss
- What CIRS is and how it differs from a standard mould allergy
- Who is most genetically susceptible to mould illness
- How to test your home and your body for mould exposure
- Natural ways to remove and reduce mould in your environment
- How to begin supporting your body's detoxification and recovery
- When to call in a professional mould remediation specialist
- How naturopathic care can help you investigate and heal from mould illness
Connect with us:
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Website: www.mungbeanhealth.com
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The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before starting, changing, or stopping any supplements, medications, or health protocols to ensure they are appropriate for your individual needs.
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Transcript
Introduction to The Bean Talk
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to The Bean Talk with me Rhiannon, your fertility fairy godmother, joined by my trusted partner in life and in the mission of Mungbean Health, Jeremy. Here at Mungbean Health, we're on a mission to unlock the secrets of fertility and natural wellbeing one episode at a time.
00:00:23
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Bean Talk with Rhiannon and Jeremy. Hi guys and welcome back. We are excited to chat to you guys again and hopefully you've enjoyed listening.
Personal 'Bean' Stories and Natural Products
00:00:37
Speaker
We're going to change it up a little bit this time and talk about some different things. But let's do Little Bean and Big Bean first. yeah oh Let's say a Little Bean, for me, we're definitely cooking more foods to prepare for.
00:00:52
Speaker
labor and then preparing for postpartum as well. I'd say that's a big one. Trying to stock up the freezer. Got to stock up that freezer and make sure that you've got enough. So like I made a delicious, delicious lasagna that's got layers of eggplant, sweet potato, oh, sorry, pumpkin and zucchini and then meat as well in there. So I made one of those and then also just preparing getting ready in that department. so That's my little bean.
00:01:19
Speaker
What's your little bean? We got the natural cleaning products. I would say that's our big bean. But that's okay. We can. be my bank and well My big bean. Well, you can have that one. That's our big bean together. i mean both yeah My little bean was, we've got an olive plant at the back.
00:01:39
Speaker
yes It's quite big and it has a lot of olives on it at the moment. Very established. I've gone up and picked them all this morning. And we've probably got about three kilos of olives. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, so my mum's going prepare those. and Because they take weeks, I know. There's a lot of preparation in olives that people don't understand. There's lot hooking and then marinating. Changing the water every day and just like, yeah, making it taste good. A lot goes into it for when you just go and buy them in a glass container, right? Yeah. Our beginning, I would say we can do a joint one for that because we have sort of gone through our cleaning cupboard again and made sure that we are...
00:02:16
Speaker
really non-tox or low-tox. This is something that I always prioritise anyway. However, obviously with Bub coming and we have kids and everything, you know, sometimes little chemicals or different sprays and things can creep back in and it's good to do a little audit every now and then. You've probably heard me speak about this before. But we essentially just went through, had a good look and got some new brands, which ah One of the ones, well, not new brands, but just like, what did we have? We had, we do use a little bit of bleach for the bathrooms, but mainly apart from that, like for our toilet cleaner and our floor cleaner and dishwashing liquid, dishwashing tablets.
00:02:56
Speaker
What else is there? What other cleaning stuff? Glass cleaner, bathroom kitchen cleaner, all that we use all natural. So Eco Store.
00:03:07
Speaker
Yes. For dishwashing. Did a big order and washing powder as well. Did a big store. They've been around for a long time actually and they're really good and people like love them and they're quite affordable in the natural world because some of it can get very expensive. So yeah, we've got their washing powder. The lemon one's really good.
00:03:24
Speaker
We've got their dishwashing tablets. Thank God someone bought out natural dishwashing tablets. And the dishwashing liquid. Dishwashing liquid, yes. We've got that. We've also got their toilet cleaner.
