What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a chemical compound which is used for broad-spectrum herbicide application, used routinely with genetically modified crops. The crops are programmed to survive the herbicide, killing only the weeds around it after treatment with the liquid toxin. If that is not enough, some farmers practice usage prior to harvest to dry out certain crops to make gathering harvest easier, leaving greater glyphosate residue behind. Common national and generic brands of herbicide contain glyphosate.
Apparently, many are still unaware of the potential adverse side effects of this bio-toxin (see below), as I recently asked a master gardener how to best control weeds in my organic garden, and I was quickly told, “Just use Roundup”. The current rate of application of glyphosate in the US is now a staggering 300 million pounds per year. Not surprisingly, glyphosate has been making an appearance in the news quite a bit lately. How could it not?
What are possible health risks of glyphosate?
With the increase in public health concerns and hefty lawsuits, glyphosate continues to be fiercely under scrutinty. To date, these are just a few health risks that glyphosate has shown either correlation to or causation of:
- Inhibition of tight junction function (1)
- Double risk of lymphoma (2)
- Stimulate estrogenic dependent breast cancer (3)
“These results indicated that low and environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate possessed estrogenic activity.” - Toxic, endocrine disruptors (4)
“Cytotoxic effects started at 10 ppm with Alamar Blue assay (the most sensitive), and DNA damages at 5 ppm.” - Neurotoxicity (5)
Why is avoidance is not enough?
Glyphosate consumption can be reduced by eating organic and non-GMO foods. Reduce or avoid grain crops that may have been sprayed before harvest. Limit eating the meat from animals that are fed contaminated grains, as wild pastured animals may be the best choices for meat eaters. Avoiding toxic-chemical based herbicides in the garden and walkways is highly recommended. Limiting environmental exposures is a safeguard against contaminants.
However, recent studies have indicated that glyphosate was found in at least 75% of air and rain tested in a geological Mississippi investigation. Glyphosate has quickly been found in other unappetizing places, such as California wines and also… beer. You can view a recent Moms Across America article or jump straight to study results. Other recent reports and a few lawsuits have permeated the news revealing some favorite “natural” food brands were testing positive for glyphosate in cereals, oats and other products.
Just keep in mind this article just scratches the surface on recent breaking environmental, food, and health news/research studies. Sadly, this is not a topic to go away any time soon.
What is tight junction function?
With or without the temptation to break out with a new School House Rock jingle, we cannot discuss gut health without exploring tight junction function. Since most of our immune system resides in our gut, it is not surprising that we have an incredible firewall to help protect us from things we ingest. This firewall consists of a giant surface area of tight junctions, which are like little locked doors lining the epithelial layer of the gut. However, certain plant toxins (such as lectins in gluten and other foods- a tale for another time) and environmental exposure (such as glyphosate) can help to weaken and/or break this protective system.
Zonulin is a protein that is known as the gatekeeper of the tight junctions. Glyphosate and gluten can have an adverse effect on the tight junctions in the gut, causing these doors to open via an increase in zonulin production. This leaves the body susceptible to a host of conditions including inflammation and autoimmune conditions. (6) The brain also has a tight junction system in place. In order to keep these tight junctions functioning properly, communication needs to be restored.
How can gut communication be improved?
A new paradigm…
An MD by the name of Dr. Bush was working on a new chemotherapy protocol when he accidentally discovered a substance with remarkable properties. This lignite-based breakthrough is extracted deep from the ancient earth, then pH corrected and infused with minerals. Once introduced in the gut, it can begin to work its restoration.
This supplement works in conjunction with your individual gut bacteria microbiome and immune system to:
~ Help shield your system from environmental damage
~ Protect from inflammation
~ Alleviate gluten sensitivity
~ Enhance mental clarity
~ Promote sleep
~ Strengthen Digestion and Metabolism
~ Optimize Gut-Brain connection
To learn more about ION Biome (formerly known as RESTORE) the science behind it, or to purchase, please click here.*
*I am an established Affiliate of ION Biome and receive a small compensation for every Qualified Purchase, which helps to cover fees for the production of multi-media educational material. This is not an MLM company.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources
1.https://clinical-nutrition.imedpub.com/protective-effects-of-lignite-extract-supplement-on-intestinal-barrier-function-in-glyphosatemediated-tight-junction-injury.php?aid=18161
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23756170
4.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X09003047?via%3Dihub
5.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X14000493?via%3Dihub
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21248165
Title Photo: slide of Tight Junctions https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32421-2
Kathryn van Zwieten is a Natural Health & Life Coach, Researcher, Lecturer, Author, Creative Chef, and Executive Director of Healing Harvest, L.L.C. Known as a visionary and entrepreneur, Kathryn fuses her high creativity and passion to bring the education of natural and restorative healing to many. She inspires others to live a healthy lifestyle, by having learned from her own miraculous healings and those of her children, as she shares the latest scientific truths and giftedly guides others to fill in missing gaps in their own health journey. Helping others achieve their ‘highest human potential’ is her mission. Her favorite question is, “What is humanly possible?”- because she is ready to trail blaze to find out.
Kathryn’s most passionate areas of interest include human brain development beginning in the womb, biological pathway communication (cellular and relational), mitochondrial restoration, the gut/brain axis connection, epigenetics/nutrigenomics, genetic SNPs, consciousness and quantum physics.
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