Why You Must Poop to Detox Mold Safely

by Liz Roman, Board Certified Functional Practitioner, MRWS, FNTP, PN2

Our elimination pathways are our built-in filtration system — they help keep the good stuff in and move the bad stuff out. Think of them like your body’s own drainage system. When everything’s flowing, your body can detox naturally. But what happens when you’re constipated or your bowels are sluggish? That “drain” gets clogged and toxins start to back up in the funnel. (See image below for a visual.)

If you’re dealing with mold exposure, one of the most toxic, immune-disrupting threats in our environment, that backup becomes a serious problem. You cannot detox mold effectively if you’re not pooping daily. Period.

Toxins vs. Mycotoxins: What You Need to Know

Before we dive deeper, it’s important to understand the difference between toxins and mycotoxins — two terms often used interchangeably but with key distinctions.

Toxins are any substances that cause adverse effects in the body. They can be:

  • Naturally occurring — like snake venom or mold metabolites as mold has always been a part of our environment
  • Man-made — such as pesticides, phthalates, heavy metals – we live in toxic soup so we are exposed to uncontrollable things all the time! 

Mycotoxins, specifically, are toxic compounds produced by certain molds. These aren’t just irritants — they’re biologically active chemicals that can disrupt immune regulation, hormone signaling, detox capacity, and even neurological function.

And here’s the nuance:

The term “mycotoxin” includes several classes — like aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and gliotoxin — each with different effects and detox pathways. So when we say “mold illness,” we’re really referring to the cumulative impact of multiple types of toxic exposure that can build up in the body and contribute to chronic symptoms.

You Can’t Detox If You’re Not Pooping: Why Elimination Comes First

The first step in any real healing journey — especially when mold, parasites, or SIBO are involved — isn’t jumping into antimicrobials. It’s about opening your drainage and detox pathways so your body can safely eliminate what you’re mobilizing.

If those pathways are clogged, toxins don’t leave the body — they recirculate, increasing inflammation, hormone disruption, and immune dysfunction. It’s not just how much toxin you’re exposed to—but whether your body is effectively eliminating it. Toxicants that linger due to poor bile flow, constipation, or sluggish elimination can accumulate and drive ongoing symptoms, particularly in mold illness.

What Are the Drainage Pathways?

Your body has multiple systems working together to clear out waste and toxins. Here’s how they each contribute:

  • Colon (bowels): The final exit route for many toxins, including bile-bound mycotoxins and excess estrogen.
  • Liver: The body’s main filtration system. It transforms toxins into water- or bile-soluble compounds.
  • Gallbladder: Stores and releases bile — a critical carrier of fat-soluble toxins like mycotoxins.
  • Kidneys: Filter blood and eliminate water-soluble waste through urine.
  • Lymphatic system: Collects cellular waste and supports immune function.
  • Skin: Eliminates through sweat, which can be a secondary detox route when others are overloaded.
  • Lungs: Expel volatile compounds and carbon dioxide.

If just one of these is impaired — especially the colon — toxins can build up and circulate back through the bloodstream, a process known as enterohepatic recirculation.

Why Pooping Comes FIRST

Of all these systems, bowel movements are the gatekeepers for effective detox. Without daily, complete elimination, mold toxins get trapped and recycled.

Research has shown that mycotoxins like ochratoxin A are reabsorbed in the gut when bile flow is sluggish or bowel transit is slow, leading to increased oxidative stress, immune suppression, and mitochondrial dysfunction (source).

The Goldilocks Zone: 2 Number Twos a Day

Dr. Jill Crista says it best: “The sweet spot is two Number Twos.” Why two?

  • Optimal Detox: The liver loads mycotoxins into bile, which enters the gut. Without regular bowel movements, these toxins can get reabsorbed.
  • Gut-Brain Connection: Healthy motility often reflects a healthy microbiome — which produces neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA.

Less Herxing, More Healing: In my clinical experience, patients who achieve two solid bowel movements per day tend to move through detox with fewer symptoms, less inflammation, and greater resilience.

What Happens If You Skip This Step?

If you start mold detox — or any eradication protocol — without clearing drainage and elimination first, you can end up feeling worse, not better. That toxic buildup often shows up as:

  • Headaches
  • Skin flares
  • Mood swings
  • Sleep issues
  • Joint pain
  • Major fatigue
  • Histamine issues – rashes, itching, hiving, etc.

These are classic Herxheimer reactions (when the release of toxins triggers an acute immune response, leading to inflammation and a worsening of symptoms), often caused by trying to push toxins out before the body is ready.

So, What Can You Do to Get Things Movin’?

