Everyone knows that bread can grow moldy if left out too long, and we've all seen the mold that creeps into shower stalls, but did you know that some people are allergic to those tiny spores of fungus? Mold is an organism that works as a sort of garbage disposal by breaking down dead material and returning it to the environment.



Most of us can deal with molds, but for those who have an allergy mold, the tiny growths of fuzzy green stuff can cause many irritating problems such as watery and itchy eyes, wheezing, sneezing and even rashes and hives. The problem is that when someone who has an allergy mold breathes in airborne mold spores, those spores enter the lungs, giving the allergic person little time to escape the consequences. Even smelling a food to make sure it's good is enough to eat sends some people into fits of sneezing and wheezing.

People with an allergy mold should avoid any foods that contain molds or fungus, such as yeasts and mushrooms. Eating anything that contains a yeast is enough to cause those with an allergy mold to break out in rashes, or even worse, a severe case of systemic hives, which are extremely uncomfortable, and sometimes life threatening. Other foods that contain spores of mold or fungus such as cheeses, and foods made with or containing even minute amounts of vinegar, should be avoided.

Any kind of bread made with yeast should be avoided, as well as sauerkraut. So should soy sauce and dried fruits and fish or meat that's more than twenty-four hours old. Common source of yeast or mold are also found in hot dogs and canned juices. While avoiding these foods may help prevent allergy mold reactions, some contact with mold spores is unavoidable, especially in homes and businesses within the community. A house doesn't have to look dirty to carry mold spores, it's just that they're everywhere, and since they're airborne, it's extremely difficult to eradicate them.

Mold grows in dark, moist places, so in order to help prevent an allergy mold sufferer additional stress, try to keep bathrooms and basements clean and aired often. Sunlight will work wonders on molds, as do certain types of household surface cleaners. Keep garbage cans clean, both inside and outside, and clean up piles of rotting leaves or other vegetation, especially after rainy periods.

Choosing foods carefully and trying to keep living spaces as clean as possible will help anyone suffering from an allergy mold to maintain a healthy living style. Reducing the chances of a reaction means checking food labels carefully and making sure to double check ingredients of foods when dining out.

Suffering from an allergy mold doesn't mean having to curtail going out or not enjoying a walk in the woods or a day at the park, but precautions must be taken to make sure that you're not putting yourself in danger by over-exposure to irritants that will cause an allergy mold reaction.