Flashback: Study Finds Herbicide Glyphosate Wrecks Healthy Gut Bacteria

The gastrointestinal tract is a major component of not only our ability to properly absorb nutrients from food into the body, but it’s also where 70% of a person’s immune system is located. Scientists have discovered that a wide range of negative health issues from autoimmune disorders to obesity and even depression can start with ‘miscommunication’ in the gut. Thus, the importance of having a good balance of the proper bacteria in there cannot be overstated.

Research has shown that all the chemicals used in everything from processed food to modern medicines, in addition to extensive antibacterial soap use, have fundamentally changed people’s gut flora at large, and thus, screwed up people’s metabolism, hormonal balances and overall immune system function.

Just last year scientists at Leipzig University discovered that glyphosate — the main ingredient in Big Agra giant Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide — actually kills the healthy bacteria in the gut when ingested.

On top of that, while dangerous pathogens like salmonella could resist glyphosate, this research showed that due to the susceptible nature of healthy gut bacteria to glyphosate, the body’s natural, healthy equilibrium in the gut is completely thrown out of balance by it.

Further research published last year in the journal Entropy linked glyphosate to a bunch of diseases, including Parkinson’s, cancer and infertility.

The problem is that Glyphosate is the most prevalent pesticide out there, and with the mass proliferation of genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant crops throughout the food supply, the use of this chemical has skyrocketed over the last decade. Overall, herbicide use rose nearly 530 million pounds in America between 1996 and 2011. The EPA estimates that just in the years between 2001 and 2007, glyphosate use doubled in the U.S., from 85-90 million pounds annually to 180-185 pounds. It’s sprayed on millions of acres of crops in this country, and others around the world, every year. Glyphosate residues have also been found in the food supply.

While the EPA is set to conduct a standard registration review on whether or not glyphosate is safe or should be limited with a deadline of 2015, in the meantime the so-called Environmental Protection Agency (what a misnomer) has just approved a Monsanto petition to actually raise allowable limits of glyphosate in food crops and animal feed!

Why? This chart of the ridiculous revolving door Monsanto enjoys with the U.S. government from Occupy Monsanto should give you a clue:

As more and more glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified crops are planted, giving rise to more superbugs and superweeds, there’s every reason to assume more and more glyphosate will be required to be sprayed all over them. (It’s a brilliant business plan, actually.)

In short, there are a crazy number of implications in regards to this gut flora glyphosate research. Science is still catching up with just how important the digestive system is to a person’s entire body and their overall health and well-being.

We live in a world with tens of thousands of chemicals “in commerce,” and hundreds more are created every year. There are chemicals in our food, water, soil and air; chemicals that can bioaccumulate over time and wreak nasty effects even at low doses. Our bodies are continually under attack here.

By now, many people are aware of the numerous health benefits of probiotics. These microorganisms not only enhance colon function and help people to grow and maintain a healthy equilibrium of good gut flora in their intestines, but taking probiotics has actually been shown to help relieve a multitude of gut inflammation-related disorders, including everything from Crohn’s disease to irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.

Bottom line? Probiotics people. Probiotics. It can’t be said enough. (P.S. — And make sure they’re certified organic, so you don’t end up buying something you think is healthy for you that’s filled with maltodextrin likely sourced from genetically modified corn which could ironically have glyphosate residue in it.)

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition