Game Changer: Glyphosate is an antibiotic.

When I first found out that glyphosate is an antibiotic, my jaw hit the floor.  Then a myriad of emotions hit me from shock to anger and then eventually relief because I now know the true cause for my chronic eczema.  For those who have not read my other blog post, “My Eczema Story,” I had chronic eczema for most of my adult life which is about twenty years.  One of the most frustrating things about having eczema is that none of the practitioners I saw could tell me the cause of it.

Knowing that glyphosate is an antibiotic is a huge game changer because we now have insight as to why we may not feel well after eating conventional processed foods, conventional whole foods and conventional fast foods.  When I say  “not feeling well,” this could be allergy-like, cold-like or asthma-like symptoms/reactions such as: fatigue, headache, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, head congestion, bowel movement issues (i.e. constipation).  After eating conventional foods, pay attention to your body and observe for any of the symptoms/reactions that I have listed above.

Also, knowing that glyphosate is an antibiotic, we may be able to address some of the chronic inflammatory diseases (CID) listed in this article differently.  For example, I provide some home remedies below that you can start doing today to help remove the glyphosate from your gut/gastrointestinal tract (includes small intestine and large intestine).

Antibiotics are harmful to the human’s gut microbiome (small intestine and large intestine) health and here’s why:

1. Unfortunately, antibiotics do not discriminate when it comes to killing specific bacteria, so they kill the good and bad bacteria in our gut, this can make us more susceptible to diseases because 70% of our immune system is in the gut.  Remember the Hippocrates quote, “All diseases begins in the gut.”?  Well, there’s truth to this quote.

2. Because antibiotics kill the good and bad bacteria in our gut, this can cause dysbiosis (gut health imbalance).  When there are too many “bad bugs” (i.e. toxins, glyphosate antibiotic) in the gut, this creates inflammation in the gut/small intestine because our immune system is trying to remove the “bad bugs” so it can heal.

3. If the “bad bugs” are not removed then this can lead to a leaky gut/gut permeability/loss of tight junctions in the gut lining.  

4. When we have leaky gut, “…the barrier between the gut and bloodstream breaks down due to inflammation in the small intestine. The resulting bacteria and toxins that seep through the gut lining can trigger a variety of intestinal problems, including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or gastroparesis (which prevents proper stomach emptying).”

   1. Source:  What is leaky gut syndrome?

   2. Eventually, we can experience physical reactions/symptoms such as:  skin issues (eczema).  These are red flags that are body is telling us, “hey, your gut needs help!”.

5. If we continue to have leaky gut, eventually we will enter the state of chronic system inflammation where our immune system is under stress by constantly working to remove the toxins.  This is because we don’t realize the foods are harming our gut health so we continue to eat foods contaminated with the glyphosate antibiotic and we’re not eating enough of the helpful foods to remove the toxins.  While our physical symptoms persist and possibly become more severe.  This can become a vicious cycle pretty quickly.  Needless to say one’s quality of life suffers.

In my research, I discovered some important information that I have listed below.  Please note, the purpose of this information is to provide awareness so you can make the necessary decisions and actions that are in the best interest for yourself, your loved ones, your community and our planet.

1. “Glyphosate is an herbicide that was introduced in the 1970s. In the 1990s, with the introduction of genetically modified crops, the usage of glyphosate significantly increased and is now the primary herbicide used in agriculture.”

   1. Source:  "The Health Impact of Glyphosate"

2. “It is now estimated that we spray more than 4.5 billion pounds of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) into the soils, plants, and water systems of our planet.”

   1. Source: "Glyphosate + Toxins"

3. “Today, almost 90% of corn, cotton and soybean crops are modified to be tolerant to glyphosate and other chemical treatments used by farmers, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows.”

   1. Source:  "A potentially cancer-causing chemical is sprayed on much of America’s farmland. Here is where it is used the most."

   2. “A 2017 study from researchers at the University of California, San Diego showed that the amount of glyphosate in urine samples taken from a group of 100 adults rose between 1993 and 2016. Glyphosate residues have also been detected in air and rain samples, according to a study from the University of Minnesota.”

   3. Source:  "A potentially cancer-causing chemical is sprayed on much of America’s farmland. Here is where it is used the most."  

4. “Glyphosate usage in the U.S. - Herbicides containing glyphosate are most used in farmland counties, with areas in Texas topping the list.”

   1. Source:  "A potentially cancer-causing chemical is sprayed on much of America’s farmland. Here is where it is used the most."  

5. “It is estimated that more than 80% of Americans are exposed to glyphosate.”

   1. Source:  "Glyphosate in Food: Avoid These Contaminated Products"

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After finding out that glyphosate is an antibiotic, I started digging for answers to the questions below.  To see the response, click on the question link.

  1. How do we remove glyphosate from our bodies and gut/intestine?

  2. What can I do to mitigate my exposure to glyphosate?

  3. How can I take action to ban glyphosate from conventional farming use?

1. How do we remove glyphosate from our bodies and gut/small intestine? 

Note:  The remedies below are my personal remedies and what has worked for me to heal from eczema and manage it.