Here are foundational strategies I use in clinical practice:

  • Add Bitters: Herbal bitters (like gentian, dandelion, or artichoke) stimulate bile production. I always recommend starting the day with filtered water, juice of ½-1 whole lemon and mineral salt to stimulate bile flow as well.  
  • Taste Your Food: Savoring meals enhances digestive secretions and motility.
  • Increase Fiber: Fiber binds toxins and encourages bowel movement; be cautious here as more fiber may not be the answer for you! Go low and slow – I would focus on seed and seed husks like chia seed, flaxseed, psyllium husk, etc. 
  • Hydrate Well: Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces daily, plus electrolytes.
  • Support with Supplements (as tolerated):

    • Magnesium citrate or oxide (dose to tolerance to get moving)
    • Vitamin C
    • Gallbladder support (like taurine, ox bile, or phosphatidylcholine)
    • Gentle herbs like senna (short-term, no more than 4 weeks before a break or you can create dependency)
    • Glutathione (start low and slow!)
    • Targeted binders like apple pectin, modified citrus pectin, activated charcoal, clay binders, etc. (can reference the Vibrant specific binding agents sheet as well!) 
    • Colonics or enemas can also be used carefully in stubborn cases.

    Note: If fiber makes things worse — especially in those with SIBO or dysbiosis — back off. Constipation is the bigger risk in mold detox. Loose stools may be inconvenient, but reabsorption is toxic.

Where do I start once I’m pooping daily?

Mold toxicity can feel crushing. It’s everywhere—your home, your car, your kids’ school—so it’s normal to think, “How will I ever get better?” The truth is this: recovery isn’t about erasing mold from the planet. It’s about calming your immune system, reducing exposure, and supporting your body’s ability to clear toxins.

Most people make the mistake of jumping straight into antifungals or aggressive detox. That usually backfires. Why? Because if drainage and detox pathways aren’t open, your body has nowhere to send the toxins you’re stirring up. That’s when symptoms flare.

Step one is always minimizing exposure. This means deep cleaning every space you spend time in—home, car, office, even your kids’ backpacks and sports gear. For mold-focused cleaning, I like many of the EC3 products, because they are nontoxic, but still very effective. My favorites are the EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate and Spray, and EC3 Wipes. It is also important that you pay attention to how you feel in different environments. If your voice gets raspy, your nose runs, or you get headaches when you’re in a certain space, that’s a red flag that something is not agreeing with your body and causing symptoms to occur. 

Minimizing exposure as much as possible also includes what you wear on your body. Don’t forget about clothes: mold spores hitchhike on fabrics, so I recommend washing clothes with a product like EC3 Laundry Additive (bonus—it cleans the washer itself). Schools are notorious for mold, so I use this trick for my kids’ clothing too.

Once you’ve handled exposure and your bowels are moving daily, here are the 5 steps to lay your foundation before adding any eradication agents (biofilm disruptors, antifungal herbs, or antimicrobials):

  • Low-mold diet + high antioxidant, high-fiber foods. If you’re constantly re-toxing, you can’t detox.
  • Hydration with minerals. Remember: the solution to pollution is dilution.
  • Digestive supports (bitters/enzymes, bile support, gut lining support like Immunoglobulins, etc) + daily bowel movements. No shortcuts here.
  • Binders. To grab toxins and move them out.
  • NAC or Glutathione (go slow!). These help your liver process toxins but can be powerful, so ease in.

    Only after this foundation is in place should you start bringing in eradication agents—and even then, keep it low and slow. Work with a mold-literate practitioner to guide you through this process, as it can be lengthy and complex.

Bottom Line: Poop or Back Up!

Yes — binders, glutathione, and antifungals have their place in mold protocols.
But if you’re not pooping 1–3 times daily, you’re not truly detoxing. You’re just stirring the pot.

Detox isn’t about killing pathogens. It’s about moving waste out — daily, efficiently, and without causing collateral damage.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck, inflamed, and foggy… start with the bowels.

Your detox journey starts in the bathroom.

Comments? Questions? Want to learn more? Write to us below or join us for a LIVE event on this topic with Liz Roman and Micro Balance Health Products on October 28, 2025, at 6 PM EST.

About Author Liz Roman:

Liz Roman, famously known as The Poop Queen, is a Board-Certified Functional Nutritional Practitioner and Master Restorative Wellness Practitioner, specializing in gut health and holistic healing.
As the Founder and Co-Owner of FITMOM, a top-tier functional nutrition practice, Liz is dedicated to uncovering and addressing the root causes of digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune challenges, and metabolic health issues.
Liz is also the co-host of the Top 100 podcast in alternative health, The Health Revival Show, where she shares powerful, down-to-earth health strategies that empower women to reclaim control over their well-being.
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