VO₂ Max for Athletes: Overcoming Mold to Reach Your Fitness Goals
Feeling like your workouts are falling flat? Hi, I’m Dr. Jill Crista, naturopathic doctor, mold expert, and author of Break the Mold, and I’m here to share how mold exposure can quietly tank your VO₂ max and your performance.
If you’re doing all the right things and still feel like you’re running through quicksand, it might be mold. This guide offers recovery strategies from my book to help you get back in the game.
Ready to protect your health and hit your fitness goals? On your mark. Let’s go.
Why Mold Tanks Your VO2 Max
One of the fastest ways to lower your VO₂ max? Breathe moldy air. Here’s what many athletes don’t know:
- Not a Fixed Number: Your VO2 max is NOT a fixed quotient, and mold can reduce it significantly.
- Inflammatory Overload: By increasing inflammatory markers it can reduce VO2 max (Kullo et al., 2007, DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01028.2006).
- Performance Blocker: Mold’s effects on lungs and blood flow hinder aerobic capacity.
How Mold Impacts Athletic Performance
There are so many ways that mold exposure chips away at your endurance. Here are a few of the most common:
- Mast Cell Reactions: Mast cell reactions to spores cause histamine-driven breathing issues (Seyed Toutounchi et al., 2019, DOI: 10.3390/toxins11110665).
- Lung Blockage: Mold fragments can lodge into the lung tissue and block CO₂–O₂ exchange. That means less oxygen gets to your muscles, reducing endurance.
- Inflammation and Heme Disruption: Mycotoxins increase systemic inflammation and reduce heme, the base of hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood (Gentry, 1982, PMID: 7172105).
Even small, repeated exposures to moldy air can slowly erode your aerobic capacity and recovery.
My Antifungal Approach to Protect Your VO2 Max
The best running route? Away from mold. My book Break the Mold, teaches the five tools I’ve used with thousands of patients to recover from mold-related illness, including athletes.
- Avoid Mold Exposure: This is the #1 strategy. You can’t heal in the environment that made you sick. The “Avoidance” tool in the book shows you how to identify and limit exposure.
- Low-Mold Diet: Fungal foods (like mushrooms, blue cheese, or alcohol) can amplify symptoms. My “Fundamentals” tool outlines how to eat clean for mold recovery.
- Antifungal Support: Herbs like thyme, oregano, and pau d’arco help the body naturally fight back. These are part of the “Fight” tool in my book, a critical piece for athletes regaining endurance.
Tips to Outrun Mold and Boost Endurance
Athlete – you can break the mold and take back your health! Here’s how:
- Follow the 5 Tools from Break the Mold: These strategies are simple, clear, and backed by experience.
- Use Antifungals: Herbs like thyme, oregano, and pau d’arco can be strong allies.
- Boost Glutathione: Support detox with glutathione-rich foods or supplements to reduce oxidative stress from mold.
- Reduce Mold Exposure: Keep your home, gym, and car mold-free. Air filters and dehumidifiers help.
- Work With a Pro: Look for a practitioner trained in mold illness. Directories like NAEM or ISEAI can help you find one.
With the right plan, your energy and strength can return.
You’re Ready to Break the Mold and Thrive!
You can protect your VO₂ max. You can reclaim your strength. This isn’t just about recovery. It’s about moving forward stronger, faster, and more resilient than before.
So let’s go! Save this guide and share it with an athlete who needs it. Join my newsletter for recovery tips and grab a copy of Break the Mold for the full roadmap
You were made to move. Mold doesn’t get the final say.
Disclaimer This content is health information and not intended as personal medical advice. Viewing will not establish a doctor-patient relationship. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. The information discussed is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Reliance on information provided by Dr. Jill Crista, employees, or others appearing at the invitation of Dr. Crista is solely at your own risk.ly at your own risk.