00:03:36
Speaker
And then the floor cleaner, another brand that we use is... <unk>a Yes, Koala Eco. They're amazing as well. They're really nice. Their stuff smells amazing too. So does the Eco store, but the Koala, um the floor, i think they make like a peppermint floor one. It's like really nice as well. But yes,
Understanding Mold Exposure
00:03:55
Speaker
we have those. So we've been doing a little bit of an audit and we thought that was a good, it would be a good time to talk a little bit more around mold as well, because one mold exposure is very, very real. yeah and this type of weather where it's like hot and sticky and steamy in the humidity, yeah
00:04:14
Speaker
It grows, old growth it really does grow. So let's talk a little bit more about that. What is mold essentially? It's a type of fungus that thrives in moist, poorly ventilated environments.
00:04:31
Speaker
And in some cases, mycotoxins, which are chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled or absorbed, which no one wants to be absorbing or ah breathing in mold. Right.
00:04:42
Speaker
Mould is a natural part of the environment though, but indoor growth becomes a problem when it is trapped and essentially left unmanaged. are Not always is it visible. It can actually hide behind surfaces, in walls even, and become airborne without you even knowing. That's why lots of people get sick from their houses. Any cavity that's exposed to the outside can get mould in it, under floor, puppets, any flooring it can get under. bathroom Bathrooms, laundries. Yeah, where there's a lot of moisture. One place that always worries me is like the freestanding baths or the ones is like that wall down the back of the bath. Yeah.
00:05:20
Speaker
Hard to get places where moisture will be trapped. Yes, and the kids love to put water down there. Yeah. So mold can, yeah, absolutely be hiding exactly where Jeremy said, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, especially around tiles and grout and under the sinks. Inside air conditioners, so true. Got to clean them out because then you just turn it on and you're just breathing it all in.
00:05:42
Speaker
Ducted heating systems as well and even dehumidifiers. Also roof spaces behind walls, particularly where there's been a leak or water damage. Carpets, underlay, especially in older buildings or after flooding. Yes. Find wallpaper, furniture against walls in basements or poor ventilation. Yeah, even garages as well. Buildings don't need to look mouldy.
00:06:05
Speaker
Many old mould issues are hidden in... They can be chronic, essentially. They're just hidden. I guess it's like hidden behind things usually. But sometimes, don't they say with mold that when you can see the spores, it's like already too late yeah on food and stuff? for sure. Yeah, yeah, when you see those green ones, there's already molded.
00:06:25
Speaker
So it's like it was already there. For sure. You know how a bread goes so moldy all the time? And it's like you just, yeah, you pretty spot it and you're like, oh, there we go. You can't just cut off those bits.
00:06:36
Speaker
Cheese as well. Well, blue cheese has mould in it. It's delicious. Some moulds are good. Yes, some moulds are good Some moulds are good. But not the ones we're talking about today. They're quite harmful. Common symptoms associated with mold exposure can be very mild and vague or severe and causing lots of symptoms.
00:06:57
Speaker
They often overlap with other conditions as well. So things like chronic fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, which can obviously be pretty hard to pinpoint that it's from mold because that can also be like thyroid related or low iron or a number of other things. reoccurring sinus infections we see this a lot in clinics especially in kids nasal congestion or post nasal drip headaches migraines light or sound sensitivity yes skin irritation eczema or unexplained rashes mood changes like anxiety low mood irritability digestive issues like bloating food intolerance or ibs like symptoms And then hormonal as well. So hormonal disruptions and sleep issues and lowered stress tolerance, which is a big one there. So very much irritated or irritable. Symptoms often persist or fluctuate even after other treatments have been tried.
00:07:55
Speaker
So you've also got what's called chronic inflammatory response syndrome or CIRS. It's a multi-system, multi-symptom illness that caused by exposure to biotoxins, particularly from mould, as well as other environmental triggers like Lyme's disease, different types of other bacterias, cyanobacteria.
00:08:20
Speaker
um There's a couple of others as well. I know that Lyme's disease is carried by ticks. Yes, and which they didn't even, i don't know if in Australia they... They thought it was here. they Yeah, they they they didn't allow it or like, what's the word where you don't...
