I have a rare condition that causes my body to produce BEER trends now
A former schoolteacher almost had his life destroyed by a rare condition he was suffering that caused his body to create alcohol.
Mark Mongiardo, 40, from Florida, suffers from auto-brewery syndrome, a condition where microbes in his gut convert sugar into alcohol. It makes him appear drunk even if he hasn't been drinking.
The diagnosis only came after he had lost his whole career, house and had to move in with his wife's family. She had even begun suspecting him of sneaking beers when no one was around.
But, Mr Mongiardo had already been dragged over the coals by bosses who accused him of 'smelling of alcohol' at school. In 2019 when he was pulled over twice for 'drink driving' in six months despite not touching alcohol.
To handle his condition today Mr Mongiardo says he has to take 30 tablets a day and lives on a low-carb diet with no pasta and pizza — hard for an Italian American. He says he always takes a breathalyzer test before driving.
Mark Mongiardo, 40, from Florida, was diagnosed with auto-brewery disease, where his body makes its own alcohol which could make him drunk even when he wasn't drinking
The former sports teacher had been hauled over the coals by bosses for years before two 'drink driving' charges in six months led him to lose his job. The felony charges meant not even Aldi supermarket would give him a job, leaving him losing his home, job and having to move in with the in-laws
Mr Mongiardo now takes 30 pills a day and follows a low-carb diet to stop his body from making more alcohol. He is shown above with his children and wife, who have not been named
'For years, [my wife] thought I was hiding drinking and I would come home each day and I would basically be drunk,' he told TODAY.
'I had symptoms of being intoxicated from slurring speech to balance issues. And this happened even at social events where I had not been drinking.'
Mr Mongiardo began teaching sports in 2005 at a school in New Jersey, but was quickly hauled before the principal after parents said he 'smelt of alcohol'.
Throughout his career in teaching, and particularly between 2012 and 2016, he was repeatedly summoned by principles over these claims — even though he wouldn't dream of touching alcohol around children.
In 2018, he switched roles and became an athletic director.
Three weeks into the job, he was pulled over by police, breathalyzed. They accused him of drink driving after he surpassed the legal limit.
Mr Mongiardo insisted he hadn't been drinking and his boss at the time said they were 'willing to move past it' because they were so pleased with his work.
Six months later, when he was pulled over and breathalyzed by police again, they had to let him go.
'That's when I lost everything. I lost everything that somebody could
