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By mistake, I have consumed dark green moldy bread. Bread ingredients: pumpkin seeds*, flax seed flour*, buckwheat flakes*, water, chia seeds*, sesame seeds*, walnuts*, psyllium*, apple cider vinegar*, salt. For aflatoxins (and mycotoxins in general) to damage the body, in reference to the production of cancer cells and other pathologies... Would minimal exposure be enough? Greetings (María Carabia, reader)
Hello Maria,
This type of toxin is slightly different from what other bacteria can produce, which normally cause a food poisoning infection with an obvious set of symptoms, usually digestive. Aflatoxins are special because they can accumulate in the body and cause chronic effects such as the appearance of cancer, specifically, they are closely linked to liver cancer.
There is no concrete or specific amount at which cancer appears, as with alcohol consumption or tobacco use, the more frequent this exposure is, the more likely it will appear. For this same reason, the best strategy that can be followed is to avoid the appearance of mycotoxins at the source of the food. Exposure to mycotoxins is quite low in Europe and the controls carried out are mainly preventive so that they do not enter from imports from other places with less guarantees.
Although the main origin of mycotoxins is in the food production phase, it is also important to preserve them properly at home to prevent the modes from proliferating and thus producing more aflatoxins. Fungi can grow in a food such as bread and, regardless of being present in the visible part of the mold, it can also reach the rest of the food and mycotoxins can migrate to other regions due to their small size, which is why it is advisable to discard the food. completely because it has already had a fungal growth in one of those parts, it is the most prudent and safe thing to do, no matter how much it hurts us due to food waste, and even though it may seem safe to us to take the rest.
Do not worry too much about this small oversight that you have had and try not to repeat it, an isolated exposure like this is not as dangerous as having poor hygiene practices or constantly consuming cereal or nuts exposed to the fungal growth.
Good evening, I have hypothyroidism and I would like to know how to balance my daily diet. Best regards (Marco Carrillo, reader)
Hi Mark,
Hypothyroidism involves insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland, resulting in a decrease in the production of T3 and T4 hormones, crucial for various body functions. When we have this reduced thyroid activity, problems related to obtaining energy and the correct functioning of the body may arise. This usually triggers weight gain due to a slowdown in metabolism, hair loss due to low cell renewal and insufficient irrigation, and also constipation due to reduced intestinal motility.
For this same reason, the main priorities in the hypothyroidism diet usually include maintaining a healthy nutritional state (avoiding overweight and malnutrition), as well as ensuring correct food absorption and correct intestinal transit.
How is it usually approached? Normally through the use of mediation, it is very common to take levothyroxine along with the healthy diet that you ask us about. This diet is normally oriented towards moderate energy consumption (calories) and ensuring adequate iodine intake (which is key to the functioning of the thyroid gland).
We should also consider restricting goitrogenic foods, such as broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage, since they can interfere with the synthesis of thyroid hormones, especially in cases of hypothyroidism that occurs together with iodine deficiency. It is also important to avoid interference with the medication, separating the consumption of beverages such as coffee or tea from the time of ingesting levothyroxine, in addition to avoiding grapefruit, which usually interacts with many other medications.
In the case of a specific type of hypothyroidism, such as the Hashimoto's variant, other recommendations may also be necessary, such as enhancing the anti-inflammatory effect of the diet, which may involve considering the restriction of meat, eggs, certain legumes, dairy products or cereals. . It is an aspect that is normally worked on in consultation depending on the evolution of each person.