00:08:35
Speaker
didn't say that it's that like they didn't notify that it's that like they didn't they wouldn't acknowledge they wouldn't acknowledge is the word baby brain they wouldn't acknowledge that it was Lyme's disease for a lot of the time and I don't know if they are now but yeah some like UK and that they've definitely said yes it's a real thing I reckon it's here in Australia Yeah, oh, for sure it's here, but it was more like they wouldn't acknowledge it. Like, no, no, that's something else. Lyme is fake.
00:09:01
Speaker
um So it occurs when the immune system fails to regulate inflammation properly, leading to widespread ongoing immune activation. And remember, inflammation is the number one cause of disease. It's very important to be reducing that in any which way we can. CIRS is not a mold allergy. It's an inflammatory illness. that persists even after the mold is removed, if not treated correctly.
00:09:26
Speaker
Common features include ongoing fatigue, memory issues, disorientation, word finding problems, shortness of breath, temperature regulation issues, static shocks as well, which is an interesting symptom, muscle pain, sensitivities to chemicals, light, noise, or even food. Yeah, it ranges quite extensive, all the symptoms that associate mould. I know, it is. Someone could be like, no, it's just these, you're dehydrated, but really. Say, I guess you would do the differentials and go and look and say, okay, well, your thyroid's actually fine, but you've still got all these symptoms.
00:10:04
Speaker
Is there any mold in the house or yeah your nutrients are actually looking pretty good, but you've got all these symptoms. Have you thought about mold in the house? We have a lot of clients that come to us already that are like, I think mold is causing issue or there so much mold in my house. I want to get out of there.
00:10:18
Speaker
yeah So it's often associated with genetic predisposition, people with a certain HLA DR gene. um They're less able to actually clear mold toxins efficiently, unfortunately.
00:10:33
Speaker
Diagnosis is complex and usually involves a combination of symptom scoring, blood markers, and history of exposure as well. CIRS can be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression or autoimmune if not properly investigated. Yes, and they're hard ones because you know you probably are anxious and depressed because you're not feeling right and you've got there all these symptoms of the CIRS and then You have to get someone who's going to listen to I guess this is where um complementary care is going to help because a naturopath is going to understand and listen. And then we're obviously going to be able to get a diagnosis from a doctor.
00:11:15
Speaker
Who is most affected by
Testing for Mold Exposure
00:11:17
Speaker
mold? Anyone exposed to mold can be affected, but some people are far more sensitive. So those at the higher risk include people with that HLA disease. DR gene variants that impair the toxin clearance. About 25% of the population have that gene, which is interesting.
00:11:34
Speaker
Children and the elderly due to undeveloped or weakened immune systems. Yes, kids and elderly is always hard. Also those with asthma, allergies or existing immune dysfunction. People with chronic inflammatory conditions or autoimmune disease. Yes, because they're already again weakened in a way, they're predisposed. Or those living or working in damp or water damaged buildings. Not good. Often one person in the household may be very symptomatic while the others seem unaffected, which makes it confusing and hard. They're like, why am I sick all the time? If it was mold, we'd both be sick. This is usually due to the genetic issues and the immune difference differences in everybody.
00:12:14
Speaker
Testing for mold exposure. So you got environmental testing. The first step is identifying whether mold is present in the home or the workplace or somewhere that you frequent.
00:12:24
Speaker
DIY options exist. So you can swab or do air testing kits, but results may be limited or inaccurate. Professional mold assessors use air sampling, moisture meters, infrared cameras, tape lifts or surface sampling, ERMI or HERTE. SMI2, which are different types of tests. They're dust analysis based or DNA mold typing.
00:12:52
Speaker
Personal testing. So that's what you'd look at after the environmental testing. Yeah. Testing helps determine how your body is reacting to mold exposure. Options include mycotoxins, urine testing to detect mold toxins in the body, blood tests or in inflammatory markers. Yeah. So you really want to check in on those inflammatory markers. There's a number of different ones, TGFB1, C4A, MMP9, VEGF or VIP.
