4000 Middlefield Road, Room H-1
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Commonly occurring fungi in foods and the environment can produce toxins known as mycotoxins, which cause a large variety of health problems in humans and animals, ranging from allergic response to immuno-suppression, cancer, endocrine disruption, thyroid over or under activity, atherosclerosis, Crohn's Disease/IBD, and diabetes. Some act by interfering with protein synthesis, while others are neurotoxins that may cause trembling at low doses, but brain damage at higher doses. Some affect DNA replication.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that fungi create to prevent other fungi, bacteria, or animals from eating the fungi's food source. Our immune systems cannot detect these mycotoxins (which are small molecules) under normal circumstances, although the fungi themselves are often allergic triggers.

Fungi are masters at producing a wide array of biologically active substances which serve the producing fungus extremely well. These biological metabolites are anti-predatory, i.e. territory protective, and exist to ensure that the fungus will survive as long as possible in this quite hostile world. These metabolites are anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-protozoan, anti-insect, anti-animal and, of course, anti-human. These metabolites, "mycotoxins", are derived from the Greek mykes, meaning fungus, and toxicum, meaning toxin or poison. While fungi are potentially our enemies, some of their mycotoxins, such as penicillin, have proven to be beneficial to humans who suffer from bacterial infections or other diseases.

David Asprey, President of Smart Life Forum, will give a presentation on mycotoxins including the major sources in our environment and food supply, the diseases they may be linked to, and what supplements can be used to reduce the risk of disease from mycotoxin exposure.

Official Website: http://www.smartlifeforum.org

Added by FullCalendar on January 8, 2010

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