Glyphosate 

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is most commonly known as the active ingredient found in Round Up. It is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is widely used in agricultural practices to treat crops. Its purpose is to kill weeds and grasses that compete with crops and to increase the crop yield. It is also used as a "desiccant", which helps to dry up the crops in preparation for harvest.

Interesting Fact: The United States uses more glyphosate in its agriculture than most other countries in the world.

How is Glyphosate Disruptive To the Body? 

As a synthetic (man-made) chemical, glyphosate serves ZERO physiologic purpose in our bodies. Furthermore, once glyphosate is ingested or absorbed, our bodies aren’t quite sure what to do with it. We are not equipped with any cellular machinery or enzymes to break down glyphosate, which allows it to accumulate over time. 

Some will claim that after spraying, glyphosate naturally breaks down in just a few weeks if conditions are ideal. Recent research studies have brought this claim into question. For example, a study published in 2021 found that plants sprayed with glyphosate still showed residue of the chemical in the plant 12 years later (Botten et. al).

The problem with glyphosate is that folks feel fine after ingesting produce that have been treated with it. Over time, however, the accumulation of glyphosate in our bodies can potentially lead to a number of chronic illnesses and diseases, including neurotoxicity and different types of cancers.

Elevated levels of glyphosate have been linked to:

• Diabetes 
• Cardiovascular diseases like High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol 
• Obesity 
• Gluten sensitivity 
• Autoimmune diseases 
• Fatty Liver Disease 
• Autism 
• Chronic GI issues like Leaky Gut Syndrome

Feeling a little inflamed and brain foggy?

Glyphosate has also been shown in animal models to disrupt the blood brain barrier as well as cause inflammation in the liver.  

Something else to consider: 

Just as humans lack the enzymes to break down glyphosate, plants and animals have the same problem once they absorb it. This results in an accumulation of glyphosate in the plants and animals we eat. 

And on top of that… 

Plants are smart and are evolving to become more resistant to glyphosate. What has the answer to this been? Spray more and more glyphosate on the plants!

A contaminated environment:

Studies done by the US Geological Survey have shown detectable levels of glyphosate in rivers, streams, and even rainwater. Yikes.

So, how can we protect ourselves?

Minimize our Exposure

1. Eat organic if you can:

The best way to avoid glyphosate in our diet is to eat organic produce as much as possible. Legally, organic crops cannot be sprayed with products containing glyphosate.   

Interesting Fact: 

Glyphosate strips produce of its natural vitamins and minerals. So, if you are eating non-organic foods, then your food is less nutrient dense. That means you have to eat MORE of it in order to gain the same benefits as eating organic food.   

2: Be aware of what GMO means: 

Know that non-GMO (or non-genetically modified) and organic are not the same thing. Genetically modified plants have been engineered to naturally produce their own pesticides, or to withstand treatment with glyphosate. Ever heard of “Round-up Ready” crops? These plants have been modified to stay alive when treated with glyphosate, which would normally kill the plant. In a perfect world, we would prefer all of our food to be both non-GMO and organic.  

3. Avoid using non-organic cosmetic products 

4. Avoid gelatin from collagen harvested from animals that are non-organic and GMO fed:

This would include:

• Gelatin capsules
• Gelatin containing foods (like collagen powder)

5. If you can, try to avoid the following non-organic foods as they have been shown to have much higher concentrations of glyphosate: 

• Wheat 
• Grains 
• Legumes (beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, and soybeans) 
• Barley 
• Rice 
• Chickpeas (anybody love hummus?) 
• Grapes (anybody enjoy the occasional glass of wine?) 

How Can We Help Aid our System in Breaking Down Glyphosate? 

Here are some specific and actionable steps to take to help your body eliminate glyphosate: