HOW TO PROTECT YOUR KIDNEY, LIVER AND HEART FROM AFLATOXINS

Aflatoxin is a secondary metabolite produced by toxigenic strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Chemically, aflatoxins belong to the bifuranocoumarin group, with aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) being the most toxic. Liver is the main organ affected by these toxins.
Aflatoxin is a type of mold that is considered a human carcinogen. It’s found in certain commonly eaten foods including peanuts, peanut butter and corn, and is most harmful in parts of the world where people consume large amount of these foods, such as Asia and Africa.  The species of molds that combine to form aflatoxin grow in soils when conditions are just right, including when decaying food, plants, hay and grains are piled together to decompose in areas with high moisture and high temperatures.

There are actually at least 13 different types of naturally-occurring aflatoxin toxic molds that researchers have been able to identify. Of the 13 species, the type called aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic, capable of causing health problems such as liver disease or cancer, autoimmune responses, digestive issues and in rare cases even death. Research has shown that consuming aflatoxin through the food supply is one of the major causes of liver disease (specifically the type called hepatocellular carcinoma) in certain countries such as China and Africa.
Poultry is considered as the most susceptible animal species to aflatoxins. A meta-analysis (Andretta et al 2011) carried out on broiler performance in response to mycotoxins showed that aflatoxin (average concentration 0.95mg/kg of feed) and ochratoxin had the biggest effects on broiler performance. Aflatoxins on average significantly reduced feed intake by 10% and growth rate by 12%. Aflatoxins also significantly increased liver weight by 22% and the weight of kidneys, lungs, gizzard and the heart. Aflatoxins presented the most important effects of all mycotoxins on organ weight in broilers.

What Does Aflatoxin Do and Where Does It Come From?

Chemically speaking, aflatoxin is a type of “mycotoxin” which is produced by two different species of mold: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. There are natural molds found around the world and concentrated most in the human food supply in areas with wet and warm climates. It’s also possible for aflatoxin mold to form in grains grown under poor conditions, such as those experiencing droughts.
The strains of aflatoxin most common in foods include B1, B2, G1 and G2.  After humans or other mammals consume aflatoxin metabolic processes turn then into metabolites M1 and M2 which have ” high carcinogenic potential.” International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified aflatoxin B1 as a “Group I carcinogen” that’s capable of raising the risk for cancer.  Aflatoxin seems to affect the ways that cells reproduce and also targets the liver, affecting the way that other substances are metabolized and eliminated, and possibly increasing food allergy reactions.
There are many different types of molds and fungus that can grow in food, including various species of mycotoxins, but aflatoxin has gained attention more than most others because studies have found clear evidence of its potential for causing carcinogenic effects. In animal studies, high levels of aflatoxin consumption has been shown to be poisonous, and in human observation studies aflatoxin consumption correlates with an increased the risk for certain illnesses and dangerous symptoms.
Over the last 100 years, there are have also been several occurrences when large populations of livestock (cattle, ducks, chicken, etc.) have died due to contamination of their food supply, especially peanut flour or cottonseed, which can sometimes become home to a dozen different strains of aflatoxin
Unfortunately, aflatoxin makes its way into some popular  “healthy” foods that aren’t actually healthy. The level of aflatoxin contamination in any given food will vary with geographic location, along with how the food was grown. Additionally, once crops are picked it matters how they are handled, processed and stored, since all of these can affect whether or not aflatoxin is able to survive and thrive. Some research shows that crops being grown in humid locations such as Brazil and China are most likely to contain aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin Symptoms & Health Risks

People living in Third World countries are most likely to be impacted by the negative effects of aflatoxin poisoning, but this doesn’t mean that developed nations are totally safe. The consumption of “staple crops” that can contain aflatoxin, such as corn and peanuts, are used globally, and even a small of aflatoxin in the food supply can wind up spreading and causing problems. How badly a person is affected by aflatoxin will depend on factors like their current state of health, level and duration of exposure, strength of their immune and digestive system, and overall quality of their diet.

There are two ways that aflatoxin contamination usually occurs: Either someone consumes large amounts at once and experiences “poisoning”, or they slowly acquire aflatoxin over time in smaller quantities. According to the FDA, poisoning is relatively rare but more dangerous and can lead to problems like liver cancer, mental impairments, digestive reactions, coma, hemorrhages and malabsorption.

Long-term, some of the symptoms that aflatoxin exposure can cause include:

• food allergies
• autoimmune disease reactions
• inflammation that affects the heart
• damage to the digestive organs including the liver and kidneys
• possibly a higher risk for liver cancer, viral hepatitis (HBV) or parasite infestation
• growth and development impairment
• the biggest threat is the symptoms seen in patients in liver diseases: vomiting, abdominal pain, water retention, pulmonary edema, convulsions, coma, and even death
• Research shows that aflatoxin targets the digestive organs most, especially the liver by raising the risk for liver cancer, heptitis and liver disease. Long-term exposure to aflatoxin is a major risk factor for cancer of liver called hepatocellular carcinoma, which causes liver scarring, loss of nutrients, inflammation of the digestive tract and other serious problems that can lead to death.
  

