The best place to begin in understanding what
fungi have to do with disease is to read the
following definitions.
Fungus (fungi, plural) defined:
1. A lower plant lacking chlorophyll which may
attack green plants: Mold, rust, mildew,
mushrooms and bacteria are fungi.
www.interiorgardens.com/glossary/glossary.html
2. ...Some grow in soil, others
attach themselves
to decaying trees and other plants whence they
obtain nutrients. Some are pathogens, others
stabilize sewage and digest composted waste.
www.stpetebeach.org/glossary/f.asp
3. A type of infection caused by
yeasts and molds. Common fungal infections in
people with HIV infection include candida
(thrush), cryptococcus, aspergillus, and
histoplasma.
www.thebody.com/hivnews/aidscare/dec97/pullout.htm
l
4. A plant-like organism that
cannot produce its
own food and so feed off other organisms to
survive the way parasites do.
www.pub.ac.za/resources/glossary.html
5. ...Some fungi are single-
celled but differ
from bacteria in that they have a distinct
nucleus and other cellular structures.
Reproduction is accomplished by spores. ...
www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/bridge.html
6. ...they feed themselves by
secreting digestive
enzymes that release organic molecules (that the
fungus then absorbs) from the tree, soil, or
organism it is in contact with.
www.earthandtable.com/glossary/plants/maladies/pat
hogens.html
7. ...About 50 species cause
disease in animals
and more than 10,000 species cause plant
diseases. Most of the more than 100,000 species
of fungi are beneficial and feed on dead plant
and animal matter which they help to decompose.
www.ipmalmanac.com/glossary/index.asp
SUMMARY
Fungi are parasitic germs that
live off of their
host and can cause disease. About 50 species
cause disease in animals and 10,000 species cause
diseases in the plants we eat, use for products,
and live around. They reproduce through spores.
They feed on the organism by excreting an enzyme
which breaks down the tissue or material it is
feeding on.
MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins are toxic
byproducts of fungi.
The following paragraphs are from
the department
of botany at Purdue University. For more about
mycotoxins in our food supply, with pictures of
aflotoxin on corn, go to this link:
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia
/BP
/BP-47.html
"Mycotoxins are toxic substances
produced by
fungi (molds) growing on grain, feed, or food in
the field or in storage. Mycotoxins may be
detrimental to the health of both animals and
humans. Although thousands of molds are capable
of growing on stored grain, only a few mold
species produce mycotoxins. There are many
different mycotoxins, but most are rare in
Midwest grain. In Indiana, the mycotoxins of
concern are: aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON or
sometimes called vomitoxin), zearalenone, and
fumonisin. All four of these mycotoxins are
associated with ear rot diseases."
"Aflatoxin is a potent liver
toxin and known to
cause cancer in animals. In swine, aflatoxin can
cause reduced weight gain, reduced ability to
resist diseases, hepatitis. and death. The Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) has established
action levels of 20 parts per billion (ppb) for
grain and feed products, and 0.5 ppb for milk.
Grain, feed, or milk containing aflatoxin at or
above these levels cannot be sold for food or
feed in interstate sales."
"Deoxynivalenol is also known as
vomitoxin or
DON. This mycotoxin causes reduced animal feeding
and weight gain (especially swine) at levels as
low as 1-3 parts per million (ppm). Vomiting and
total feed refusal does not occur until DON
concentrations are much higher (> 10 ppm). The
FDA has recommended that DON levels not exceed 1
ppm for human food."
"Zearalenone is an estrogenic
mycotoxin, and can
cause infertility, abortion or other breeding
problems when fed to swine. As little as 0.1 to 5
ppm zearalenone in a feed ration may produce
estrogenic syndrome in swine. Also, uterine
prolapse can occur in young pigs with
concentrations as low as 1 ppm zearalenone. There
have been no limits or recommended levels placed
on grain used for human consumption. Zearalenone
can be produced in preharvest corn or
wheat..."
"Fumonisin is a recently
discovered mycotoxin
that may be the cause of equine
leukoencephalomalacia (blind staggers) in horses,
donkeys and mules, and pulmonary edema in swine.
There is also evidence linking fumonisin to
cancer in humans. No restrictions are currently
placed on food because little is known about the
effects of fumonisin on humans. Fumonisin levels
in feed are recommended to be no higher than 5
ppm for horses, 10 ppm for swine, and 50 ppm for
cattle."
ANTIBIOTICS
"Molds also produce secondary
metabolites such as
antibiotics and mycotoxins (a poisonous substance
produced by a fungus). Sometimes it is possible
to isolate antibiotics from the molds themselves
in order to utilize some of their properties in
fighting infections.
