What does mycotoxins do to your body?

What does mycotoxins do to your body?

Mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects and pose a serious health threat to both humans and livestock. The adverse health effects of mycotoxins range from acute poisoning to long-term effects such as immune deficiency and cancer.

How many mycotoxins are there?

300 mycotoxins
Presently, over 300 mycotoxins have been identified and reported; however, only a few regularly contaminate food and animal feedstuffs. These are aflatoxins (AF), ochratoxins (OT), fumonisins, patulin, zearalenone (ZEA), and trichothecenes including deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin [6,7].

How can I get mycotoxins out of my body?

Ideally, mycotoxins should be filtered out by the liver and then escorted out through urine or stool.

Why is mycotoxin a problem?

Mycotoxins have the potential for both acute and chronic health effects via ingestion, skin contact, inhalation, and entering the blood stream and lymphatic system. They inhibit protein synthesis, damage macrophage systems, inhibit particle clearance of the lung, and increase sensitivity to bacterial endotoxin.

Can mycotoxins cause diarrhea?

A: Mold makes you vomit because it contains a toxin called mycotoxin. This toxin causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and other symptoms. If you think you have been exposed to mold, call your doctor immediately.

What foods are associated with mycotoxins?

Foods most commonly known to be high in mycotoxins include:

  • Grains (including corn, wheat, barley and rye)
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Nuts (including peanuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts)
  • Sugar (sugar cane and sugar beets)
  • Hard cheeses.
  • Coffee beans.
  • Chocolate.
  • Dried fruit.

Can mycotoxins cause joint pain?

Some types of mold do produce toxic compounds, however, known as mycotoxins. It’s these compounds that can cause a myriad of medical problems, including joint pain.

Can mycotoxins be killed?

Mycotoxins aren’t actually alive like mold spores. When “killing mycotoxins” it really means breaking them down so they are no longer dangerous to humans. Extreme heat (fire at 500°F for half-hour) can destroy trichothecene mycotoxins. Ozone can kill most mycotoxins, but the level needed is not safe for humans.

How long does it take to detox from mycotoxins?

Indolent, chronic infections or exposures may take months to properly treat holistically and naturally but it can be done! Healing detox reactions should only last 2 weeks to a month at the longest, at which point, the patient breaks through and their body begins to positively react to treatment.

How common are mycotoxins in the food industry?

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that 25 per cent of the world’s food crops are significantly contaminated with mycotoxins. Currently, more than 100 countries have regulations regarding levels of mycotoxins in the food and feed industry.

What are the symptoms of mycotoxins?

Like mold spores themselves, mycotoxins are often airborne and enter your body through your respiratory tract. In the short term, this can cause a number of respiratory symptoms including asthma, allergies, sinus infections, and cold- and flu-like symptoms.

Why is mycotoxin contamination a concern in tropical regions?

Therefore, mycotoxin contamination is a major concern in tropical regions. Because the compounds are chemically stable under conditions usually present during food and feed processing, they are found in raw materials as well as in processed feedstuffs and foodstuffs.

What is the best citation for mycotoxin analysis?

Suggested citation: Kristine Wolf and Florian J. Schweigert (2018) Mycotoxin Analysis: A Focus on Rapid Methods. Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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