Maybe not everyone knows what glyphosates are, but I bet you have heard the name Roundup. It doesn’t just kill weeds—it has been found to suppress our body’s ability to detoxify, prevents calcium from being transported into our bones, acts as a xenoestrogen, alters our microbiome, and more.

Dr. Seneff PhD, the leading researcher on glyphosates, states that Glyphosate is “…the most important factor in the development of multiple chronic diseases and conditions that have become prevalent in Westernized societies.” She links it to autism, allergies, cancer, Parkinson’s, gut issues, cardiovascular disease, infertility, multiple sclerosis, obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s, and—sadly—even more. 

There are so many great resources out there by Dr. Dr. Stephanie Seneff, PhD, an expert on glyphosate, hat I am only going to cover the basics.

Where is glyphosate found?

Roundup is used on both GMO and conventionally grown crops. According to the EPA, about 100 million pounds of it are applied in the US alone. Testing has found high levels of glyphosate in corn, soy, wheat, alfalfa, animal feed,  and the products that use them–such as farm-raised fish, corn syrup, and soy fillers. I also just saw research that shows that it is now in many o our vaccines due to the egg and bone broth media used. And for those enjoy an occasional drink, it has also been found in beer and even organic wine.

Glyphosate can affect beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which can lead to an increase in the population of harmful organisms in the soil. This may cause increased incidences of crop disease that then require additional use of herbicides and pesticides…and all of that also ends up in our food.

In April 2017, the state of California became the first state to list glyphosate as a known carcinogen, and for good reason. Glyphosate has become so pervasive that researchers have found high levels of it in folks in 18 countries around the world. Breast milk was tested and glyphosate levels were anywhere from 760 to 1,600 times the allowable limit set for European drinking water standards. 

So how does glyphosate affect our health?

Bacteria, fungi, algae, parasites, and plants use something called the “shikimate pathway” in their metabolism. Roundup inhibits this pathway.

Gut Issues

Since humans do not use this pathway, manufacturers claim that we are safe. But according to Dr. Seneff, “Our gut bacteria do have this pathway, and that’s crucial because these bacteria supply our body with important metabolism of amino acids and some B vitamins.”

Our gut microbiome is central to overall health. Glyphosate alters the ratio of good to bad bacteria in our gut.  Certain microbes in our gut can break down some of the glyphosates, but this creates ammonia, and that’s not good for our brain. Since glyphosates were put into widespread use in the 1990s, the number of children with autism has gone from 1 in 5,000 in 1975 to 1 in 68 today, and the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is now over 5.5 million.

In addition, glyphosate has been shown to bind to iron, zinc, cobalt, and manganese, making them unavailable for our use. 

Toxic Effects

It’s not just the glyphosate that may be causing issues. According to an article “Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells,” it may be the inert substances in pesticides that increase its toxic effect. Scientists have recently found that “Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns. One specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself.”

Right now, there are about 4,000 inert ingredients approved by the EPA. What we don’t know is how these ingredients interact with each other and what their cumulative effect is on our health.

Can we test for glyphosates?

Great Plains Laboratory offers a test that determines glyphosate load, but unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about them. Eating organic foods with lots of fibrous vegetables to help produce short chained fatty acids to help the microbiome.

You might consider liver support as well as use of far infrared saunas.

If you’re having glyphosate-related issues, you might want to start with a homeopathic clearing agent to see if you can experience a slight shift in symptoms.