- Category : Mold and Biotoxin Illness
Mycotoxin binders play a crucial role in the detoxification process of mycotoxin or mold-related illnesses. With a variety of mycotoxins present, selecting the appropriate binder for each type can be a challenging task. In today’s article, I will explain some of the most effective mycotoxin binders, the role binding agents play in mold and mycotoxin illness, the benefits of binders, the different types of mycotoxin binders, and lastly tips on how to use them if you tested positive on a Urine Mycotoxin Test.
What Are Mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by specific types of mold. These microscopic contaminants can proliferate in water-damaged buildings and can even taint foods like grains, nuts, and coffee. Exposure to mycotoxins has been linked to a spectrum of health problems ranging from allergic reactions and respiratory issues to systemic involvement manifesting as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), among others.
What Are Mycotoxin Binders?
Mycotoxin binders are compounds that can attach to mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract, helping to prevent their absorption and assist in their removal from the body. Through binding, these agents assist in detoxification, reducing the toxic load on the body and minimizing potential health impacts.
How Do Mycotoxin Binders Work
Toxins in our bodies are detoxified and removed through several pathways, including urine, stool, bile, and the skin. Let’s focus on bile and stool since this is how most toxins are eliminated from our body.
Fat-soluble substances, including dietary fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and fat-soluble toxins like mycotoxins, are packaged into bile for both absorption and detoxification within the liver. Because Bile is reabsorbed in the last part of the small intestine. If mycotoxins are packaged in the bile, these toxins can then renter our circulation in the small intestines and can be reabsorbed. Here is where mycotoxin binding agents enter the picture.
Mycotoxin-binding agents stick to the bile that contains mycotoxins and assist in elimination. Since many binders can cause constipation, it’s important that if you are using binding agents you are maintaining good bowel motility. If you don’t have good motility (ie SIBO, insufficient fiber in diet, medications) and let’s say you are constipated, the body may reabsorb the mycotoxins defeating the whole purpose.
Good GI motility is essential and supplements that aid in motility such as prokinetics should be used in conjunction with mycotoxin binders.
Types of Mycotoxin Binders
Individuals seeking mycotoxin detox have several binder options, each with unique properties and effectiveness: If not interested in reading about the different binders, This is the one I recommend for my patients who are dealing with either SIBO or mycotoxin exposure and you can order it here
1. Activated Charcoal:
Known for its vast surface area and excellent absorption capabilities, activated charcoal effectively binds a variety of chemicals and toxins, including mycotoxins. It’s a go-to natural remedy in many detox protocols. Activated charcoal is an effective toxin binder for just about any toxin that is excreted in the gut. It works similarly to cholestyramine by adsorbing toxins packaged in bile. (*)
Research shows that activated charcoal is beneficial in binding mycotoxins in food and in our body. Charcoal has also shown efficacy in absorbing macrocyclic trichothecenes (Black Mold) mycotoxins as well. (*),(*)
2. Bentonite Clay:
Celebrated for its negative charge, Bentonite clay attracts and binds to positively charged toxins like mycotoxins. It’s a natural detoxifier with a long history of usage in traditional medicine. Bentonite Clay has been shown to bind greatly to toxins in animal feed, reducing the toxic load before consumption. Bentonite Clay shows a great affinity for binding aflatoxins.(*)
3. Cholestyramine:
Originally a prescription medication for high cholesterol, cholestyramine is now commonly used in mycotoxin detox protocols. Its high affinity to bile acids means it can bind and help eliminate mycotoxins via bile out of the system. I’m not too fond of Cholestyramine and here’s why.
Cholestyramine causes many undesirable side effects such as constipation, bloating, gas, nausea, abdominal pain, and indigestion.(*) Constipation is particularly common and having sluggish motility (constipation) can cause your body to increase mycotoxin absorption. We want to improve Gut function and increase motility, we don’t want the bowels to slow down or cause more GI problems.
Another reason I don’t like Cholestyramine can also interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K) and omega-3 fatty acids. Some individuals may experience skin reactions such as rash or itching. In some cases, cholestyramine might cause changes in the levels of electrolytes in the body.
