The ENVIRONMENTAL Toxin Threatening Our Next Generation
We are currently seeing a sharp increase in the number and variety of chronic degenerative and congenital diseases. It’s no coincidence that these trends are happening at a time when we’re beginning to experience the cumulative effects of toxins and pollutants that pervade our air, water, soil and food – one of which poses particularly imminent risks to not only our health but the health of our next generation: glyphosate.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the most widely used agricultural herbicide in the world, best known as the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer. Its usage has exploded since the mid-70’s, reaching such extreme levels that it’s almost impossible to not find in humans today.
The omnipresent herbicide can be found on fruits, vegetables, grains as well as hundreds of other common foods, including granola bars, cereal, orange juice, rolled oats, 100% whole grain pasta and hummus. Not only does glyphosate contaminate most of our food supply, but it also makes its way into the air we breathe and water we drink (it’s now even detected in rain samples too).
Patented as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, glyphosate disrupts over half of the good bacteria (probiotics) that make up a human’s microbiome. Considering the tight relationship between the gut and the brain (gut-brain axis), this is thought to be the primary driver causing neurological problems in young children and adults today, from autism to dementia.
Dangers of Glyphosate Toxicity
One of the biggest problems with glyphosate is that it tricks the body into being stored. It does this by mimicking essential nutrients, namely, the amino acid glycine which is responsible for building collagen and maintaining the integrity of our tissues. Although each exposure to glyphosate may be small, those trace amounts accumulate in the body, making us vulnerable to a myriad of serious health problems:
Depletion of minerals such as manganese and iron which can lead to diabetes, anemia and neurological impairments like dementia
Overgrowth of pathogens in the gut (dysbiosis, or “leaky gut”) which disrupts digestive enzymes, immune function and increases inflammation
Blocks detox pathways which lead to toxic overload, autoimmune disease and cancer
Reduced neurotransmitter production which contributes to depression, anxiety and cognitive decline
Deficiencies in amino acids, which disrupts collagen and promotes connective tissue deterioration (including brain tissues)
Impact of Glyphosate on Fertility
According to the USDA, there are currently more than 225 different pesticides sprayed on produce commonly consumed in the US – many of these, including glyphosate, are known endocrine disruptors. Toxic endocrine-disrupting chemicals are known to cause hormonal imbalance and negatively impact fertility.
It is worth noting that testosterone levels began their steep decline just after the introduction of genetically modified crops in the 1990’s, which were accompanied by an increase in glyphosate herbicides used. There is evidence that exposure during early life poses heightened risks to our reproductive systems, impacting the fertility of men and women by its effect on ovarian and uterine functions, as well as testosterone levels and sperm cell development.
This is illustrated by the findings of several recent studies, as follows:
A study done by University of Caen in France showed that within 48 hours after exposing rats to very low levels of glyphosate, testosterone levels dropped by 35%
According to MIT scientist Dr. Stephanie Seneff, pregnant rats exposed to glyphosate experienced serious damage to the sperm and eggs inside the fetus (which will ultimately become the fetuses’ offspring) through epigenetic modifications to the DNA
Ovarian mitochondrial and oxidative stress proteins are altered by glyphosate exposure.
The good news is that not all hope is lost and there are steps you can take to reverse the toxic burden of glyphosate on the body before trying to conceive. To maximize the outcome of pregnancy, it would benefit both partners to engage in a preconception detox at least 6 months prior to becoming pregnant.
Protecting Yourself from Glyphosate Toxicity
While avoiding glyphosate may seem impossible, there are still ways you can protect yourself and minimize its negative impact on the body. Whether or not pregnancy is on the horizon, emphasizing organic foods and products (even cotton tampons) is a crucial first step. Likewise, avoiding areas where the herbicide is heavily sprayed, like golf courses, will help reduce your exposure.
It's also important to actively defend the body in removing glyphosate before long-term damage is done. For best results, a targeted detox formula with powerhouse herbs and detox binders to safely remove glyphosate and other toxins will be your most effective line of defense. Supporting our system with natural detoxifiers not only reinforces strong GI health, thyroid function and hormonal balance, but it provides systemic benefits for long-term vitality – adding years to our lives, and those of our future generations.
Resources:
Ho, Dr. Mae-Wan. “Glyphosate/Roundup & Human Male Infertility.” Msingi Afrika Magazine, 27 Feb. 2021, https://www.msingiafrikamagazine.com/2021/03/glyphosate-roundup-human-male-infertility/.
Honeycutt, Zen. “New Study Shows Glyphosate Harms next Generation.” Moms across America, 9 Jan. 2021, www.momsacrossamerica.com/new_study_shows_glyphosate_harms_next_generation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.
Ganesan, Shanthi, and Aileen F. Keating. “Ovarian Mitochondrial and Oxidative Stress Proteins Are Altered by Glyphosate Exposure in Mice.” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, vol. 402, 1 Sept. 2020, p. 115116. ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041008X20302428#!, 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115116. Accessed 1 May 2021.
Ingaramo, Paola, et al. “Are Glyphosate and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Endocrine Disruptors That Alter Female Fertility?” Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 518, 10 July 2020, p. 110934. ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303720720302343?via%3Dihub, 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110934. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.
Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc, Isaac. “America’s #1 Weedkiller Is Tricking Your Body into Absorbing It (so Here’s How to Block It).” Dr. Axe, 16 July 2020, draxe.com/health/glyphosate-toxicity/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.
Eliaz, Dr. Isaac. “The Real Problem with Glyphosate.” Dr. Eliaz, 21 Apr. 2021, www.dreliaz.org/2021/04/the-real-problem-with-glyphosate/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.
Perro, Dr. Michelle. “Prepregnancy, GMOs and Glyphosate: The Era of Infertility.” National Association of Environmental Medicine (NAEM), 1 Sept. 2020, envmedicine.com/prepregnancy-gmos-and-glyphosate-the-era-of-infertility/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.