Is it Really the Gluten?
In 2021, I decided to take hold of my health and try out something to make my constant bloating and fatigue improve. I decided to go gluten free. Although a fad for many, after researching for myself I found that many of the symptoms I had been experiencing could be improved by eliminating gluten. However, I had 1) Been tested for Celiac in the past and was negative and 2) I for some reason felt completely fine eating wheat products in other countries… This led me to a deeper rabbit hole that many health conscious parents have experienced.
What is in our food that is making us sick? Is it ACTUALLY gluten, or is it something added to the crops?
Connecting Health Decline with Glyphosate
3 million people have celiac disease, but an even more alarming statistic is that 13 million people have non-celiac gluten irritability. So why is gluten making us sick? Or is it even the gluten at all? Like I said, myself and many others I know have safely consumed bread and pasta in Italy, but experience debilitating symptoms when we consume the same thing here in the US. What’s the difference?
Glyphosate. The main ingredient in Round Up which has seen a 100 million times increase in recent decades is touted in the US, but banned in countries like Italy.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Round Up, a popular weed killer used on crops nationwide. It’s commonly sprayed on wheat, corn, soybean, and other GMO crops. It leads to higher production of products and is also Monsanto’s leading product. BUT it is also a known carcinogen, endocrine disrupter, and causes gut dysbiosis… which mimics the symptoms of celiac disease.
Glyphosate is all over the Standard American Diet which consists of many refined carbohydrates (a story for another day) and many of the foods our children consume daily.
Could this be the reason my family and so many others are suffering from so many health issues despite an otherwise healthy lifestyle?
So… What’s the Big Deal?
Glyphosate, even at smaller levels found in food, has been connected to cancer, hormone disruption, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, obesity, anxiety, depression, IBS, IBD, and liver inflammation. AND it’s being found in increasing numbers in our children. 87% of a 675 person study conducted found detectable of levels of glyphosate in urine.
With an increasing number of children being affected by health issues beyond their control, may of which mentioned above, for me it was an easy decision to avoid this dangerous chemical as much as possible.
What Can We Do?
Although I know changing grocery and diet habits is not easy, taking even one of these steps at a time can reduce your exposure to glyphosate. This is what our family does to try to eliminate our toxic load:
Switch to an all organic diet. This is a simple way to make food choices that are less likely to be sprayed. Studies have shown that this change alone can reduce levels in urine in as little as 6 days
Shop from a local mill and make your own breads, snacks, baked goods, etc. Getting to know your local farmers is a great way to find out more about how your food is grown and the health of the soil.
Avoid GMO foods corn, wheat, soy, canola (this includes seed oils)
Drink filtered water as glyphosate is known to run off into water sources.
Grow and cook your own food.
Don’t use in your own lawn and garden
Wash hands before eating or going outdoors
Avoid wearing shoes inside
In Conclusion
Glyphosate is a dangerous additive to a large number of crops that go into majority of easy to buy foods. Although the US is reluctant to ban the pesticide due to economic implications, there are steps you can take to protect your family and reduce their exposure in your home and in their diets.
Taking action to eliminate foods in your home that have been sprayed with glyphosate not only is the best way to protect your family from future health issues, but also will demonstrate that the harmful pesticide is not necessary to maintain a prosperous food economy.
I urge you to buy organic wheat or eliminate it all together. Or even better, contact a local organic mill and support your local farmers. Changing the way our community thinks about food and encouraging a clean, non-toxic lifestyle begins with small, maintainable actions.
Which step are you taking today?
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