Roundup, with active ingredient glyphosate, is one of the most powerful herbicides in common use today.  However, many genetically-modified (GM) foods have been altered so they are not killed by Roundup, while most other plants and weeds around them are.  This is good for farmers who can get by using fewer pounds of herbicides each year, but bad for consumers who eat food containing glyphosate residues.

Celiac disease is a specific type of gluten sensitivity in which the patient has antibodies in their blood to gluten.  This disease can cause damage to the inner lining of the intestine, leading to poor absorption of nutrients and even malnutrition.  A. Samsel, et al, wrote a very important article on the relationship between glyphosate and celiac disease, saying many of the problems seen in celiac disease can be caused by the presence of glyphosate in the body.  Importantly, they propose that the major cause of celiac disease is exposure to glyphosate.

Glyphosate interferes with normal levels of healthy bacteria in the intestines and causes deficiencies of many essential minerals, as may celiac disease.  The authors describe in detail how signs and symptoms of celiac disease could be due to glyphosate in Roundup herbicide.

CONCLUSION:  Glyphosate herbicide is a major toxin in our diets today, and Roundup, containing glyphosate, may be a major cause of a worldwide epidemic of celiac disease.

NOTES:  Moms Across America is a website that gives information about side effects of Roundup and provides a link to get drinking water testing or urine testing done for glyphosate.

http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/zenhoneycutt/glyphosate_testing

Avoiding Roundup in food means eliminating GM food from our diets and from the diets of the animals we use as food.  This has been made difficult to do since states have a hard time getting laws passed to label foods that are GM.  One way around this is to eat foods which have been GM for herbicide resistance only if they are organic.  GM foods can’t be labeled organic.

The following is a list of plants which have already been made GM in some way:

Tobacco has been GM for reduced nicotine.

Tomatoes which are GM are said not to be on the market.

Alfalfa is GM for herbicide tolerance.

Zucchini squash is GM for viral resistance.

Papaya is GM for viral resistance.

Corn is GM for herbicide tolerance and drought tolerance.

Wheat is GM for herbicide tolerance.  But, it may not currently  be used in the U.S.

Worldwide, wheat growing is said to be biggest use of glyphosate.

Soybean is GM for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.  Half of the soybeans grown

worldwide are GM and often used as food for cattle, swine, and chickens.

Rapeseed/Canola is GM for herbicide tolerance.

Sugar beets are GM for herbicide tolerance.

Potato is GM for fungal tolerance and increased starch content.

Rice is GM for herbicide tolerance, but not in common use in U.S., yet.

Cotton is GM for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance.

Sweet potato is GM for herbicide tolerance and for virus and fungal resistance.

Apple is GM for longer shelf life, but not approved, yet.

To read the author’s abstract of the article click on the author’s title of the article.  Then, to read the full article click on the full free text icon.

Summary #974.  nutrientmedicine

PMID:  24678255.