Take scrupulous care when handling and using foods if you are extremely allergic to moulds. Tiny traces of moulds grow invisibly on even slightly adulterated food – on chopped salads, for instance, in fruit juices or on a half-used loaf. They cling also to frozen and defrosted food, and to food that has been kept in a refrigerator for more than a few hours. If you are highly allergic to moulds, only eat food that is very recently cut or prepared. Re-heat chilled or defrosted foods thoroughly to kill moulds. Squeeze your own fruit juices.
Store foods with care. Moulds cling to fresh fruit and vegetables. Ripe fruit is particularly prone to mould growth on its skin and surfaces. Soil moulds cling to root vegetables. Store all fruit and vegetables outside the home if you can; try to avoid using your refrigerator to store them, unless you buy fresh each day. Do not eat very ripe or deteriorating fruit. Avoid fruit with the visible grey mould Botrytis. Wash all fruit and vegetables, or peel before eating to remove moulds.
Moulds adhere particularly to the skin of grapes. Soak grapes overnight in a bowl of water, or for up to a day, to remove moulds before eating. Rinse well before eating.
Moulds grow readily on dried fruit. To avoid these, either wash the fruit carefully before eating, rehydrate and cook well, or avoid altogether.
Keep your refrigerator clear of moulds. Defrost often and wash it down in a solution of sodium bicarbonate or Borax. Dry afterwards. This kills and deters mould growth.
You may have to avoid eating certain foods if you are allergic to moulds. If you are allergic to one specific thing, you are more prone to cross-react to things which are related to it. YOU will not always develop such cross-reactions but you will be susceptible to related allergens, and it is prudent sometimes to take care.
Moulds are related to yeasts, and to mushrooms, which are themselves fungi. If you cross-react, you may have to take care with foods that contain yeast, or moulds, avoiding or rotating them If you have candidiasis, caused by an overgrowth of a fungal organism that can cause thrush, bowel disorders and other symptoms, you can also be allergic to the yeast Candida itself, and have allergic symptoms as well.
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