by Taetske | 3:00 pm
(Last Updated On: June 25, 2021)

 

How Mold can affect your overall health and also your brain

 

When we think about food, all of us know that mildew on products is not good. Most of the time you will throw it away. The only place we like to see it is on that strong-smelling cheese, which tastes so great with a glass of wine.

All the rest is no good, and every year we throw away tons of food because of mildew. Even in your fridge things can go bad and then one should clean carefully so no other foods are contaminated.

 

Cabrales Cheese with blue mold

Cabrales Cheese with blue mold image PDPhotos

 

Mold releases toxins and spores

Mold, also known as black mold, is dangerous for your health. It is a toxin that releases toxic gas and spores into the air, and can then enter your body through your skin or the air you breathe.

These toxic gases can cause grave disturbances in your organs and also your brain. The symptoms are often wrongly diagnosed as being allergies or similar, but the real mold infections can attack your cognitive function, especially in the frontal cortical area.

 

Modern building materials for houses

In old times, the way of building houses differed greatly from today. In those times more natural products and building materials were used and for sure the houses were not airtight, causing some healthy ventilation.

Originally, plaster was used for the walls, but gypsum-based drywall replaced this process in the 1950s. This made houses more airtight and more energy-efficient, but it allowed mold more to appear, infecting many people with strange symptoms.

 

 

Beware of Mold Infection Symptoms

The list of Mold Infection Symptoms or Mold Toxicity is rather long, I will name a few:

Digestive issues
Muscle weakness
Vertigo
Breathing Problems
Psychological distress
Mental Fog

To have brain fog is really not normal. You should not have it if you are in your forties, fifties, sixties, and neither in your seventies. If you have the feeling of having this, then it is time to do something about it. Our modern lifestyle helps neither with poor diets, chronic stress, lack of sleep, too much alcohol and other drugs.

To feed your brain the right food aside from other healthy lifestyle things is to give it the right kind of fats. Plenty of Omega-3, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and also Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as DHA make up for a big part of the gray matter of the brain.

 

Mold Growth

Mold Growth image Pete Linforth

 

All molds are dangerous

All molds have the potential to make you sick. Doctors, in general, will not think and neither check for mold when you arrive at their practice with, call them, a vague kind of symptoms.

You might find mold in different places in your house. The visible mold might be in your bathroom or kitchen.

The invisible mold could very well be nested in your walls, under carpets or appliances, or around windows hidden in the wood. Often people think that if they apply a fresh coat of paint over and on the problem, they solve it. We do not solve it like that. It is only covered and its negative influence is still affecting you.

 

A helpful guide

In this guide, a prominent air quality professional together with a writing specialist will explain mold. The why it appears in your home and stays there and giving helpful tips on how to get rid of it.

You also have a chapter where 2 physicians explain in detail the health risks. A book you should not miss if you care about your health and the health of your loved ones.

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Take special care of your kids and pets

Children and house pets also suffer the consequence of living in a place with mold, their health will diminish. When you move to a mold-free place, you have to take care not to let the spores of that mold in your old place move with you. A high–quality air purifier could be of help to reduce your exposure to mold toxins.

 

Some natural ways to get rid of mold

Luckily there are quite a few natural, non-toxic ways to take up the battle against mold yourself.

I prefer natural substances, as in your house might be living children and pets. Of course, if the mold has spread all over, it will be better to go and live somewhere else. These tips are meant if you detect mold for the first time in your house in small areas.

Vinegar
Put it in a spray bottle and best do not dilute it with water. The smell might not be pleasant to some people but will disappear when airing well. It kills up to 80% of the mold and when sprayed on a surface and left to dry, it will prevent the appearance of mold.

Baking Soda
You can use this in a vinegar/water solution or just mix baking soda with water. Just let it sit for some time. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth. The smell is more pleasant than vinegar for some people.

Hydrogen peroxide
Here you have the other method to get rid of the dangerous mold with a natural product. You have to spray three percent hydrogen peroxide from a bottle straight on the affected area. Best leave it for some 15 minutes, scrub it clean and wipe with a damp cloth.

 

Rotten Lemon

Rotten Lemon image Dimitrus Vetsikas

 

If the area is too big to do it on your own, you might want to call a specialized company. Search for a company that does a before and after treatment test. Then check that they only use non-toxic solution which is not harmful to people and animals.

