Is Mold the Root Cause of Your Symptoms? (feat. Jenn Malecha)

Are you feeling off but can’t pinpoint the cause of your frustrating symptoms? Have you considered that mold could be the culprit? Today’s guest shares insights into the symptoms of hidden mold exposure and mold remediation to heal and improve your overall health. 

This week on Salad with a Side of Fries, Jenn Trepeck welcomes functional health coach Jenn Malecha to share her personal journey with hidden mold exposure and the profound impact it had on her health. Jenn M. opens up about her skin cancer diagnosis, unexplained symptoms, and the shocking discovery of black mold in her home office. Together, they uncover why mold often goes undetected, the dangers of mycotoxins, and how symptoms like brain fog, vertigo, and digestive issues can easily be misdiagnosed. From mold sabbaticals and testing methods like VCS and urine analysis to the importance of professional remediation, this episode is packed with crucial insights. Plus, Jenn M. shares her toxic checklist to help you identify hidden hazards in your environment. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation—your health might depend on it!

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, who discusses wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• (04:56)  Jenn M. shares her professional background and discusses her skin cancer diagnosis
• (07:33) Jenn M. experienced health problems, leading her to discover black mold in her home 
• (15:17) Why mold exposure can often be overlooked and what about mycotoxins
• (22:06) Symptoms associated with mold exposure in your home and taking a mold sabbatical
• (27:46) Visual contrast screening (VCS) and urine testing
• (33:03) Get a professional to do mold remediation
• (39:16) Jenn M.’s toxic checklist available to members and EMF radiation

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• While not all mold is dangerous, certain types release toxic compounds called mycotoxins, which can cause significant health problems. These toxins often go unnoticed in homes, especially in water-damaged buildings.
• The symptoms of mold exposure, such as ear ringing, vertigo, teeth grinding, brain fog, and digestive problems, often resemble those of other conditions. This can lead to a misdiagnosis, as traditional medicine treats symptoms individually rather than considering an underlying cause like mold or mycotoxins.
• If you suspect mold exposure, go on a "mold sabbatical" by leaving your home for a few days, ideally staying in nature. If symptoms improve outside your usual environment, this could indicate a mold issue in your home.
• Visual contrast screening (VCS) and urine tests can help detect mold exposure, but they are not foolproof. Proper mold remediation should include sealing off affected areas, using air scrubbers, and treating mold with appropriate solutions (not bleach). Additionally, diet and detox protocols should be personalized to support recovery.

QUOTES: 

(13:18) “That innocent mildew in the shower, you think nothing of it, but it could be a sign of moisture accumulation in your home. That mildew can further burden the body if you're already dealing with a moldy situation.”  - Jenn Malecha

(19:45) “The body will encapsulate toxins and mold in the fat, and we start putting on weight that we can't lose because it's the body's protective mechanism. So it's brilliant, it's frustrating, but it's a brilliant mechanism.”  - Jenn Malecha

(21:14) “The confusing piece is that the symptoms connected to mold or mycotoxins look like symptoms of many other things. And so as our western medicine system does, we address all of those symptoms individually rather than sa