The 1970’s were a turning point for Americans in the area of health care… that started with a chain of events that would forever impact not only our health but our food system.
In 1974, RoundUp was released and promised to be a weed killer that would not have any adverse affect on human health. Shortly after, in 1977, a tariff on sugar was established – and propelled the use of high fructose corn syrup amongst manufacturers in the food industry. Not long after, new guidelines were established by the food industry that focused a greater emphasis on low fat, high carb diets.
To make the higher fat products better for you, manufacturers made them low fat, while pumping them full of sugar and corn syrup to help them retain flavor. Glyphosate, the main ingredient in RoundUp, was also touted as a modern miracle on farms across the U.S. — not only could it kill weeds, it was also promoted as harmless to human health.
40 years later, it’s STILL promoted as harmless to human health. But is it really all that harmless?
The last 40 Years
Over the last {almost} 50 years, these earlier events would weight pretty heavily on the health of Americans. Although big industry and the American Government may push aside the related probability, the health of Americans has taken a rather bad turn. Gluten intolerance is up, cancer and autism numbers are staggering, and Americans are more sick NOW than there were back in the 1970’s.
With the sheer technological advancements in the last 50 years, you would think that we were actually be getting better – right? That’s unfortunately not the case.
RoundUp was initially marketed as biodegradable and environmentally friendly by Monsanto when created -in 2009, France targeted Monsanto for false advertising (Src). The number of people with Gluten intolerance has risen – Dr. Stephanie Seneff has studied this and studies indicate that the intolerance may indeed be the Glyphosate.
But how? Glyphosate binds to gluten – by forming a connection between different amino acids in grain, which in turn affects the binding. The gluten does not break down, rather… it stays in a form that is more allergenic (Src). Which makes you ask – is it the gluten? Or is it the glyphosate?
Glyphosate can have an effect even in low concentrations, where it has been studied and shown to cause disruptions in the endocrine system, while also having estrogenic properties that stimulate breast cancer. (Src)
Glyphosate is Popular in the American Diet
Glyphosate is found in some of the most popular food items – including things composed of sugar, soy, wheat, and corn – which make up a large majority of the food on grocery store shelves (Src).
Eating food items that hold that glyphosate residue, changes the gut bacteria in your body. It weakens and kills healthy bacteria and allows other bacteria to become more prominent. It also prevents your body from removing toxic substances by inhibiting certain enzymes from doing their job.
Effects are not immediate though! They can accumulate over time… even with small amounts.
Over 75% of grocery store purchases contain genetically modified ingredients of which contain glyphosate residue – not only is the residue present in the crops, it’s fed to animals that eat the crops – and transfers to our meat including beef, pork, farm raised fish, poultry & more Any processed food in the grocery store allows glyphosate to enter your body – as most are made with soy, corn or wheat, and a high amount of sugar. (Src)
Glyphosate Doesn’t Degrade
The half life of RoundUp is only a few days – but in some states that have clay soil (that shed water in lieu of absorbing it), glyphosate tends to linger for much longer. Not to mention glyphosate is preserved in not just the roots, but also the stems and leaves – even after plants die.
So not only can it affect our gut, it can also affect the health of the soil of our plants, too.
In the End
The use of Glyphosate may be touted as a technological advanced in the U.S… but at what cost? Not only does it benefit the bottom line of commercial companies, it does so at a rate that affects Human Health.
Of course, the U.S. Government and Agribusiness will not agree that it has negative effects on our health – in fact, numerous studies performed have shown NO correlation – though many of these studies are performed by government agencies and agribusiness with a vested interest in ensuring that glyphosate usage goes unscathed.
Just this past week, USA Today reported a study that concluded that GMO’s are SAFE. That couldn’t be farther from the truth – and made many of us wonder who funded the research that was promoted so heavily across social media.
From ALTHealthWorks:
Did you hear about that new study claiming that GMOs are safe, trumpeted across the mainstream media as if it were 100% fact? Turns out the organization that’s behind it is literally run by pro-GMO food interests, and many of the scientists have questionable ties.
Can glyphosate residues be avoided? It can, but with a change in shopping habits. By avoiding the common grocery store you can eliminate the chance of bringing in foods with glyphosate residue into your home. Shopping local is important to ensure you get fresh produce void of glyphosate residue.
Be a concerned consumer who makes it your personal campaign to avoid purchasing items in stores that encourage the use of glyphosate usage.
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