1. Drink warm or cold lemon water on a daily basis.  Click here to view my recipe.

2. Eat Organic soluble fiber foods:  Black beans, lima beans, kidney beans, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, avocados, figs, chia seeds, flax seeds, oats, parsley

3. For those experiencing chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) like eczema, drink homemade organic chicken broth daily.  I drink a cup of it a day to keep my gut lining/barrier strong and my eczema at bay.  Click here to view my recipe.

2. What can I do to mitigate my exposure to glyphosate?

1. Buy Organic foods.  Organic foods can contain glyphosate but they contain less of it than conventional foods.

2. Eat local seasonal foods.  Shop at your local Farmer’s Markets and/or farms.  Get to know your farmers by asking  if they use RoundUp and what chemicals/sprays they use.

3. Grow your own food.  Be sure to test your soil first since you want fruits and veggies to have optimal nutrients and flavor.  This is a great opportunity to get your kids involved and to educate them.

4. Buy foods listed in the “The 2024 Clean Fifteen” list on the Environmental Working Group’s website:  "EWG's Shopper Guide: The Clean Fifteen"

5. When shopping for processed foods, look for the “Glyphosate Residue Free” label by The Detox Project. Below is a picture of the label.

   
   

   

   
   

   1. Click here for a list of "Glyphosate Residue Free - Certified Products". 

   2. The Detox Project website also lists foods with the highest glyphosate content that can be found here: 

      Source: "In New Round of Tests, Monsanto’s Weedkiller Still Contaminates Foods Marketed to Children"

6. Avoid eating conventional grains (wheat, oat, rice, corn, barley, millet, sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, etc.).  This seems drastic but it is doable by eliminating them one at a time.  Consider replacing the grain with another organic vegetable like broccoli or preferably an organic leafy green like kale.  If you find it challenging to avoid conventional grains, then consider eating organic sprouted grains or organic unsprouted grains.

7. Avoid eating Genetically-Modified Organism (GMO) crops because these were modified to resist glyphosate so these crops tend to be sprayed more of it.

   Source:  "The Health Impact of Glyphosate"

3. How can I take action to keep myself and loved ones safe from the glyphosate antibiotic?

1. We can change the food industry and make it safer for everyone if we stop buying conventional and GMO whole foods AND conventional and GMO processed foods, drinks and fast foods.  

2. Remember, when you purchase conventional foods and drinks, you are voting and therefore supporting the continuation of conventional farming practices that use RoundUp which contains glyphosate. 

3. Contact your favorite food and drink companies and restaurants and ask them to become “Glyphosate Residue Free” certified by the The Detox Project.  As Vani Hari aka the “Food Babe” states in the article, “THIS NEW LABEL ON FOOD WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING POISONED BY MONSANTO’S WEEDKILLER”: 

   1. “ACTION: Ask your favorite food companies to get verified! Here’s how:

      1. Contact them via email. This is the most effective way to reach them, so don’t skip this step! Send them a link to this post and ask them to get verified by The Detox Project here.

      2. Post on their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds and send them a link to this post asking them to get verified.”

4. Contact your County’s Representatives, State’s Representatives, Senators and Governor and ask for them to:

   1. Ban RoundUp used in conventional farming practices ASAP because you and your loved ones have had enough of the glyphosate antibiotic and do not want any more of it.

   2. Support Regenerative Agriculture Practices and not Conventional Farming Practices that use Roundup.

   3. Include glyphosate testing as part of routine health care visits.

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In summary, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we are experiencing an increase in chronic inflammatory diseases and an increase in antibiotic resistance when most of us have been exposed to the glyphosate antibiotic for most of our lives and unfortunately for our younger and future generations potentially their entire lives.  Let’s stop supporting foods contaminated with the glyphosate antibiotic and start supporting organic and non-GMO foods, local and seasonal foods, and holding the FDA and USDA accountable for more transparency by labeling foods contaminated with glyphosate as “Treated with the glyphosate antibiotic”.  

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Sources for glyphosate is an antibiotic:

1. “…glyphosate has been patented as an antibiotic.” 

   1. Source:  "Glyphosate (Roundup)"

2. “In 2010, glyphosate was patented as an antibiotic following decades of use as a herbicide,…” 

   1. Source:  "Impact of glyphosate (RoundupTM) on the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome"

3. “But it is a little known fact that glyphosate is a potent antibiotic. So potent that Monsanto, the St. Louis, Missouri manufacturer of glyphosate and Roundup, filed patents for glyphosate as an antibiotic (United States Patent 7,771,736). As an antibiotic, glyphosate is oddly effective against Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Enterococcal species, species regarded as beneficial to humans and included in virtually all probiotic supplements, while it is ineffective against species like Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum (increased in kids with autistic spectrum disorder) and Salmonella. In other words, glyphosate exposure disrupts the composition of the microbiome, selectively eradicating or reducing beneficial microbes while selecting for proliferation of unhealthy species.”  

   1. Source:  "Glyphosate: The Antibiotic"

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Helpful resources:

1. “THIS NEW LABEL ON FOOD WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING POISONED BY MONSANTO’S WEEDKILLER”

2. Glyphosate in Food: Avoid These Contaminated Products

3. "The Health Impact of Glyphosate"

4. "Glyphosate + Toxins"

5. "All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases"

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Andrea Dietrich

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Survivor of Chronic Eczema

Eat for Your Microbiome Advocate

Self-Care Advocate

Health Researcher