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  How to Avoid Aflatoxin Foods & Lower Exposure

  The foods and crops most likely to be contaminated with aflatoxin include:
• peanuts
• corn
• milk and cheese (rarely, meat can also become contaminated due to the spreading in aflatoxin in livestock feed)
• nuts (especially almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts)
• grains including quinoa
• soybeans
• figs
• dried spices
• although it’s not commonly eaten, cottonseed is also a major crop that tends to grow aflatoxin

Experts believe that the biggest threat of aflatoxin to human health globally is the contamination of corn, since it’s such a widely-consumed, staple crop in many parts of the world that people depend on. Corn tends to be grown in humid climates that are likely to have contaminated soils. The spread of aflatoxin in corn can be hard to control because of the enormous quantity that it’s grown in, how long it’s stored and how often it’s processed to form other foods to be shipped globally. Because some populations eating a lot of corn might already have impaired immunity, aflatoxin in corn is a big concern for liver disease formation.
Aflatoxin in peanuts are another major concern for the same reasons. Peanuts are consumed in high amounts in countries across Asia and also in the U.S, plus they are used in many other types of processed foods (peanut butter, cereals, packaged snacks like cookies, ice cream, etc).

Tips & Supplements that Can Help Lower Aflatoxin 

Wondering what else you can do to avoid aflatoxin symptoms? Here are several tips for purchasing and handling foods, plus supplements that can boost detox effects:

• Don’t keep grains and nuts (corn, peanuts, almonds, for example) for long periods of time. Try consuming them ideally within 1–2 months
• Buy the freshest ingredients you can, ideally those grown close to your location and not shipped overseas. Reputable, small sellers who grow organic crops are most likely to harvest them at the right time and keep them stored properly
• Store grains, corn and nuts in places that are dry and cool to prevent mold growth. You can even freeze them to prolong freshness
• Soak, sprout and ferment grains, beans, legumes nuts and seeds before eating them! This is an easy step you can do at home that doesn’t take much time, boosts the availability of nutrients and helps lower presence of “antinutrients” and mold
• There’s also some evidence that eating detoxifying vegetables like carrots and celery reduces the carcinogenic effects of aflatoxins and helps cleanse the liver 

 

Consume the supplements below that can boost detoxification effects, cleanse the liver and improve digestion:

• Studies show that chlorophyllin and  chlorophyll supplements help to reduce the bioavailability of aflatoxin (11)
• Milk thistle, marshmallow root and dandelion root all help cleanse the liver and can lower digestive symptoms
• Activated charcoal can help bind to aflatoxin mold and carry it out of the body more easily

THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF MENINGITIS

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges. The meninges is the collective name for the three membranes that envelope the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), called the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. The meninges' main function, alongside the cerebrospinal fluid is to protect the central nervous system.
The word "meningitis" comes from the Modern Latin word meninga and the Greek word Menix meaning "membrane". The suffix "itis" comes from the Greek word itis meaning "pertaining to". In medical English, the suffix "-itis means" "inflammation of".

Fast facts on meningitis
10-12% of meningitis cases in the industrialized countries are fatal.
20% of meningitis survivors suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss, or limb amputation.
There are 2,300 cases of meningitis and meningococcal septicemia in the UK each year.
70% of meningitis patients are aged under 5 or over 60.
In the USA bacterial meningitis affects about 3/100,000 people annually.
In the USA viral meningitis affects about 10/100,000 people annually.
Bacterial meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b has fallen 90% since the Hib vaccine was introduced.
Antibiotic resistance is a major factor in global rising rates of meningitis.

What causes meningitis?

Meningitis is generally caused by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and certain organisms. Anatomical defects or weak immune systems may be linked to recurrent bacterial meningitis. In the majority of cases the cause is a virus. However, some non-infectious causes of meningitis also exist.
Bacteria mimic human cells to get in and stay in
A study carried out by researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, England, showed how bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis mimic human cells in order to evade the body's innate immune system.

• Viral meningitis
  Although viral meningitis is the most common, it is rarely a serious infection. It can be caused by a number of different viruses, such as mosquito-borne viruses. There is no specific treatment for this type of meningitis. In the vast majority of cases the illness resolves itself within a week without any complications.  
  Bacterial Meningitis
  
  • Bacterial meningitis is generally a serious infection. It is caused by three types of bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides is known as meningococcal meningitis, while meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is known as pneumococcal meningitis. People become infected when they are in close contact with the discharges from the nose or throat of a person who is infected.
    Twenty years ago Hib was the main cause of bacterial meningitis - it is not any more thanks to new vaccines which are routinely administered to children.
    The doctor needs to know what type of meningitis has infected the patient. Certain antibiotics can stop some types from infecting others.
    
  • Bacterial meningitis in newborns and premature babies
    A type of streptococci, called group B streptococci commonly inhabits the vagina and is a common cause of meningitis among premature babies and newborns during the first week of life. Escherichia coli, which inhabit the digestive tract, may also cause meningitis among newborns. Meningitis that occurs during epidemics can affect newborns - Listeria monocytogenes being the most common.
  
