Glyphosate is the active chemical found in the toxic weed killer, Roundup herbicide. Ever since its introduction in 1976, it has been the consistent “go-to” when spraying genetically modified crops, fields, home gardens and even grassy areas in public spaces, such as public parks or roadsides. Unfortunately, glyphosate is associated with some serious concerns because this toxic chemical is not “selective” in what it kills (think “gut flora”) and is being clearly linked to a large number of significant health issues and diseases. And yet currently there are no plans to discontinue its use.
Let’s Paint a Clear Picture
Take a moment to look through your kitchen cupboard and refrigerator and see if these items are there:
- Non-organic fruits and vegetable: carrots, celery, lemons, cantaloupe, pumpkins, papaya
- oats or wheat
- corn products
- soy products (Please eliminate these right away)
- canola oil (and this)
- dry beans
- garlic
- olives
- pecans
- honey
- General Mills Cheerios (of course, we are hoping this is not in your pantry)
- Ritz Crackers (or this)
- infant formula (or this) …or breast milk
If so, then there is a very strong possibility that you have ingested glyphosate…and this is only a small portion of list. In fact, when anyone eats a genetically modified food that has been washed and peeled or when a child plays soccer in a community field that was “treated” with Roundup or when a person simply enjoys his/her morning bowl of Maple Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal, they are putting themselves at risk to possibly absorbing glyphosate into their blood stream. Of course, if you are following our recommendations, you have abandoned instant oatmeal in favor of properly soaked oats.
What are the REAL Dangers?
One of the large contributors to glyphosate research is research scientist Dr. Stephanie Seneff. In 2013, she identified “two key problems in autism that are unrelated to the brain yet clearly associated with the condition – both of which are linked with glyphosate exposure: gut dysbiosis (imbalances in gut bacteria, inflammation, leaky gut, food allergies such as gluten intolerance) and disrupted sulfur metabolism/sulfur and sulfate deficiency.”
However, the problems don’t stop there.
Most recently, after cancer researcher Dr. Zach Bush opened a plant-based nutrition clinic, he began questioning the “science on the nutrients’ impact on mitochondrial metabolism. As a result, he took a closer look at industrial farming practices and in a recent interview he shared some of his thoughts:
- You need healthy soil to grow healthy foods. If the healthy soil is removed, the micronutrients are not present and leaves some deficient.
- Glyphosate blocks tryptophan pathways and are necessary for amino acids and alkaloids. A person requires amino acids and alkaloids to get the “medicinal quality of food.”
- Glyphosate also disrupts “intercellular communication, which is the heart of all disease,” and most likely the explanation why “half of Americans are chronically ill.”
- 30% of the “on and off” switches are dependent on our ecosystem and not our bloodstream. Therefore, “we have got to get a complicated ecosystem back. We have to stop taking antibiotics, for sure. We need to stop eating and spraying antibiotics all over our food and soil.”
Sadly, here’s some additional illnesses and diseases connected to glyphosate:
- Cancer
- Liver damage
- Kidney and skin cell damage
- Brain and organ development
- Neurological issues, such as Alzheimer’s, ADD, ADHD
- Birth defects
- Allergies
- Multiple sclerosis
- Autism
- Endocrine disruptors
- Infertility
- Gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s, colitis, IBS
- the list goes on and on!
Any Changes?
In 2016 the U.S. Department of Agriculture began coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration plans “to start testing samples of corn syrup for glyphosate residues.” However, when asked about the plan prior to the intended start date, “a USDA spokesman said no glyphosate residue testing would be done at all by USDA this year.” In fact, they felt that a “more efficient use of resources” was to begin testing honey, which covers more than 100 pesticides and requires a completely different methodology.
In spite of other countries banning glyphosate in order to protect themselves, the long list of potential disease and illness connections, and the fact that the International Agency of Research for Cancer classifies glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” Roundup is still be sprayed in public places and on commercial farms. Nothing has changed in the way industrial farming works with the soil and the USDA is doing NO further research.
We urge you to educate yourselves on the dangers of glyphosate and insist that your Congressmen and Senators make a stand. Please watch Zach Bush, MD’s interview and share it with those you love. And most importantly, make a stand with your pocket book. Avoid purchasing foods exposed to glyphosate. Keep your home GMO-free.
