GLYPHOSATE AND OUR HEALTH
The name Glyphosate may not be that familiar but its the main ingredient in the well known weed killer Roundup (manufactured by Monsanto) that we will recognise as we stroll around the local garden centre. It is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, sprayed on many crops to control weeds including around 80% of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Not only used in agriculture, it is sprayed in public spaces such as parks and streets in many towns and cities in the UK, as well as our own private gardens, however some local authorities have banned its use in public spaces.
It has been used in the UK since 1976, and created by Monsanto in around 1974 which followed the ban on DDT(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) pesticide which exposed by the American marine biologist Rachel Carson in her groundbreaking book ‘ Silent Spring’.
Glyphosate is found in our food and our environment with links to negative effects on our health. It was labelled ‘probably carcinogenic’ in 2015 by the International Agency on Cancer (IARC).
However, this chemical is still being used, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) found that the amount of glyphosate use in the UK farming grew by 360 tonnes (16 per cent). In the UK it is also sprayed on cereals such as wheat and oats as a pre-harvest dessicant which encourages the crops to dry quickly and evenly, allowing for earlier harvesting. We also find residues on corn, soya beans, as well as meat and dairy (if the cattle is fed on grains at anytime).
Studies on Glyphosate and human health suggests that it may cause toxicity through modulation of the gut microbiome, our gut is teeming with bacteria that play vital roles in maintaining our health by regulating our immune, endocrine and nervous systems. Many studies have have shown that many of the resident gut microbes are senstive to glyphosate exposure such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. When we start to lose our beneficial bacteria we can pave the way for more pathogenic organisms to grow.
Glyphosate has been shown to disrupt the intestinal barrier, by triggering intestinal inflammation, damaging the specilised cells called tight junctions that help keep the intestinal barrier intact protecting us from a variety of toxins and proteins that should not get into the blood stream. This can lead to increased intestinal permeability (known as leaky gut). When our inner barriers are damaged and inflamed this can lead to increase risk of food intolerance’s, allergies, weakened immunity, systemic inflammation as it activates many inflammatory cytokines. Other symptoms may not be so obvious such as skin issues, brain fog, joint pains etc which can occur due to the alteration in our microbes and intestinal barriers.
Other worrying findings is that glyphosate exposure is linked to a variety of health risks, DNA damage, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer of breast, liver, kidney, urinary tract and thyroid. Is is also associated with diabetes, obesity, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological disorders, adverse effects during pregnancy and more.
There also studies to show that Glyphosate exposure may lead to Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). With the increase in gut related diseases, we have to question if Glyphosate is playing a major role owing to its affect on the human microbiome, and intestinal damage.
As with many chemicals they are tested for the high dose poison and not the low, frequent dose. Safety limits are only set for one pesticide at a time. In many of my talks and webinars on detoxification for 25 years I have discussed the ‘ chemical cocktail effects’ which have shown that chemicals when combined with others becoming far more harmful.
The human body has inbuilt detoxification mechanisms to detoxify and eliminate chemicals but the type and amount we are now exposed to can exceed our capacity to clear them. The body will do it’s best to store them (largely in fat cells, bone, liver and kidney’s) and much like the storage on your computer, filing cabinet, or cupboard they too can become overloaded. We must have a steady state of nutrients (a luxury supply) coming in our diet that are vital to support our detoxification pathways. The more toxins we store, the weaker the organs and our life force becomes.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
We can limit our exposure by choosing GMO free and organic where possible, home grown vegetables, local community gardens. We can go to local farm shops who avoid the use of this pesticide.
Organic can be expensive, however some fruits and vegetables have less residue. If you check out Pan UK you will find a list of the dirty dozen and cleaner products to choose.
Look for organic wheat and other grain products where possible, you may have a local baker who uses Glyphosate free flour. Bake your own bread with organic flour.
If you enjoy occasional wine/beer, look for organic.
Ensure good hydration to flush out toxins.
If you eat meat and dairy, look for organic or check local farms to see if they feed the cattle grains.
Enjoy fermented food to nourish our microbes.
Eat a variety of plants to bring a variety of nutrients and to help diversify our inner ecology.
Enjoy more live enzyme rich foods such as green juices, smoothies, raw salads and adding sprouted sprouted products such as broccoli seed sprouts etc.
Ensure adequate fibre from our foods (Glysophate free of course), and binders such as pectin, chlorella, humic and fulvic acids.
As Evidence continues to mount that this common weed killer is harmful to humans, animals, insects and microbes should we wait for this to be banned just like DDT or do our own due diligence, look at the research and choose for ourselves? I know what I would rather do.
References -
Marino M, Mele E, Viggiano A, Nori SL, Meccariello R, Santoro A. Pleiotropic Outcomes of Glyphosate Exposure: From Organ Damage to Effects on Inflammation, Cancer, Reproduction and Development. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 22;22(22):12606. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212606. PMID: 34830483; PMCID: PMC8618927.
Puigbò P, Leino LI, Rainio MJ, Saikkonen K, Saloniemi I, Helander M. Does Glyphosate Affect the Human Microbiota? Life (Basel). 2022 May 9;12(5):707. doi: 10.3390/life12050707. PMID: 35629374; PMCID: PMC9145961.
Zhang L, Rana I, Shaffer RM, Taioli E, Sheppard L. Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis and supporting evidence. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res. 2019 Jul-Sep;781:186-206. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.02.001. Epub 2019 Feb 10. PMID: 31342895; PMCID: PMC6706269.
https://www.pan-uk.org/glyphosate/