4. Zeolite:
Zeolite are porous minerals with a unique crystalline structure containing microscopic cavities and channels. The structural channels allow zeolites to trap toxins, which can then be passed through the digestive system and excreted, reducing their absorption in the gut. These features give zeolites the ability to act as powerful mycotoxin-binding agents. (*)
Zeolite also has a high surface area with negatively charged cavities that can attract and hold positively charged ions and molecules. Many mycotoxins have a net positive charge or polar regions that can interact with the negatively charged sites on the zeolite, facilitating their capture. Remember in chemistry or biology class where we learned that opposites attract? This is how Zeolite can bind to mycotoxins. Due to their specific pore sizes and structural stability, zeolites can selectively absorb mycotoxins from within the gastrointestinal tract.(*)
5. Chitosan:
Derived from chitin in shellfish shells, chitosan can bind fats and toxins and works in a similar way as zeolite. Like Zeolite, Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide, meaning it has positively charged sugar groups. This positive charge allows it to interact with and bind to negatively charged mycotoxins, facilitating their removal. Chitosan is capable of binding a wide variety of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins and ochratoxins.(*) Its versatility is an advantage, as it can be used in different environmental conditions and with different types of contaminants. Chitosan also has antibacterial and antifungal properties which can be very helpful when someone who has mold illness is also dealing with bacterial overgrowth in the gut ie SIBO.(*)
6. Fiber:
Speaking of fiber, in general, fibrous supplements and foods can act as simple overall binders. Fiber from oats, wheat bran, alfalfa, lignans in flax and chia, guar gum, etc have been used as early interventions in lowering cholesterol. It has the same effect that cholestyramine has on cholesterol. It is due to the bile sequestering activity of these fibers that work to lower cholesterol. In turn, this will also lower the toxic load. Even though fiber doesn’t have much direct research on the binding of specific mycotoxins, it is always a good dietary change to implement.
Barley and oats showed the highest absorptive capacity among other fibers when tested. Another great fiber binder to consider is modified citrus pectin (MCP). This binder has shown great efficacy in binding heavy metals such as lead. Though this isn’t a mycotoxin, this shows us that MCP has a great potential utility in any detox protocol.
7. Humic Acid:
Humic acid and its related counterpart, Fulvic acid, are two more powerful mycotoxin-binding agents. These acids are capable of interacting with a wide range of mycotoxins, making them highly versatile agents in managing mycotoxins and mold-related illnesses. Beyond mycotoxin binding, humic and fulvic acids can also support gut health by acting as prebiotics enhancing nutrient absorption and supporting the gut microbiome.
Both Humic Acid and Fulvic acid, are well-rounded additions to any mold and biotoxin illness protocol.
Benefits of Mycotoxin Binding Agents
1. Reduced Mycotoxin Load: The primary benefit of using binders is reducing the body’s toxic load by physically binding and removing harmful mycotoxins, thereby providing relief from toxicity symptoms.
2. Support for Detoxification: By facilitating the removal of toxins, binders support the liver and kidneys, key organs in detoxification, allowing them to function more efficiently.
3. Enhanced Gut Health: Certain binders like bentonite clay,Charcoal and Zeolite can promote a healthy gut environment, indirectly fostering a balanced microbiome through the removal of irritants.
4 Tips for Using Binders and How To Use Them
- Consistency Is Key: For optimal results, integrate mycotoxin-binding agents into your treatment plan. Depending on the binding agent, once or twice daily may be effective, but always follow specific product guidelines or healthcare recommendations.
- Timing Matters: Take binders on an empty stomach or as recommended, usually 30-60 minutes before meals. This maximizes their efficacy and reduces interactions with nutritional absorption.
- Stay Hydrated: Adequate water intake is essential when using binders to prevent constipation and ensure the swift processing of toxins through the digestive tract.
- Use in Conjunction with Prokinetics- You need to keep your bowels moving so as not to reabsorb toxins. Aim for 2-3 bowel movements per day.
- Consult a Certifed Functional Medicine Practitiionerl: Before starting any new detoxification protocol, it’s wise to discuss it with a healthcare provider experienced in the treatment of mold biotoxins. This ensures safety and compatibility, particularly if medications are involved.
