We have recently experienced one of the greatest natural disasters of all time in the United States and that is the flood and storm brought on by Hurricane Harvey. While many of us have been fortunate enough to witness little to no damage, the greater parts of Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur are not so fortunate. These cities have witnessed not only record-breaking floods, but life-altering damage, too. While one home may have only gotten a few inches of water inside, a few blocks over another house was completely submerged almost to the roof. The stories and images of this hurricane are those that will go down in history as the most catastrophic of all time.
What’s also important to note are the health consequences that follow a flood as severe as Harvey. Sheetrock, carpet and doors are soaked with floodwaters for days and once it’s dried up, there is only one expectation: MOLD.
Mold is a longer-term issue that will quickly become a problem once flood waters begin to recede because when anything is submerged in any amount of water for any amount of time, such as our city, a brand new ecosystem is developed and it comes in the form of fungus. This fungal growth will begin changing the overall health of our city one person at a time and it can be deadly.
I’m not trying to use any sort of a scare tactic, but what I am trying to do is be realistic and educational when it comes to this topic as it is something that will soon become a reality for many of us.
The Health Consequences of Mold
Living or working in a space that is contaminated with mold is not only a nuisance, but it causes a host of health issues; issues that can be completely avoidable, such as:
- Adrenal fatigue
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Depression
- Headaches
- Inflammation
- Mood disorders
- Respiratory issues
- Thyroid disorders
- Weakened immune system
As if this isn’t enough, mold can cause toxicity. In fact, it is said that some mold can be more toxic than plasticizers and pesticides and because of this, it can play a huge role in hormonal imbalance.
Mold can affect your hormones in a way that it puts added stress on your adrenal glands, causing a spike in cortisol levels. Additionally, mold mimics estrogen. Too much estrogen causes estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency, which causes not only an imbalance in your hormones but also a whole host of health issues, such as weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, depression and so much more.
What You Can Do If You Suspect You’ve Been Exposed to Mold
It is so important that sheetrock, carpet, cabinets, doors and baseboards that have been submerged in any amount of water, be it 5 inches or 5 feet, be removed completely and rebuilt rather than testing for mold levels. Why? Because mold is nearly inevitable in this type of scenario and to be honest, it is not worth your health to expose yourself to it.
You can also detox your body from mold by eating detoxifying foods, such as beets, berries, grapefruits and dandelion greens. Follow a routine detox program, such as the 14-Day Detox Program and routinely take supplements that support your liver and the body’s normally occurring detoxification system, such as Vitamin C, Liver Support, and milk thistle.
Clean out your blood and liver with glutathione IV therapy. Glutathione is a highly potent antioxidant that actually aids in protecting the cells of the body from harmful toxins. It strengthens the immune system, reducing your risk of developing cancer and disease and also helps strengthen the body’s ability to detoxify itself.
Support your hormone levels by eating cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy. You also will want to make sure you have your hormone levels tested so that you can take the appropriate bio-identical hormones and take supplements, such as DIM, to help keep your hormone levels healthy and balanced.
Do you suspect you’ve recently been exposed to mold? Call one of our Wellness Consultants today to learn how you can get on regimen to begin detoxifying your body of mold toxicity and balance your hormones naturally. 281-313-7435