  
  • Bacterial meningitis in children under 5
    Children under five years of age in countries that do not offer the vaccine are generally infected by Haemophilus influenzae type B.
  • Bacterial meningitis in older children
    Older children generally have meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotypes 6, 9, 14, 18 and 23) .
    
  • Bacterial meningitis in adults
    About 80% of all adult meningitis are caused by N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae. People over 50 years of age have an increased risk of meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes.
  • Bacterial meningitis and people with skull damage implanted devices
    People who received a recent trauma to the skull are at increased risk of bacteria in their nasal cavity entering the meningeal space. Patients with a cerebral shunt or related device also run a higher risk of infection with staphylococci and pseudomonas through those devices.
  • Bacterial meningitis and weak immune systems
    People with weak immune systems are also at higher risk of infection with staphylococci and pseudomonas.
  • Bacterial meningitis and ear infections and procedures
    
    • Rarely, otitis media, mastoiditis, or some infection to the head or neck area may lead to meningitis. People who have received a cochlear implant run a higher risk of developing pneumococcal meningitis.
      A study published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery found that children who are stricken with severe hearing loss are five times more likely to contract meningitis.
      In countries where tuberculous meningitis is common, there is a higher incidence of meningitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
    • Anatomical defects or disorders of the immune system
      Either congenital or acquired anatomical defects may be linked to recurrent bacterial meningitis. An anatomical defect might allow a way to penetrate into the nervous system from the external environment. The most common anatomical defect which leads to meningitis is skull fracture, especially when the fracture occurs at the base of the brain, or extends towards the sinuses and petrous pyramids.
      59% of recurrent meningitis cases are due to anatomical defects, while 36% are due to weakened immune systems.
      

      Symptoms of meningitis 

      As meningitis and septicemia tend to show similar symptoms and incidences of both tend to rise and fall at the same time in geographical areas, this section refers to both meningitis and septicemia.
      Meningitis is not always easy to recognize. In many cases meningitis may be progressing with no symptoms at all. In its early stages, symptoms might be similar to those of flu. However, people with meningitis and septicemia can become seriously ill within hours, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms. Early symptoms of meningitis broadly include:
      
    • Vomiting
    • Nausea
    • Muscle pain
    • High temperature (fever)
    • Headache
    • Cold hands and feet
    A rash that does not fade under pressure. This rash might start as a few small spots in any part of the body - it may spread rapidly and look like fresh bruises. This happens because blood has leaked into tissue under the skin. The rash or spots may initially fade, and then come back.
     
    
    
    

    
    
    
    

    In babies, you should look out for at least one of the following symptoms:
    

    • a high-pitched, moaning cry
    • a bulging fontenelle
    • being difficult to wake
    • floppy and listless or stiff with jerky movements
    • refusing feeds
    • rapid/ unusual/ difficult breathing
    • pale or blotchy skin
    • red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure

 In older children, you should look out for:

• a stiff neck
• severe pains and aches in your back and joints
• sleepiness or confusion
• a very bad headache (alone, not a reason to seek medical help)
• a dislike of bright lights
• very cold hands and feet
• shivering
• rapid breathing
• red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure

The glass test

• Press the side of a drinking glass firmly against the rash.
• If the rash fades and loses color under pressure it is not a meningitis rash.
• If it does not change color you should contact a doctor immediately.

Treatments for meningitis

An interesting study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) looked at whether children with suspected meningitis should be given antibiotics before their transfer to hospital.
Meningitis treatment will generally depend on four main factors:

• The age of the patient
• The severity of the infection
• What organism is causing it?
• Are other medical conditions present? 
• Viral meningitis will resolve itself fairly quickly and does not usually need any medical treatment. If symptoms continue after two weeks the person should see his/her doctor.
  The treatment for severe meningitis, which is nearly always bacterial (but can be viral), may require hospitalization, and includes:
  
• Antibiotics - usually administered intravenously by injection, or through an IV.
• Corticosteroids - if the patient's meningitis is causing pressure in the brain, corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, may be administered to adults and children.
• Acetaminophen (paracetamol) - effective in bringing the patient's temperature down. Other methods for reducing the patient's fever may include a cool sponge bath, cooling pads, plenty of fluids, and good room ventilation.
• Anti-convulsants - if the patient has seizures (fits), he/she will be given an anti-convulsant, such as phenobarbital or dilantin.
• Oxygen therapy - if the patient has breathing difficulties oxygen therapy may be given. This may involve a face mask, a nasal cannula, a hood, or a tent. In more severe cases a tube may be inserted into the trachea via the mouth.
• Fluid control - dehydration is common for patients with meningitis. If a meningitis patient is dehydrated he/she may develop serious problems. It is crucial that he/she is receiving adequate amounts of fluids. If the patient is vomiting, or cannot drink, liquids may be given through an IV.
• Blood tests - measuring the patient's blood sugar and sodium is important, as well as other vital body chemicals.
• Sedatives - these are given if the patient is irritable or restless.

If the meningitis is severe the patient may be placed in an ICU (intensive care unit).

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