Subsequently, she was told that her insurance company was in receivership, further complicating her ability to resolve the issue.
At about the same time, tenants at Silver Oaks Apartments in Tampa’s 33610 zip code were preparing to sue management over the mold. We’ve posted extensively about the topic of toxic mold in South Florida.
Why all the buzz? Two reasons — toxic mold is common in Florida, and it poses a serious health risk. Our tropical climate provides the perfect breeding grounds for mold, and some of these common molds that grow in homes and other water-damaged buildings can make you seriously ill. In fact, mold can be deadly.
Fortunately, we can gain the upper hand over toxic molds and the illnesses they cause through mold remediation and by providing our bodies with the support required to heal. A relatively recent and powerful addition to the protocol for treating mold illness is the use of phospholipids.
What Are Phospholipids?
They are the main ingredients forming the membrane that surrounds each cell, as well as the membranes around some components (organelles) within each cell. The term “lipid” — which is at the end of the word phospholipid — is used to describe certain types of chemical molecules, including fats, waxes, and some vitamins.
These are the major phospholipids that form the plasma membrane of human cells:
- Phosphatidylcholine (PC), which accounts for approximately 50 percent of the outer layer of the cell membrane
- Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant phospholipid
- Phosphatidylserine (PS)
- Phosphatidylinositol (PI)
- Phosphatidic acid (PA)
- Sphingomyelin (SM)
- Cardiolipin (CL)
Each phospholipid contains a head (consisting of a phosphate group and an alcohol) and a tail (consisting of two fatty acids).
The head is attracted to water, and the tail is repelled by water. As a result, phospholipids automatically arrange themselves with their heads on the outside of the cell and their tails inside the cell, creating a barrier between the bloodstream and the contents of the cell.
The resulting membrane is semi-permeable, allowing nutrients to pass from the bloodstream into the cell and waste products to be flushed from cells into the bloodstream.
What Phospholipids Do
Phospholipids play several roles in supporting health and function at the cellular level and beyond, including the following:
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Provide cellular structure. Phospholipids form the “skin” around each cell, protecting the cell’s contents while allowing nutrients to pass into the cell and wastes to pass out of it. The cell membrane also facilitates electrical and chemical processes that support proper cellular function.
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Provide structure for organelles within each cell. Phospholipids also form the “skin” around the mitochondria (energy plants in each cell) and the endoplasmic reticulum, which folds and transports proteins.
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Support mitochondrial function. PE and CL are present in the inner membrane surrounding the mitochondria within each cell, helping to produce the energy that powers each cell. CL is also present in myelin — the substance that surrounds and insulates nerve cells, like the rubber or plastic insulation around electrical wires.
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Support brain health and function. The brain is 60 percent lipids. Phospholipids, in the right amounts and ratios, are essential for stabilizing neural cell membranes and facilitating optimum cognitive function. PC, PS, and PI have all been shown to support healthy cognition, memory, and overall neurological health.
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Increase levels of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is an essential neurotransmitter for supporting the healthy function of the brain, nerves, and gut and for regulating mood.
If your body is low in acetylcholine, phosphatidylcholine can supply extra choline for the body to produce it. Having enough acetylcholine can protect against neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
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Strengthens the gut lining. Phospholipids are also the building blocks of the gut lining — the semipermeable membrane (the thickness of a single cell) that allows nutrients to pass into the bloodstream while keeping waste products inside the colon.
In recent studies, supplemental PC has been shown to support the gut mucosa (gut lining) improving the health of the gut-brain axis.
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Facilitates fetal development. Phospholipids are vital in the early development of the brain, central nervous system, lung membranes, and overall fetal growth and development.
SM is involved in the early stages of brain (myelin) development. Insufficient choline during pregnancy can lead to inadequate brain, spine, or spinal cord development or delays in cognitive development.
Healing Mold Illness — A Personalized Approach
Although phospholipids can be powerful tools in restoring health, they are not a cure-all.
Certainly, they are not the silver bullet for treating mold illness.
Several factors contribute to mold illness, and they may vary among patients.
Successful treatment for mold illness begins with a thorough examination and testing with a focus on the following:
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- Eliminate exposure. The first step is to eliminate exposure to the mold, either by distancing oneself from the building or through professional mold remediation.
- Phospholipids in conjunction with key nutrients. We use quality phospholipids orally in conjunction with intravenous (IV) infusions (or intramuscular injections) of key nutrients, including vitamins B6 and B12, needed by cells to process phospholipids and incorporate them into cell membranes.
- Detoxification. Medically supervised detox may be required to reduce a patient’s toxic load, including but not limited to mold toxins. Our detox protocol removes toxins from the body gradually and safely to avoid any severe reactions.
- Calm the immune system. Treatments may be required to calm mast cell or histamine responses in an overactive immune system, thereby restoring the body’s immune response and helping to alleviate inflammation.
- Promote brain health and tissue repair. Peptide therapies may be used to support brain health and the body’s ability to repair tissues.
- Chronic fatigue or muscle weakness
- Headaches, sensitivity to light
- Brain fog, poor memory, difficulty with word finding and/or concentration, disorientation
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Unusual skin sensations, tingling, and numbness
- Sinus or lung congestion, shortness of breath, or a chronic cough
- Body temperature dysregulation
- Increased urinary frequency and/or increased thirst
- Red eyes, blurred vision
- Mood swings
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Vertigo or feeling lightheaded
If you’re in Tampa, Florida, or plan to be in the area, contact us to schedule your initial consultation. Don’t suffer unnecessarily. Distance yourself from the source of the mold and consult with a medical practice with experience in treating mold illness successfully. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll get your life back and the less chance you’ll have of experiencing serious long-term effects.
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Disclaimer: The information in this blog post about the use of phospholipids in the treatment of mold-related illnesses is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect current medical thinking or practices. No information contained in this post should be construed as medical advice from the medical staff at BioDesign Wellness Center, Inc., nor is this post intended to be a substitute for medical counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate medical advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a licensed medical professional in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.