 

Far-reaching consequences of a Hurricane

Just an afterthought. After Hurricane Katrina, many people moved back to their houses, which had been standing in water for many weeks. Time later people started feeling sick, but doctors never traced it back to mold.

Now there are more devastating hurricanes on their way and the situation only repeats itself. Don’t take it lightly, the mold is dangerous to your health with long-lasting serious effects for you, your family, and your pets.

 

Update on Mold and its uncanny ways

In my post I have told you about the dangers mold presents to your health. One starts feeling “strange” with symptoms that are often wrongly diagnosed by your doctor. Visible Mold is not too bad as there are natural cleaning methods, it is the invisible Mold, hidden in walls, under the floor, or inside of a window frame that is the dangerous one.

Recently there have been enormous hurricanes with the name of Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria, and more are likely to follow. Up till now, they have flooded thousands upon thousands of homes. Houses were standing with waist-high and sometimes even ceiling-high water for weeks on end.

The walls and window frames soak up this water and it takes again weeks to be apparently dry again. In the meantime mold is forming in these invisible places, growing every day and giving off toxic fumes one cannot see.

Over time, it will cause severe health problems. Probably most people have no choice but to go back to their home, but I hope you will at least have the possibility to have your house checked by a specialized company. In case they find your house full of invisible Mold, you might take into consideration to move if you can.

I have been following Dr. Tom O’Brien for some time now. Please have a look at this video. You should be informed about this.

 

 

Before you leave, have a look at the collection of things I like and find interesting. You might like to visit Recommendations.

 

Source: Dr. Tom O, Bryan

Photo Source: Pixabay

 

There is something you need to know. Do not use Frontline as it is toxic for your pets. Perhaps you are interested to read the following post.

BEWARE OF FRONTLINE ! Your pets are in serious danger.

Comments

ariel

Thank you so very much for writing this incredibly thorough article. I know from personal experience how dangerous mold can be. I think many people are not aware of how harmful the affects are and just don’t pay attention. This is a very serious problem and I am so grateful you addressed it. I loved all your solutions. When I called in a mold specialist they only wanted to use chemicals! Great job and thanks,ariel

Sep 21.2017 | 08:30 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Ariel,

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my website. Yes, this mold is a very serious issue too few people know about. I know there are good companies who tackle mold the “green” way but if one has the possibility to move I would do it. In a few days, I will add a piece plus a video which I think might be of your interest. I normally publish late Monday afternoon. I do hope you were able to overcome any problems caused by being in contact with the mold.

    Regards, Taetske

    Sep 22.2017 | 06:40 pm

Lauren Kinghorn

Hi Taetske, thanks so much for this informative post. What an eye-opener! We definitely have mould in our bathroom and are constantly cleaning the mould we can see and reach easily with harsh mould-busting chemicals. Great to know we can also use vinegar and bicarb and hydrogen peroxide. Very concerned now about the mould we cannot see or access. Perhaps an air purifier is the answer. Thanks for mentioning that. We live very close to the sea, does the sea air make mould problems better or worse?

Nov 03.2017 | 04:56 pm

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Lauren,

    Thank you for reading my post. Living close to the sea, of course, does create humid air more often than inland, that at least is like that where I live. It also depends on how your house is built. Here in Spain normally stones and cement are used so the problem is less than if you have a wooden house or some other more modern material for walls. An air purifier is a good idea in case you are worried but I would have my house checked first. Perhaps you do not have anything to worry about to start with.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 03.2017 | 05:52 pm

Florence Ki

Thanks for sharing such useful information. I found your article while I was researching for ways to clean up stubborn mold. I didn’t know that mold can cause so much damage to a person’s body. Do you know any precise method to diagnose illness caused by mold? I’ve been having very gassy stomach these few months. Is this really one of the symptom too? 

Jan 17.2019 | 04:56 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Florence,

    I am not a doctor but I do not think it will cause a gassy stomach. You can ask your doctor to have a special blood test made. Perhaps you also check your home with a kit for mold detection. The mold which forms between tiles in a bathroom does not look good but is easily cleaned. It is the hidden mold which posses the biggest risk.

    Thank you for your comment, hope to see you again.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 17.2019 | 08:29 pm

Jerimy

I knew mold was bad, but I still learned a lot from this article. For instance, the natural remedies. I would have thought that bleach was needed or something more severe! I also learned about the differences in home building, which affects mold growth.

I wonder, is there a test kit that I can buy to test my place for hidden mold?

Thanks again for this important information.

