Is coffee mold actually making you sick?

Is coffee mold actually making you sick?

Author: QuickAndDirtyTips.com, Monica Reinagel March 18, 2026 Duration: 12:24

856. According to the internet, your morning brew might be hiding "mold toxins" that cause brain fog, fatigue, and digestive issues. But is mold-free coffee a bona fide health breakthrough, or just a clever marketing play?

This week, Monica takes a closer look at the science of mycotoxins in coffee, specifically Ochratoxin A (OTA). We separate food safety facts from "wellness guru" fiction to find out if standard coffee beans are actually undermining your health.

  • What Mycotoxins Are: Understanding the difference between visible mold and chemical compounds like Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A.
  • The Roasting Defense: Why the roasting process is your best protection against toxins and why "green coffee" products carry different risks.
  • Hazard vs. Risk: A crucial distinction in food safety—is the presence of a toxin the same thing as a threat to your health?
  • Practical Prevention: 4 simple steps to minimize exposure—from checking "roasted on" dates to proper home storage—without paying a premium for specialty brands.
  • The Big Picture: How coffee compares to tea, herbal infusions, and cocoa when it comes to OTA levels.

Related Episodes:

  • Episode #517: Aflatoxins in Peanuts
  • Episode #355: The Difference Between Hazard and Risk

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age

Have a nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

Follow Nutrition Diva on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more diet and nutrition tips. 

Find out about Monica's keynotes and other programs at WellnessWorksHere.com

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


You're probably tired of the constant noise around what to eat, with every headline seeming to contradict the last. Nutrition Diva cuts through that confusion. Hosted by Monica Reinagel, a seasoned expert from QuickAndDirtyTips.com, this weekly conversation feels like getting clear, practical advice from a trusted friend who actually understands the science. Instead of pushing fads, Monica takes the latest nutrition research and unpacks it in a way that makes sense for real life, separating the solid findings from the hype. She directly tackles the questions that pop up in your own kitchen, whether you're wondering about a new superfood or just trying to pack a better lunch. The goal isn't perfection, but building a sensible, sustainable approach to food that leaves you feeling informed and in control. Tuning into this podcast means replacing anxiety with actionable knowledge, so you can make choices that are right for you without the dogma. It's a grounded resource for anyone who wants to think about health and eating well, but could do without the extreme diets and scare tactics.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 832

Nutrition Diva
Podcast Episodes
Are you making your smoothies all wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
Studies suggest that common ingredient combinations can reduce nutrient absorption. But don’t abandon your smoothie routine just yet. New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the…
Are GLP-1s the “cure” for our addictive food supply? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:12
Do the new anti-obesity medications treat a metabolic disease or a psychological one? New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica her…
BONUS: Dirty Dozen - Much ado about nothing? (Reissue) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:19
Monica revisits The Dirty Dozen list and whether or not these foods with the highest level of pesticides are, in fact, unsafe to consume. This is a reissue of an episode that aired in 2024, and remains relevant, as the 2…
Should certain foods come with warning labels? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:02
Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler believes it’s time to treat certain foods the way we treat cigarettes. But food is not tobacco. Dr. Kessler's new book Diet, Drugs, and DopamineRelated Episodes:A provocative new stu…
Can we really be addicted to food? (With Dr. David Kessler) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:27
Today's episode explores whether certain foods can be addictive, with insight from Dr. David Kessler, former FDA Commissioner and author of "Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine." Monica and Dr. Kessler discuss the concept of food…
Beef vs. beans: A shootout at the breakfast corral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:59
Fiber and protein can both work to tame your appetite. But both have a lot of other important jobs to do as well. Can we optimize for both? Transcript: https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/beef-vs-beans-a-shoot…
Multi-grain vs whole grain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:41
Do you think of these labels as being more or less interchangeable? Today, we’ll clear up some of the confusion around multi-grain and whole grain labels.New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for…