What this herbicide does to your health is serious

Glyphosate, or Roundup, is the world’s most widely produced chemical and is a herbicide used in growing food in Australia and the US.

It kills weeds by targeting enzymes. It's supposedly safe for humans and animals because it affects pathways that don’t occur in our cells.

Yet these pathways are used by human and animal bacteria. And given that many of our cells and genes are not human but belong to our bacteria, their susceptibility to glyphosate can have negative health consequences.

Glyphosate

  • Kills beneficial bacteria e.g. lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, bacillus species

  • Allows harmful bacteria to flourish e.g. salmonella, clostridia, klebsiella

  • Increases antibiotic resistance

  • Pulls key minerals from the body e.g. zinc, calcium, folate (B9), selenium

  • Interferes with the synthesis of amino acids, leading to shortages of neurotransmitters

  • Interferes with CYP enzyme function, hindering the metabolisation of drugs/toxins through liver detoxification

  • Increases antibiotic resistance

The health consequences include

  • Weakened immunity

  • IBS, colitis

  • Kidney and liver disease

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Coeliac disease

  • Birth defects

  • Reproductive issues

  • Many cancers

  • Neurological conditions e.g. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

  • Mental health issues e.g. depression, anxiety

  • Autism, ADHD

The most common foods containing glyphosate are

  • Non-organic cereals and grains

  • GMO foods e.g. corn, soy, canola

  • Food additives

  • Non-organic fruits and vegetables

  • Packaged and sugary foods

  • Some nuts and seeds e.g. almonds, sunflower

You really do need to protect you and your loved ones, including any animals, from glyphosate. How?

  1. Eat organic where possible

  2. If too expensive, follow the EWG’s ‘Clean 15 & Dirty Dozen’ guide for the worst and safest foods

  3. Wash non-organic produce with water and vinegar, or a vegetable wash made from 1 c cold water, ½ c white vinegar, 1 tbp lemon juice

  4. Drink filtered water

  5. Detoxify, including by using glutathione

  6. Use natural gardening techniques⠀