Have you ever wondered what mold toxicity can do to your health and hormones? I sat down with Nicole Ritter, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner specializing in mold toxicity protocol, and you are going to love her! I met Nicole right after I became an FDN. She was one of my first clinical consults so I’ve been able to learn a lot from her and I’m so excited to have her share her insight with you as well!

Nicole is a passionate advocate for holistic health, and her personal journey and the transformative effects of addressing mold-related issues is so enlightening! Like, I feel like we all have these symptoms that we ignore or can’t quite find the right fix for so she’s going to help us shed light on the fascinating link between mold toxicity and hormonal balance. If you've been feeling unwell and suspect that mold may be affecting your health, keep reading as we dive into the intriguing world of mold and hormones.

Nicole's motivation stems from her own experiences battling chronic sinus infections, migraines, depression, and anxiety. Frustrated with the conventional approach of relying on medications, she embarked on a quest for holistic solutions. It was during this journey that she stumbled upon a podcast episode about mold and its effects. This revelation prompted her to take action and pursue further education in mold-related health issues.

“So I got into this space because I grew up really sick. I had chronic sinus infections. I had migraines, I was on so many different medications, I had really bad depression, really bad anxiety. And the answer was always here, take a pill, go to this specialist and take a pill for that ill. And I just wasn't getting better. I was like a zombie. And everything seemed to be getting worse. Because as you know, one certain pill take, you know, you had like 500 different side effects. And then new symptoms develop and present themselves as their own disease. So I was just so sick of feeling sick.
Then in 2017, we found black mold in our basement, and as I was remediating the black mold myself (which I don’t suggest anyone do!), I was listening to the podcast Learn True Health, and she was talking about mold. Then I heard another one where Reed Davis, the founder of FDA, was a guest so I enrolled in FDA like the next day.
I'm not on any medications anymore. I feel great when I wake up, I'm not tired, I don't have migraines, I don't have chronic sinus infection.
I've dedicated my life to studying and helping others because I don't want anyone to feel the way I felt.
And as you know, like, so many people are just so lost with modern medicine, and it's not fair that they have to go and seek out help. Help like elsewhere. But I'm glad that we have this opportunity to help people and educate people because it's just so needed.”

How do I know if mold is a problem for me?

Some symptoms of mold illness (which you may not realize could be mold-related!) are:

Fatigue
Weakness
Headaches
Difficulty regulating body temperature
Urge to urinate often
Muscle aches
Cramping
Joint pain
Sensitivity to light
Abdominal problems like nausea, cramping, diarrhea
Chronic sinus infections, post nasal drip, anything sinus related
Asthma or asthma-like illness, cough and shortness of breath

Whew. That’s a lot.

Mold is immunosuppressive, so it suppresses our immune system which is why it can cause so many different kinds of symptoms. So if anyone has a chronic illness, or has been dealing with illness for a really long time and has tried everything they should, taken all the supplements, that's when we dig deeper and so often we can link it back to mold.

“And it's not like you have to walk into a house and see black mold all over the walls, because it's hidden mold, right, you can have mold under the floors, the baseboard, the attic, and it just can cause so many different symptoms. So I always dig deeper, if they're either not getting better, or they present with the symptoms.”

Testing and Remediation for Toxic Mold:

The gold standard for testing is the Ermi test, which employs DNA PCR to detect spore equivalents of toxic mold. It's essential to test your immediate environments, such as your home, workplace, or even your coffee, as mold can be hidden and found in unexpected places.

“Mold is the living organism and the mycotoxins are the chemicals that mold creates. So mold and fungi in and of themselves aren't toxic, but they produce mycotoxins that are toxic. So certain coffees have Ochratoxin A which is a toxic mycotoxin.
I was working with a client going through this mold protocol and she was like, you know, I don't think it's my house and she goes, Oh my gosh, I think it's my coffee. And it can be as simple as removing the coffee and then detoxing from mold because it's not always your house right? It can be your work environment, your school, or your food.”

If it is your house, once mold has been identified, Nicole stresses the significance of remediation. And that’s when it can get difficult. You can’t heal your mold symptoms while living in a space filled with mold. You can open up drainage pathways, you can eat better, and you can work on detoxing from mold, but if you're constantly being re-exposed, you're never actually truly going to heal. Remediating mold or even moving if necessary is expensive and emotional. But you know, your health is priceless. So it’s all about prioritizing so that you can get better.

Mold, Hormones, and the Hidden Connection:

Now, let's explore the intriguing relationship between mold toxicity and hormonal balance. Nicole explains that mold produces mycotoxins, which are toxic chemicals. These mycotoxins can disrupt our immune and hormone systems, leading to a cascade of effects that can leave you feeling tired all the time or sick, or just not right.

