Is it mould? OR a lack of melanin??

Welcome to Unstoppables – your weekly dose of circadian sunshine and actionable tips, tools and information to help you become your own health boss.

Everyone’s talking about mould toxicity and mould treatment, but what if I suggested that perhaps the real issue may not start with the mould itself—but rather our body’s natural ability to protect itself? Here’s the fascinating science behind melanin and why rebuilding this ancient defence system could be the missing piece in your health puzzle.

1 Thing I’m Doing

Learning About the Two M’s: Mould and Melanin

This week, I fell down a fascinating rabbit hole that completely changed how I think about one of modern life’s biggest health fears: mould.

It started with a LinkedIn post that stopped me in my tracks. The question was simple, yet profound: Why do people in the Pacific Islands – who are surrounded by mould in humid, tropical environments – rarely suffer from “mould illness,” while those of us in pristine, climate controlled homes in places like Australia seem to be dropping like flies from biotoxin exposure?

The answer isn’t what you’d expect.
It’s not about the mould.
It’s about melanin.

Or more specifically, it’s about what we’ve lost – our body’s incredible internal melanin defence system that’s quietly protected humans for millennia.

What I discovered is that melanin isn’t just the pigment that gives us that lovely sun-kissed glow and tan. It’s a sophisticated biological shield that lines our brain, immune cells, adrenal glands, and tissues throughout the body. It’s our internal armour against oxidative stress, EMFs, and yes—mould toxins.

Here’s a fantastic image of all the places we can find melanin and the important work it’s doing.

Image Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pcmr.12231

But to take it one step further: mould toxins don’t just harm us directly.

They disrupt hypothalamic-pituitary signalling, which decreases alpha-MSH—the hormone that switches on melanin production.

To put it simpler…Mould toxins mess with your brain’s internal communication system, which reduces a key hormone (called alpha-MSH) that tells your body to make melanin.

This means…

Less melanin → more vulnerability
More vulnerability → more inflammation
More inflammation → more mould sensitivity
And so the vicious cycle begins.

And what’s driving this melanin deficiency?
Our disconnection from the very thing that builds it: sunlight.

This week, I’ve been asking some different type of questions.
Not “How do I eliminate every speck of mould from my home and environment?”
But rather…
🌞 “How do I rebuild the melanin that mould took away?”
OR…
🧬 “How do I live a life that protects my internal melanin sheets?”
OR even better…
💪 “How do I live a life that builds my internal melanin sheets and defence system?”

The answers are simpler—and more powerful—than any expensive mould remediation protocol. As we’ll soon find out together.

2 Things I’ve Learnt

Melanin Is Your Body’s Ultimate Biodefence System

It’s become increasingly apparent that we’ve been thinking about melanin all wrong and underestimating its health affirming powers. Melanin is not just about protecting your skin from sunburn—it’s your body’s most sophisticated defence network.

Melanin exists throughout your entire body: in your brain (neuromelanin), your immune cells (melanomacrophages), your liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and even your gut. It’s like having an internal security system that absorbs harmful energy, neutralises oxidative stress, and communicates with your immune system.

But here’s what blew my mind:

Your cells are constantly giving off tiny bits of light – yes, actual light – called ultra-weak photon emissions or UPEs. These light signals come from your mitochondria (the parts of your cells that make energy) and act like a quiet whisper of your body’s internal status.

Melanin can pick up those light whispers. It absorbs them, decodes them, and helps relay important information to your immune system – kind of like a translator between your energy system and your immune defences.

In other words, melanin isn’t just passive pigment. It’s part of a quantum communication system – a light-based messaging network within your body – that helps your cells stay in sync, respond to threats, and heal.

And the real kicker? Most of us have never heard of this. But it’s likely one of the oldest and most elegant systems nature ever designed.

When mould toxins hit your system, they don’t just cause inflammation—they actively disrupt the production of alpha-MSH, the hormone that tells your body to make melanin. It’s like cutting the communication lines of your internal defence system.

This explains why people living in naturally mouldy environments but with high sun exposure (think Pacific Islands, Caribbean, parts of Africa) often have robust health despite being surrounded by what we’d consider “toxic” levels of mould. Their melanin systems are thriving from constant sun exposure, giving them the biological resilience to handle environmental challenges.

Meanwhile, those of us living in “clean” indoor environments but starved of sunlight have weakened melanin systems—making us vulnerable to even small mould exposures.

The Real Mould Problem Isn’t Perhaps the Mould—It’s Our Mitochondrial Collapse

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: we’ve existed alongside mould since the dawn of humanity. Our ancestors lived in caves, huts, and environments that would horrify a modern mould inspector. Yet chronic mould illness wasn’t the epidemic it is today.

What’s changed isn’t the mould—it’s us.

We’ve created the perfect storm for melanin deficiency: artificial light exposure, minimal sun contact, disrupted sleep, chronic stress, and electromagnetic pollution (yup, that would be all the devices and Wi-fi surrounding us). All of these factors weaken our mitochondrial function and, consequently, our melanin production.

