There are people who are genetically susceptible to mold toxicity. In other words, these people have certain genes that code for proteins that make them particularly sensitive to mold toxins.

The truth is we are constantly exposed to different toxins, including mold toxins. Most people can tolerate this exposure until some critical threshold is crossed, and then their immune system gets overwhelmed, setting up a complex inflammatory cascade that can lead to illness.

There are other people who develop an immune inflammatory cascade at lower levels of mold toxin exposure. These individuals can’t make antibodies to toxins that would neutralize them. Instead, their immune system and organs are overwhelmed by the toxic insult, which in turn leads to an inflammatory cascade.

Certain genetic tests can help determine if you are prone to mold toxicity. A gene called HLA-DR, which is found on chromosome 6, can lead to problems when a carrier is exposed to mold or other toxins. People with this gene can’t neutralize toxins as well as those who don’t carry the gene. There are estimates that 25 percent of people carry this gene, and are therefore at greater risk for adverse reactions to mold and other toxins.

But just because you have a certain gene doesn’t mean you’re going to have a specific problem. There are many other factors involved.

The way people express their genetic code depends on how they treat their genes. For example, eating a healthy diet free of refined sugar will free up the body’s immune system to deal with toxic exposures. That’s because sugar paralyzes white blood cells for approximately five hours. Obviously eating sugar will hinder an immune system trying to deal with a toxic exposure or an infectious agent.

Similarly, it’s important to maintain optimal hydration and get regular exercise. You don’t need a genetic test to tell you that.

Personally, I don’t perform a lot of genetic tests because I feel it’s more important to follow a beneficial lifestyle so that your genetic code is given the best chance to keep you healthy.