Toxic conditions exist when a
human has exposure
to these mycotoxins---either through ingesting
mycotoxin-containing mold spores or with skin
contact to mold itself. Mycotoxins are nearly all
cytotoxic (substances produced by microorganisms
that are toxic to individual cells), which
disrupt various cellular structures such as
membranes, and interrupt important processes,
including protein, RNA and DNA synthesis.
Mycotoxins vary in how dangerous
they are for
humans. Mycotoxins pose a threat to larger
organisms not because they are specifically
targeting them, but rather because these large
organisms inadvertently come across the byproduct
of the competing molds all vying for the same
ecological niche. Numerous mold types produce
mycotoxins, including some found indoors in
contaminated homes and office buildings. Another
factor that determines the mycotoxins that are
produced by specific molds usually depends on the
materials or organisms that they grow on.
It used to be thought that
dangerous molds were
primarily contaminants in foods. This notion is
quickly changing. Recently, researchers have
become more concerned with multiple mycotoxins
that derive from many types of mold spores
growing in moist indoor environments. Health
effects from exposures to such mold mixtures can
differ from those related to single mycotoxins in
controlled laboratory exposures. Although it is
difficult to predict how exposure to multiple
toxigenic molds can affect an individual (they
can synergize the effects), the following
provides possible poor health effects from
mycotoxin exposure to multiple molds indoors.
- Problems with the vascular system. Increased
vascular fragility, possibility of hemorrhaging
into body tissues. Possible molds include
aflatoxin, satratoxin, roridins.
- Problems with digestive system. Diarrhea,
vomiting, intestinal hemorrhage, liver effects
(such as necrosis and fibrosis). Aflatoxin
results in deleterious effects on mucous
membranes.
- Problems with respiratory system. Including
respiratory distress, and bleeding from the
lungs.
- Problems with nervous system. Tremors, lack
of
coordination, depression, and headaches.
- Problems with cutaneous system. Symptoms
include
rash, burning sensation, and sloughing of
skin.
- Problems with urinary system.
- Problems with reproductive system. Including
infertility, changes in reproductive cycles, etc.
Many mycotoxins can produce changes or a
weakening of the immune system.
Unfortunately, not all types or
species of molds
have been tested for the presence of mycotoxins.
The production of toxins varies according to the
type of mold, the substrate on which it grows,
and seasons of the year."
http://www.toxic-mold-
news.com/toxic_mold/mold.html
"Antibiotics, which are potent
immuno-
suppressants, are prescribed for dozens of common
ailments. OK, fair enough... But, in the process
of killing the bacteria for which they are
prescribed, they also kill off all the friendly
lactobacteria in your intestines, severely
impairing digestion and assimilation of nutrients
at a time when your body needs them most.
At times the taking of
antibiotics can be
necessary, even life saving.
When we take them to kill off
infectious
bacteria, we also destroy large amounts of the
beneficial flora in our digestive tracts.
When bowel ecology becomes out of
balance health
problems can and usually almost always do develop
over the longer term. Serious health problems.
If you are not actively
replenishing your
intestinal bacteria after a dose of antibiotics,
both with supplements and contributing foods, you
indirectly are providing to the recurrence of
future health problems. An intestinal tract
devoid of friendly intestinal bacteria is
breeding ground for future illness."
http://www.hps-online.com/colon-
bacteria.htm
CONCLUSION
Contaminated grain supplies are
fed to animals
and humans at varying levels. Out of the fifty
species that are known to cause disease in humans
and animals, only a handful of fungi are tested
for in the United States.
This is why it is important that
we reduce our
exposure to these poisons by eating a diet rich
in grass fed, free range, antibiotic-free
animals, by avoiding foods that are universally
contaminated by fungi corn and peanuts, reducing
our consumption of other grains known to be
contaminated, eating fresh fruits and vegetables
(not overly ripe or bruised), and avoiding foods
and medicines made with fungi: antibiotics,
bakery and processed foods made with yeast,
cheeses, mushrooms, etc...
Because antibiotics reduce the
good bacteria in
the bowel, we need to replenish this healthy
bacteria with probiotics after years of abuse
caused by antibiotic use, pesticides, pollution,
and denatured, lifeless foods.
To overcome fungal infection, one
must modify
his/her diet so that it is fungus free and low in
carbohydrates (which fungi feed upon), such as
sugar, pasta, rice, fruit, juices. Then one
needs to add antifungal herbs & supplements
(purchased at health food stores or online) or
medications (prescribed by your doctor). More on
this in a future blog.