00:13:22
Speaker
Then you've also got that gene testing for the HLA-DR, which is going to assess susceptibility to CIRS. Functional gut testing, liver detox markers and oxidative stress may also be useful. Totally. Checking in on the whole picture, which obviously is naturopaths, that's what we do.
00:13:41
Speaker
What do you do if you're affected by mold?
Mold Removal and Health Recovery
00:13:44
Speaker
Firstly, identify and remove the source. You cannot fully heal if you're still being exposed to the mold. So for small localized issues, use natural mold treatments like clove oil or vinegar. Always wear protective gear, mask and gloves, ventilate really well and dry the area thoroughly. Very important.
00:14:04
Speaker
For widespread or longstanding issues, engage a professional mold mediation specialist yes so get someone who's professional Improper DIY ah cleaning can make things worse by releasing more spores. You want to be doing it right. Like if you've got it in the walls, you need professional help. You can't tackle that yourself, especially if there's a leak because you'd want to stop the leak. Exactly, like roof leak or some sort of plumbing leak.
00:14:29
Speaker
Flat roofs, not good. Reduce exposure and support the body as well. So leave the space if exposed, sorry, if exposure is high and symptoms are severe. So don't be...
00:14:41
Speaker
living in a house that's, if you can, if it's within your scope, scope Get out of there. And if you can't, make sure every day you open the windows up, let as much sunlight in as possible. Yes. Start just cleaning a lot more vacuuming and cleaning. Just getting clean, just more down natural clove, more natural vinegar, more natural products and just like doing your best. I've also had clients that have like closed off because they couldn't afford to move at that point, which is totally fair, or they're still in a rental and they had to like rent, you know what I mean, do the end of the lease. They closed off like one section of the house where they wouldn't go, which is really not ideal at all. But if that's the only option. Yeah. It was just to get away from it, especially with kids and stuff as well.
00:15:26
Speaker
So also begin supporting detoxification pathways, gut health, immune regulation and inflammation as well. Treatment is not one size fits all and depends on genetic symptoms or level of exposure. So yes, be mindful of that. And with a naturopath, we can support you through that and what that looks like.
00:15:42
Speaker
This might also include working with your naturopath or practitioner on things like binders, anti-inflammatories, detox support and nervous system regulation, which we'll actually talk a little bit more about in some future episodes.
00:15:57
Speaker
Mold illness is real. I suppose that's a good thing to note as well, because a lot of people feel like they're going crazy. And this is because when you go to a GP or a doctor, often they will dismiss your symptoms and your feelings. And they'll be like oh, you're just anxious. Oh, you're just depressed. Like it's not the mold. Whereas like as naturopaths, we know how real the mold can be and how much it can affect you.
00:16:19
Speaker
So it's often real, it's always real, but it's often complex and often missed and looked over. But with the right knowledge, the testing and the support, recovery is absolutely
Consultations and Support from Mungbean Health
00:16:30
Speaker
possible. If you suspect suspect that there is mould in the house or in your workplace, or it might be playing a role in your health, it's important to look at both your environment and your body's response to it, not just one or the other. Want to help investigating this further?
00:16:46
Speaker
Book a consultation to begin assessing environmental triggers and building a personalized recovery plan. We would love to help you. So reach out to us if you do feel like any of these symptoms are happening to you, whether it is from mold or not, we can help, but we will help assess that root cause issue. You can reach out www.mungbeanhealth.com.
00:17:08
Speaker
Instagram is at mungbean underscore health, M-U-N-G-B-E-A-N underscore health. Same as on TikTok. And we can't wait to hear from you. Thanks for listening.
00:17:21
Speaker
Bye. Bye.
00:17:30
Speaker
And that's a wrap on today's dose of wellness. I'm Rhiannon, your fertility fairy godmother. Thank you for joining us. Stay connected with us on Instagram at mungbin underscore health.