Bye, Bye Weight

Here's a little story:

Approximately thirty years ago, a man named Doug Kaufmann started taking the fungus and disease correlation quite seriously, and because of him, and the resolve of many other pioneer fungal experts, research on the subject has become more prevalent, and interest is finally webbing outside of the tiny community. The frustration of chronically sick people receiving the same answers from mainstream healthcare professionals, has also created a backlash of determined knowledge collectors with independence to taking their health into their own hands.

Fungal-related disease today should be a commonplace consideration for anyone who has become discouraged in the lax response to finding a solution to a condition or disease. Those who are frustrated over weight loss and the constant dieting road blocks are no different. All that is needed is an alternate approach to weight loss than the past. If you think about it, your body has been exposed to many elements throughout its life, some more than others depending on choices that were made, foods eaten, environments lived in. There is so much that has built up internally, no wonder it rebels in the form of disease.

As Dr. David Holland explains in Doug Kaufmann's book, The Fungus Link, volume 2, Tracking the cause, "...to lose weight, you need to consider both weight training and doing something aerobic....And, you need to cut down on the amount of grains and fatty meats you eat." Dr. Hollands reason for cutting down on grains and fatty meats? Farmers feed their livestock grains, which are carbohydrates, to fatten them, and give them antibiotics when the livestock are sick. Grains and the antibiotics feed fungus in the livestock, then we eat the livestock. Some of that fungus enters us through consumption, and the same goes for having a diet high in carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates role is feeding the fungus we have already consumed or ingested. The amount of fungus differs per person, however, and its safe to presume, through research, that the more overweight, the higher the fungal content in a persons body.

An alternative solution to combat weight would be:

• Decrease carbohydrates and simple sugars, foods contaminated with mycotoxins or fungus, foods containing yeast or yeast products;
• Take antifungal supplements, such as probiotics (to build the health of the gut), olive leaf extract (at least 16% oleuropein content), caprylic acid, oil of oregano, curcumin, apple cider vinegar, garlic, grapefruit seed extract, a good multivitamin/multimineral, and dietary fiber;
• Exercise regularly, according to what a healthcare professional would recommend.

With all these suggestions in place, a good support system, and determination, you'll be on your way to feeling good in a matter of weeks. The transformation in physical and mental health will amaze you, and think of the years added to your life!

WHO says!

Here's something to mull over. The World Health Organization openly says the world needs food security and food safety. Food safety plays a huge role in nutrition, improved health, functionality and economic status in the international population, especially in countries where grains, nuts, spices, milk, and meat are the primary food sources and primary exports. The potential for these countries to physically and economically thrive unfortunately relies on the weather and quantity of food that becomes contaminated. In any given year a food source could devastate hundreds of people and reduce much needed income for a country.

The number of people exposed to aflatoxin contaminated food in developing countries is daunting - 5 billion. Yes, BILLION! There are many practices in agriculture that can prevent aflatoxin occurrence, however, there are certain natural incidents that are uncontrollable - amount of insect infestation, severe weather, temperature changes, soil content, humidity and conditions for crop drying.

Much evidence shows chronic aflatoxin exposure may lead to impaired immunity, reduction of nutrient absorption, and decreased growth in humans and animals, and have a negative influence in people with malaria and HIV/AIDS. Also, aflatoxin may heighten susceptibility to a larger number of diseases.

Unfortunately, there are no standard international regulations to the content of toxins in crops, but there are procedures starting with preharvest that should be followed to keep levels low. Any programs to prevent and raise awareness of toxicity in crops should be available to all farmers, too. This always takes time and money, but in the long run will decrease the prevalence of aflatoxin poisoning in humans and animals.

If you'd like more to read on mycotoxins in our food, just look on the WHO (World Health Organization) website:

Mycotoxins in Food

Air to Crops to Humans

Grain crops have been associated with fungal disease for many years. Each type of grain seems to have its own battle against specific fungal disease, the rye plant with ergot poisoning, and the wheat plant with fungal head blight. There are also the fungal diseases carried by insects that infect plants in the fields and grain in storage areas. All of these can produce mycotoxins harmful to humans.

Fungal head blight, or Fusarium Head Blight, has been occurring on spring and winter crops of wheat, barley and durum in North Dakota and other areas of the United States. Yield of these crops are significantly reduced because blight can not be contained to a particular part of the plant or one section of a field. The wind rapidly spreads the spores of the fungus from crop to crop, or from flower to flower, rendering all exposed plants useless.

Insects may also carry viruses and fungal diseases from plant to plant, leaving traces of the disease anywhere it lands. Aphids are particularly harmful to crops by sucking the juices out of the plant, drying it up and taking the majority of nutrients, also spreading disease.

The majority of farmers in recent years have practiced a combination of preventative steps to prevent transmission of disease in grain crops - planting the most resistant type of grain, rotating crops, tilling to bury effected plant particles, planting high-quality seeds, and alternating planting times. This certainly decreases risk of acquiring contaminated grain products but is not full-proof.

Even though harmful effects of toxins in grain has been greatly reduced over the years, on occasion some may slip through the cracks of quality control and end up in a food product. Buying organic foods is probably the best decision to avoid potential consumption of grain products contaminated with fungus.

Moist Living

In general, moisture in the home, office or public building should be balanced like many other areas in life. There are living and working environments that should be checked for oversaturation - bathrooms, basements, dark corners, laundry rooms, kitchens. These are the most obvious. Moisture can also accumulate where a structure is weakest or creates an unusual juncture, such as where two sections of the roof meet, creating leaf or ice buildup, harboring moisture. A crack in the external or internal part of the home may also be a magnet for water to settle without notice until someone becomes sick or the discoloration of mold develops.

Environmental conditions play a huge role in whether a building ranks high for moisture. Questions to ask yourself are: Do I live or work in a humid climate? Has there been a flood, hurricane or other storm that has affected the building? Has there been a plumbing leak anywhere in the building? Does the building receive adequate ventilation? Is the measured humidity between 30 and 60 percent?

These are all concerns. Look in susceptible areas for moisture and mold. If there is mold, a percentage of it has affected the air quality and has been inhaled. Wear a face mask if mold is significant before cleaning these areas thoroughly with detergent and water, then dry completely. Extreme moisture and mold may require expert removal so concentration of airborne particulates don't increase and cause health problems.

Some of the health problems from mold are from mycotoxins produced, and appear as lack of energy and appetite, changes in sleep patterns, and changes in the senses. These minor health problems may lead to larger conditions if the mold is not taken care of properly. The immune system becomes weaker as more mold and mycotoxins build in the body.

There will never be an answer to how much mold contributes to our health, but there has been enough evidence to say mold attacks healthy human beings according to the amount of mold present in a building. A number of episodes of 'House', a medical television show, ended with a patient's diagnosis of ill health due to exposure to moldy conditions. Even mainstream t.v. can see that 'moist living' is detrimental to human health.