-J

Jan 17.2019 | 05:04 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Jerimy,

    Thank you for your visit and leaving a comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    Yes, there are do it your self kits where you can test if you have mold in your house, I have put one on my post.

    If you suspect there might be mold in your place it is a good idea to do something about it as the negative effects on your health are big.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 17.2019 | 08:16 pm

Netta

Thanks for your post about mold and mildew, Taetske.  

As a residential property manager, I’m well-aware of the problems it can cause for the people living in houses affected by it.  One of my current tenants had to move out of a house he used to rent because the strong presence of mold in a closed-off section of the lower part of the house aggravated his heart condition, causing his weak heart to de-fibrillate and beat arrhythmically.  Scary.  

Mitigating mold does seem to be heavy on the chemicals.  In worst-case scenarios, the wood needs to be removed and replaced by people doing their work in haz-mat suits.  

However, using dehumidifiers, regular use of humectants (crystalline stuff that sucks moisture out of the air in out-of-the-way places like closets and under-cabinet spaces) as well as good ventilation does help tremendously in preventing the formation of mold.  Keeping air flowing through a house is a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing walls and floors!

Jan 17.2019 | 05:08 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Netta,

    I have rented the house of my Mother for 5 years. During the first 3 years, there was no problem. One year later there is mold behind the wood paneling. The renter has health problems. He confessed to not have aired in an intelligent way. In the bedroom, beside the entrance door is a window on one side and a big sliding door on the other.

    On the other wall are 2 doors. One to the bathroom which has a window and the other to the walk-in closet with a window. The bedroom has wood paneling. If you take a shower or bath with the door open but all the rest closed mold will be your reward. This house was build in 1990 and many different people live there after my Mother died. 

    I can tell you I am quite cross but wait till they move out. I will have to take the paneling off and redo the walls, a big job. I live in a 180-years-old farmhouse with thick walls and small windows. In the winter I air during midday and during summer it gets done early morning before the big heat.

    Thank you for your comment, hope to see you again.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 17.2019 | 08:05 pm

Lynne Huysamen

Mold can be deadly as I understand it and it can be very hard to get rid of mold. I believe that in some countries if a home has mold in it then it will be considered such a health hazard by the authorities and deemed unfit to live in. 

Thank you for these great natural ways to get rid of mold. My favorite is vinegar since I always have it in my home. It has so many other amazing uses in the home making it my number one cleaning product. 

Apr 21.2019 | 06:50 am

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Lynne,

    Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    A lot of people are not informed about the health hazards mold can cause in their lives. I also prefer natural things and natural foods, like that we can maintain our health for sure.

    Regards, Taetske

    Apr 21.2019 | 02:13 pm

GARRY NEWBY

Hi there I have lived in a house that had problems with mould and I remember that my daughter used to get regular colds and they started to lessen when we moved out of the house with the mould problems. I’m glad you’ve written a post that raises the dangers of mould as it isn’t something to be taken lightly 

p.s.The advice you’ve given about tackling mould with house hold items is great just wish I had this knowledge before as it would of been really helpful

Apr 21.2019 | 07:00 am

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Garry,

    Thank you for your comment on my post. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    I hope my household tips will help you to battle an outbreak of mold in your house in the future. Health is one of the most precious things in the world and we should do our utmost best to keep it. 

    Regards, Taetske

    Apr 21.2019 | 03:36 pm

Dave Sweney

This is a subject that is important because mold can really make you sick. How to get rid of the mold is something everyone needs to learn about. In every house I have lived in, it has been a problem, especially in damp areas like the laundry rooms, the bathrooms, and even in the basements.

Over the years, I have used a variety of solutions to include special cleaning products that have cost a lot. The best ones seem to be not the most expensive ones. The suggestions that you have included are all good and not expensive. Of the options you mention, hydrogen peroxide is the one I use most often. 

It is a constant battle, but one that is worth keeping up with. I have a grandson who is really sensitive to molds of any kind, so we are very vigilant in keeping after the molds whenever they pop up. If you don’t the mold can also get into the grout and corner sealants and will stain it.

Good post and an important subject. In these days of houses that are sealed like never before for energy savings, mold is worse than ever. Thanks for your excellent advice!  

 

Apr 21.2019 | 07:01 am

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Dave,

    Sorry to hear you had bad luck with your houses. I live on an old farm and the walls are painted with whitewash. Only in the bathrooms, I have paint. There was a bit of mold there over time but it has been taken care of plus an extractor has been installed. I do have a window but it seems it was not enough.

