Dear ,
It’s no secret that Americans love peanuts. From peanut butter sandwiches to peanut butter cookies, candies and peanut-filled trail mix, we consume over 1.5 billion pounds of peanut products each year.
And while this all-American “nut” is touted as a healthy and inexpensive source of protein and folate, peanuts are not the health food they’re cracked up to be.
Many people choose to avoid peanuts due to food allergies. Others follow a legume-free Paleo diet, or reduce consumption of peanut products due to the inflammatory omega-6 fats (the
predominant fat in peanuts).
But there is another reason to be cautious about America’s favorite snack food...
Aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by certain species of mold
(Aspergillus).
This type of mold thrives in decaying vegetation, hay, grains... and in the soil around crops grown in a hot, humid environment.
And peanuts, with their thin, porous shells and primary growing region in the Southern hemisphere, are prime candidates for this type of fungal invasion. After
harvesting, the fungus continues to grow – producing more aflatoxin – as the peanuts are stored and further processed.
And while the idea of eating "moldy" foods may seem unpalatable, there’s a more serious reason to avoid this toxin: Cancer.
Lowering Your Defenses against Cancer
Aflatoxin is a powerful carcinogen (a cancer-causing agent) and mutagen (a substance that mutates cells). It has been found to cause liver cancer in animals. It is also correlated with human liver cancer in developing countries, where consumption of peanuts and other aflatoxin-contaminated foods is high.
Aflatoxin promotes cancer by targeting a specific gene called,
p53.
This is also known as the “tumor suppressor gene,” for its ability to halt the formation of tumors. Without p53, there is no “stop signal” for cell division. As cells grow and divide unchecked, tumors form.
In fact this gene is so important in the formation and
spread of cancer that a recent paper, published in the journal, Nature, states that,
“It seems nearly impossible for a normal cell to become a cancer cell unless it inactivates the p53 network.”
And that is exactly what aflatoxin does...
Aflatoxin also causes liver cells to die and reduces your liver’s ability to produce glutathione – a powerful cancer-fighting substance and your body's "master detoxifier".
How Much Aflatoxin Is Safe?
US food safety regulations have set a limit of 20 µg/kg of aflatoxin in food products. The limits in Europe are much lower. However, the truth is that we don’t know how much (if any) aflatoxin is safe. And even very small exposures can add up to a significant cumulative burden.
In fact, ingesting low levels of aflatoxin over a long period of time has been implicated in liver cancer, chronic
hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis and impaired nutrient assimilation.
And because aflatoxins are very stable, they can survive high temperatures with little degradation. That means cooking, baking or roasting doesn’t afford any protection, according to recent studies.
Protect Yourself from Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin might be common—but there’s plenty you can do to keep your exposure low:
✅Avoid the top offenders: Peanuts, corn, wheat, and cottonseed
oil
✅ Inspect your food: Steer clear of moldy, shriveled, or discolored nuts
✅ Skip bulk bins & DIY nut butters: Do-it-yourself nut butters found in health food stores typically have higher levels of aflatoxin, as these nuts are stored in the grinding chamber for weeks or months. Avoid bulk nuts for the same reason.
✅ Eat detox-supporting foods: Carrots, celery, parsley, onions, garlic, and leafy greens
✅ Choose clean sources: Opt for grass-fed animal products and trusted brands that test for toxins
But What If It's Already In Your System?
Even when you’re doing everything right, tiny amounts of aflatoxin can sneak in—in trace amounts from common foods, coffee, even spices and dried fruit.
Over time, these toxins accumulate in your liver, silently burdening your body’s detox system and increasing your long-term risk for chronic illness.
The warning signs often go unnoticed—until the damage has begun.
👉 Learn the hidden signs of liver overload and how a “detox crystal” can help flush out dangerous toxins safely.
To Your Health!
HealingGourmet.com
P.S. Mold-containing foods don’t just increase your exposure to aflatoxin—they can also feed
Candida.
If you're dealing with overgrowth, your liver is already handling a high toxic load—and aflatoxins further impair its ability to keep up.
REFERENCES
Staib, F., Hussain, S.P., Hofseth, L.J., Wang, X.W. and Harris, C.C. (2003) TP53 and liver carcinogenesis. Hum Mutat, 21, 201-216.
The p53 tumor suppressor
protein - Genes and Disease - NCBI Bookshelf
Eds Barug D. et al. The mycotoxin factbook: Food & feed topics. Wageningen, Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2006.
Bennett J.W., & Klich M. Mycotoxins Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2003, 16(3), 497-516.
Peterson S, Lampe JW, Bammler TK, Gross-Steinmeyer K, Eaton DL. Apiaceous
vegetable constituents inhibit human cytochrome P-450 1A2 (hCYP1A2) activity and hCYP1A2-mediated mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Sep;44(9):1474-84. Epub 2006 Apr 27.
Gross-Steinmeyer K, Eaton DL. Dietary modulation of the biotransformation and genotoxicity of aflatoxin B(1). Toxicology. 2012 Sep 28;299(2-3):69-79. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2012.05.016. Epub 2012 May
26.
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