Glyphosate: Risks and Solutions

Would you knowingly put something into your body on a regular basis that has been proven to increase your risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by over 40%? Something that could potentially cause reproductive damage, harm your gut microbiome, mess with your neurotransmitters, lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cause DNA damage? Chances are, you probably already have it in your body. It is a pervasive chemical used in growing much of our food and keeping our lawns and gardens weed-free. It is the herbicide called glyphosate, and is most commonly seen in the form of Round-Up®.

We have all heard the term “genetically modified/GMO”, but what does that mean? It typically means that the seeds of the plant have had genes (usually animal) added to them so that they will not die when sprayed with glyphosate (which kills just about any plant it touches). When GMO plants are growing they can be sprayed many times with the chemical to keep weeds down and still make it to harvest alive. The most common GMO crops are soy, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton. Glyphosate is also used as a desiccant on non-GMO crops, such as wheat, oats, and legumes, to kill off the plant in order to speed up the harvesting of the seeds. Note that certified organic foods cannot legally be genetically modified or sprayed with glyphosate, but that is no guarantee they have not absorbed the chemical from the soil, water, or drift from nearby sprayed crops.

The owner of the glyphosate patent, Monsanto (now owned by Bayer), maintains that the chemical is safe because it interferes with the shikimate pathway of plants to kill them, and humans do not have this pathway. This is true, but the beneficial bacteria residing in our guts controlling our immune systems, digesting nutrients, processing toxins, and producing essential neurotransmitters, DO have this pathway. This is just one of the many mechanisms of toxicity caused by this ubiquitous chemical.

Another area where glyphosate causes significant damage is in collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and is made up of 25% glycine. Glyphosate can replace the glycine in the collagen, causing it to lose its flexibility and become brittle. Think of saggy skin, weak tendons, slow healing, and non-contact sports injuries.

Glyphosate is listed as a carcinogen in California and banned in 33 countries, including Austria, Spain, Italy, Argentina, France, and Scotland. Monsanto has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in court to people who have been diagnosed with cancer after using the product, and tens of thousands of cases are still in the judiciary pipeline.

About 1 pound per American citizen of this toxic chemical is sprayed in our country each year. It is in the rain, the water supply, the air we breathe, the animals who graze on sprayed crops, and in our bodies. If you look at this map, you will see that there is a very high concentration of the toxin sprayed in the Houston area. It can be overwhelming, but there are solutions! Ion Sinus Support helps soothe your sinuses and seal the nasal lining to keep glyphosate and other toxins out of your body.

First of all, if you use glyphosate in and around your home, find other solutions. My husband makes a natural and effective homemade weed killer by mixing 1 gallon of 5% household white vinegar, 1 cup of table salt, and 1 Tablespoon of dish detergent (high-sudsing) and spraying on weeds. Be patient, the plants will usually die off in a few days.

Second, change to an organic diet. This shift can make a dramatic and rapid decrease in the amount of glyphosate in your body.

Third, detox the glyphosate from your body. My favorite product to do this is HM-ET Binder (which stands for Heavy Metals and Environmental Toxin Binder). A month or two is usually all you need.

Fourth, prevent the intake of more glyphosate when you eat non-organic foods. Whenever I go out to eat or eat non-organic foods, I either take Ion Gut Support (this liquid is great for kids, too) or HM-ET Binder, to help absorb any glyphosate that I might be ingesting.

Lastly, repair the damage you might have had to the collagen by using collagen-rebuilding products like Bio Basic Collagen ECM and RegeneMax®, both of which activate your own cells to build collagen.

All of these products listed above are on special for the month of October 2022 at a 15% discount to help you and your family address your glyphosate issues at a savings.

We also carry a home glyphosate urine testing kit to measure and track your own levels – it is a great idea to test every 6 months to make sure that you are glyphosate-free. With these tools, you can help keep you and your family healthier in so many ways.