    I know modern houses suffer more mold problems as the building materials are more synthetic and cannot breathe. I love to air my house every day. In the summer early morning and evening and then in the winter at midday.

    Thank you for your comment. Hope to see you again.

    Regards, Taetske

    Apr 21.2019 | 04:18 pm

Jay

This post is extremely important. The issue I have with mold is that the visible ones can be easily taken care of. It is the invisible ones that normally cause problem because they are invisible I cannot personally get rid of them. The only way to do this is to hire a specialist but that normally costs money and is not cheap.

I know we should always put our health first before money but the cost of mold specialist that takes care of these issues doesn’t come cheap. Whatever the case may be I am really glad I came across this post and now I know more about this problem and would have to regularly get my house checked even if it costs some money. 

Apr 21.2019 | 07:02 am

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Jay,

    Nice to see you again. Thank you for your comment.

    It definitely is a good thing to check your house regularly if you see any mold. Our health is so important and mold could cause serious ailments. I know those companies do not come cheap but it will be well worth the investment.

    Regards, Taetske

    Apr 21.2019 | 03:57 pm

Nath

Thank you for sharing this  article. Honestly, I have never taken mold seriously before. I never even thought it could be dangerous or harmful to us. What you have shared here however has opened my eyes. I will definitely note all the information and use the tips you listed in ensuring I can rid my house of this danger.

Sep 22.2020 | 02:22 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Nathaniel,

    Thank you for your comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    It definitely is a good idea to check your house on mold. In case your house was flooded, it would be good to ask a specialized company to do a check for hidden mold. Without good health, one cannot enjoy life.

    Regards, Taetske

    Sep 23.2020 | 06:30 am

Bruce

90% of what affects us as humans are because of what we consume and eat. This is why we need to always take care of our food and drinks in such a way that molds and other dangerous things won’t get to it. Thanks for sharing, this. It will help me a lot and so it’ll help others too. I look forward to seeing more of this.

Sep 22.2020 | 02:23 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Bruce,

    Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    It is good to be informed about mold and the consequences for your health. Many people suffer but do not know why.

    Regards, Taetske  

    Sep 23.2020 | 06:09 am

Suz

I have never personally had any issues with mold but I have heard that a number of people have which is not really nice. I know for sure that mold is toxic but I didn’t know the seriousness of the issue. Now that you have shared this, I understand more about mold and it’s dangers all thanks to you. I really love to know though, how it affects the digestive system.

Sep 22.2020 | 02:24 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Susan,

    Mold is a serious issue and people suffer from health conditions and do not know why. You ask me if mold can affect the digestive system. Yes, it can. Mold can cause diarrhea and upset stomach and eventually lead to leaky gut. That is one of the reasons why you should check your house for mold. It will affect you and everybody living there.

    Thank you for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske.

    Sep 23.2020 | 06:16 am

Afton Jackson

Thank you so much for clarifying that all types of molds, even the invisible ones, are dangerous. This makes perfect sense as to why even the slightest amount that my brother found in his bathroom ended up causing a great deal of sneezing when we visited his house for Christmas. I’ll help him find a mold removal service that can stop by his place so they can get rid of it right away.

Jan 06.2021 | 11:41 pm

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Afton,

    Thank you for your visit and for your comment.
    The situation you describe could very well be caused by mold. The mold you see in the bathroom is often the less dangerous one. The mold hiding in places like walls etc. is the harmful one and can damage your health. The one you cannot see and therefor do not know about is the one that needs checking.

    I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 07.2021 | 05:26 pm

Zachary Tomlinson

Thanks for helping me understand that molds are dangerous materials that could cause serious infections. My colleague mentioned that he plans to purchase a World War 2-era house as his retirement home. Maybe he should consider having it inspected for mold before finalizing anything.

Sep 16.2021 | 12:00 am

    Taetske

    Good Morning Zachary,

    Thank you for stopping by and for leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    A World War 2-era house is rather old. This house has seen a lot of history and has been through a lot of ups and downs weather-wise. I think it is definitely a good idea to check for mold. Your friend plans it as his retirement home and the environment he lives in is of utmost importance to his health.

    Getting older does not mean you surely going to suffer from ailments. But you have to take care of your lifestyle, food, and environment. Many people do not realize the importance of clean air and water, and all the rest.

    If it were my house I would also check for radiation.

    Regards, Taetske

    Sep 16.2021 | 06:06 am

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