Dr Ritchie Shoemaker, a leader in mould-related illness research, measures alpha-MSH as a key marker in patients with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Low alpha-MSH equals bad news. But alpha-MSH isn’t just an inflammation marker—it’s the switch that activates melanin synthesis.

Think about it: when your mitochondria are functioning optimally (through adequate sunlight, proper circadian rhythms, and minimal EMF exposure), they support robust melanin production. This melanin then protects your mitochondria from oxidative damage, creating a positive feedback loop of cellular health.

But when we live disconnected from natural light cycles, buried under artificial lighting, and surrounded by EMFs, our mitochondrial function collapses. Weak mitochondria mean poor melanin production. Poor melanin production means vulnerability to environmental stressors like mould.

It’s not about creating a sterile environment—it’s about building biological resilience.

Helpful Resources for Those Suffering Mould Related Health Issues

If you’re reading this and you’ve been struggling with chronic symptoms that you suspect might be mould-related, please know that your experience is valid and real.

Mould illness (CIRS – Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) is a complex condition that affects approximately 25% of the population who have a genetic predisposition to struggle with biotoxin elimination. If you’ve been told “it’s all in your head” or dismissed by healthcare providers, that’s not okay.

While building your natural resilience through circadian health, which is the foundation of Unstoppables, is incredibly valuable for everyone, those dealing with active mould exposure and CIRS often need additional, specialised support alongside these foundational practices.

Dr Shoemaker has pioneered much of the research and treatment protocols for mould-related illness. His work has helped thousands of people reclaim their health when conventional medicine couldn’t provide answers so here are some resources that may help.

Key Resources from Dr Shoemaker’s work:

• SurvivingMold.com – Comprehensive information about CIRS and treatment protocols
• Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) Test – A 15 minute screening tool to help you determine if mould illness is affecting you (plus a printout and follow-up email).
• Surviving Mould Down Under – A guide to implementing Dr Shoemaker’s 14 Step Mold Eradication process in Australia (warning: it is quite technical and you would probably need a qualified practitioner to help with this).
• Find a Dr Shoemaker Practitioner in Your Area – Whilst these practitioners are mostly located in the United States, I’m sure some would do online consults if you wanted to tap into this resource remotely.

If you suspect mould illness, perhaps working with a healthcare provider trained in the Dr Shoemaker Protocol is something worth exploring. Your health journey matters, and you deserve support that acknowledges the complexity of what you’re experiencing. Good luck on your health journey and I’m here if you need me.

3 Things To Explore

How to Build Your Melanin Naturally

Building melanin isn’t about taking a supplement or following a complicated protocol—it’s about returning to the foundational practices that naturally support its production. And here’s the beautiful thing: these aren’t separate, overwhelming changes. They’re all part of one integrated approach to living in harmony with your circadian biology.

☀️ Strategic Sun Exposure: Start with morning sunlight to activate your circadian rhythm and gradually build your solar tolerance. The UVA rays in morning light (first few hours after sunrise) begin the melanin production process without burning. Just one thing. As for those stylish sunglasses? Put them at the back of your drawer, and leave them there.

🌅 Never Miss a Sunrise: Those infrared and red light wavelengths at sunrise don’t just wake you up—they prime your melanin-producing cells for the day ahead.

🌊 Grounding: Direct skin contact with the earth (especially your palms and the soles of your feet) provides electrons that support the redox reactions necessary for healthy melanin function.

🥩 Nutrient Density: Melanin production requires specific nutrients—copper, zinc, tyrosine, and others found in organ meats, shellfish, and other traditional foods.

💤 Prioritise Sleep: Quality sleep in complete darkness allows your body to repair and regenerate melanin-producing cells. Block out that pesky light coming from the street and under your door.

🌿 Circadian Eating: Eating in sync with your natural rhythms supports the hormonal cascade that drives melanin production.

The magic happens when these practices work together as a complete system—not just individual “hacks,” but a way of living that honours your body’s innate wisdom.

Join the STRONG Society To Build Your Melanin & Redox

Tomorrow, I’m launching something super exciting (at least I hope you think so) – it’s my STRONG in 30 program which brings all of these melanin-building practices together in one simple, daily approach.

Keep an eye on your Inbox tomorrow  and I hope you’ll join me on this very exciting journey.

Building your biological resilience shouldn’t feel overwhelming—it should feel like coming home to yourself.

Building Your Biological Terrain (The Béchamp Approach)

Antoine Béchamp, who we spoke about a couple of weeks ago, understood something that modern medicine often forgets: “The microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything.” This wisdom applies perfectly to the mould conversation.

Maybe the real question isn’t “How do I eliminate every trace of mould from my environment?”

Maybe it’s “How do I build the kind of biological resilience that my ancestors had—the kind that allowed humans to thrive in every environment on Earth?”

The answer lies not in expensive air purifiers and endless supplements, but in the simple, foundational practices that build melanin and mitochondrial health: sunlight, grounding, proper sleep, and living in rhythm with nature.

Your body already knows how to handle environmental challenges. You just need to give it the tools—the light, the rhythm, the connection—to do what it’s designed to do.

Because melanin isn’t just pigment. It’s your superpower.

Getting More Than You Seek

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than they seek.” – John Muir