SO DELICIOUS, SO EFFECTIVE
Outsmarting mold and mycotoxins revitalizes the liver and corrects metabolism-sapping hormonal imbalances to fire up fat burn and boost energy. To get the benefits, integrative medicine specialist Fred Pescatore, M.D., advises scaling back on sugar (it fuels fungal growth in the body) and mushrooms (which have been shown to trigger symptoms in mold-sensitive women) and following the strategies below to lower mycotoxin exposure and repair the damage it causes.
CONSIDER A NEW COFFEE
In an analysis conducted at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, 52% of green coffee beans tested positive for mycotoxins, and roasting didn’t significantly reduce levels. Even more worrisome: Up to 50% of the toxins found in coffee samples were transferred into the brew. “Good quality coffee enhances fat burning, but some producers cut corners when growing and storing beans,” notes Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., author of Radical Metabolism. “This leads to mold and mycotoxin growth.” That’s why she advises choosing a brand that tests their beans for mold. One to try: Purity Coffee (available at PurityCoffee.com). For 10% off your first order, use code ALG10 at checkout. FILL UP ON THESE FOODS
“Sulfur compounds restore the liver’s detoxifying ability and protect cells against mycotoxin damage,” notes Jill Carnahan, M.D. To get the benefits, enjoy at least one serving of sulfur-rich broccoli, Brussels sprouts or kale and flavor meals with two raw cloves of garlic (added to salad dressings or to meals after cooking) each day.
FOCUS ON FRESHNESS
Avoiding produce marred by bruised or rotting spots is a no-brainer, but mold can form even in produce that looks fresh. Dr. Pescatore’s advice: Shop at farmers markets when possible. “Locally grown fruits and vegetables go from farm to table weeks faster than supermarket produce,” he says. “And since they don’t travel far, they’re also richer in key weight-loss and cellular-repair enzymes and antioxidants.”
Also smart: Reach for frozen berries. “Berries are frozen within hours of being picked, which keeps the risk of mold contamination low,” says Bill Rawls, M.D., author of Suffered Long Enough. As an added bonus, frozen fruit is often less expensive than fresh, so you may save a few bucks.
TAKE THE DETOX AMINO “Glutathione is the liver’s most important detoxifying agent,” says Dr. Pescatore. But because mycotoxins are so difficult to detox, their presence depletes body stores of the compound considerably. To renew the liver’s ability to clear mycotoxins, Dr. Pescatore suggests supplementing with 3,000 mg. of N-acetyl-cysteine, an amino acid used by the body to make glutathione, each day. Or try Reg’Active Detox & Liver Health (Amazon.com), which contains N-acetyl-cysteine and Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3, a probiotic strain that’s proven to enhance glutathione production.