Saturday 4 June 2011

Mold Allergy - How to Relieve Your Symptoms

Mold is an organism that is found in most every place both outdoors and inside. It is a type of fungus that works to break down materials that are dead and return the nutrients back into the environment. It can grow by digesting plant or animal matter, leaves, wood, dirt, paper and food that release tiny spores in the air, and grows very quickly in places that are moist and dark. When mold is found on food, it is usually seen as the fuzzy spots that are green.

Mold actually has roots and branches and as it grows, the roots can penetrate themselves deep inside of the food where it is not seen. Everyone is exposed to mold every day, and generally, most people do not experience any negative effects. But people who suffer from mold allergies can have a reaction to being around too much mold. Some of the most common symptoms of having a this type of allergy include a stuffy or runny nose, wheezing, itchy eyes, watery eyes, and signs of having a type of rash or hives that develop.

It can be difficult to completely try to avoid mold if you have are susceptible to mold allergy, but you can help reduce the risk of reacting to it by the foods that you choose to eat. Be sure to check all food before you eat and be sure they are fresh. Don't rely on smelling the food, because the mold spores can be inhaled, which in turn may very well cause an allergic reaction.

Some of the most common foods that contain mold are cheese, mushrooms, vinegar, sour cream, buttermilk, meat or fish that is more than a day old, breads, yeast products, sauerkraut, pickled or smoked fish and meats, dried fruits, soy sauce, hot dogs, sausages and canned juices. Try to limit your amounts of these foods that are known to be likely to have mold spores. Also, make sure that you check these foods carefully before you eat them to try and detect any signs of mold.

Because mold likes to dwell in damp and dark places, you should try to limit the amount of time that you spend in your basement, or other areas of your home and outside where you are most likely going to be exposed to mold. It is difficult to try to avoid mold because it is found in all kinds of places both outdoors and inside. You can however, try to stay clear of places that are most likely to be full of mold spores, and not eat a lot of the foods that are likely to develop mold.