If you're allergic to mold, certain foods may trigger your allergic reaction. Mold can be found almost anywhere. It's a fungus that works to break down decaying material to replenish the environment of nutrients, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Mold creates spores that are taken by the wind and are a type of seed that spreads the fungus. Mold commonly develops on a food's surface; it's visible as fuzzy green spots. Some mold is unseen and is used in certain foods, such as blue cheese or dried fruit. If you have a mold allergy, discuss your diet with your doctor before changing it.
Mold Allergy
People with a mold allergy develop symptoms when they breathe in mold spores. Mold is found indoors and outdoors in damp, dark places. It's commonly found in basements, bathrooms and other humid places around the house. Outdoors, mold grows around the foundation, on dead and rotting plant life and on walkways. When you inhale mold spores, your immune system mistakes them for a harmful substance, even though they are harmless. The body creates immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies, that trigger mast cells to create histamine, according to MayoClinic.com. Histamine is the primary chemical during an allergic reaction that causes symptoms.
Nutrition
If you're allergic to mold, avoid exposure to all forms of it. Certain foods contain mold spores. The Cleveland Clinic says common foods that contain mold include mushrooms, sour cream, vinegar, cheese, beer, wine, dried fruits, pickled foods, smoked foods, sour breads, meat or fish older than 24 hours and sour cream. These foods need to be completely eliminated from your diet. If a certain food is questionable, avoid eating it until you can discuss it with your doctor. Eating freshly prepared foods prevents the possibility of mold growth.
Consideration
Avoiding foods that contain mold is only one part of preventing mold allergies. Keep a clean house, removing any visible mold and running an air purifier to eliminate any airborne mold spores, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Keep your windows and doors shut during the summer and fall, when mold counts are high. Run a dehumidifier during humid days to reduce the risk of mold formation.
Warning
If you have been diagnosed with a mold allergy, eating foods that contain mold spores can cause a severe allergic reaction. If you develop the following symptoms, call 911: hives, facial swelling, shortness of breath, a lump in your throat, a warming sensation and dizziness.