The Mold Cascade:

To better understand the complex interplay between mold and hormones, Nicole describes it as a "mold cascade." It begins with exposure to mycotoxins, whether through food, the environment, or other sources. This exposure triggers an immune response, causing inflammation and which can ultimately lead to immune and hormone dysregulation. As mold-related cytokines (proteins crucial for the immune system) increase, it sets off a chain reaction affecting our overall health.

Mold and Hormonal Receptors:

Mycotoxins produced by mold have the ability to mimic or block hormone receptors in our bodies. These mycotoxins can interfere with the functioning of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. Mold can act as a xenoestrogen, similar to toxic chemicals like BPA and phthalates. Even if you're taking measures to balance your hormones, reduce exposure to xenoestrogens, and regulate your blood sugar levels, mold exposure might still be an underlying factor contributing to hormonal imbalances.

The Connection to Hashimoto's:

Renowned Hashimoto's researcher Isabella Wentz has extensively explored the link between mold and Hashimoto's disease. Mold can colonize in the sinus cavities, and addressing mold in these areas, not with antibiotics but with antifungals, can potentially lead to the remission of Hashimoto's symptoms. This discovery highlights the importance of considering mold exposure as a potential trigger for autoimmune thyroid conditions.

How mold can disrupt the delicate balance of our endocrine system.

So first, it disrupts melatonin. Mold can actually suppress melatonin production. So at first melatonin levels will be low and we’ll see sleep disturbances. But then mycotoxins could actually get into the brain which causes an increase in melatonin. This is actually a protection mechanism from the body because Melatonin is a potent anti-inflammatory. So this is the body being like oh my gosh, you know, there's something in my brain that's causing all this inflammation and free radical damage. Let me quench that free radical damage with the melatonin. This causes chronic fatigue.

So if you're chronically fatigued and feel like you can't get out of the bed in the morning, it may be due to mold!

The next thing it does is ruin gut health. All disease begins in the gut, and the gut and hormones are deeply connected through the estrobolome. Estrobolome is a collection of bacteria in your gut that is responsible for circulating estrogen. So the bacteria in the gut and the estrobolome affects estrogen levels, which can impact weight, libido, mood, your period, like everything. So optimizing your gut health, and keeping your estrobolome in check is really, really important for hormone balance.

And this isn’t something that can be fixed by drinking bone broth or taking a probiotic. Those can help with symptoms but they aren’t addressing the underlying cause so you’ll always end up back at square one.

Mold can also cause HPA Axis dysregulation. So this can lead to things like increased cortisol and extreme fatigue. Mold also can have a direct effect on hormone receptors throughout the body.

How to Prep for Detoxification

Before embarking on any detoxification protocol, it's essential to prepare your body and build a solid foundation.

Find a practitioner: First and foremost, I would say go hire a practitioner who knows what they're doing. If you can’t do that, start with investigating and eliminating where you can.

Reduce Mold Exposure: Be a detective. Are you living in a moldy environment? Is your work moldy? Is it under your wallpaper? Is it under your carpet or upholstery?

Assess Your Diet: Certain foods, such as coffee and peanuts, may contain mycotoxins. Google what else might be causing it. An elimination diet alone may not solve all issues but can be a starting point.

Support Your Liver: The liver plays a crucial role in detoxification, including the elimination of mycotoxins. Prioritize liver support - focusing on bile flow and proper liver function. Bitter herbs and castor oil packs are super helpful here. But do your research first! You can’t do a castor oil pack while pregnant, while bleeding, or with an IUD.

Optimize Elimination Pathways: Ensure that your body's elimination pathways are functioning optimally. Adequate hydration, regular bowel movements, and healthy sweating can aid in the efficient removal of toxins. You should be pooping 1 - 3 times a day! That’s how you’ll know your body is ready to actually get rid of toxins.

It’s our job to be educated about ourselves and our health.

As with anything, mold toxicity is only part of the puzzle. We have to understand your health by looking at the whole picture, rather than at individual pieces of the puzzle. This is why working with a practitioner is so, so, so important. By examining the entire body and lifestyle, we can uncover the root causes of hormonal imbalances and develop a holistic plan for recovery, but if you or your doctor don’t have the training to understand the entire context, you could be wasting money and time blindly grabbing at solutions. As Nicole says, “Healing really takes place when you are responsible for your own health.”

watch the free training

The recommendations presented in this blog are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your health care provider.

Some of these links contain affiliate links.