If you’ve been following the news lately, or see our posts on Facebook, you know by now that glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) is extremely detrimental to our health. Unfortunately, glyphosate seems to be everywhere. In the U.S. alone, farmers used 250 MILLION pounds of glyphosate on their crops in 2014. That is enough to spray over 3/4 lbs on every harvested acre in the U.S.
Contaminated Food and Beverages
With this much glyphosate in our air and soil, it isn’t altogether surprising that it sometimes makes its way onto foods that it shouldn’t – foods that are sold as organic (check pages 5-6 of attached report), and that we presume to be completely free from herbicides and pesticides. Beverages, including beer and wine (again, even the organic variations) also contain glyphosate.
Despite this knowledge of the widespread glyphosate contamination, what might come as a surprise to some is that 93% of participants in a study by the University of California San Francisco tested positive for this chemical residue in their urine.
What Can We Do?
The overwhelming prevalence of glyphosate in our world today leads us to ask, what can we do about it? If even organic food is contaminated with glyphosate, is there any hope?
Although it may be hard to avoid glyphosate, we can take several actions to minimize our risk of being affected by exposure.
1. Supplement with glutathione
Glutathione is an antioxidant (commonly referred to as the body’s “master antioxidant”) that your cells create.
BUT, things like illness, stress, aging, radiation, certain medications, and TOXIN EXPOSURE reduce your glutatione. That means that when you’re exposed to the toxins being sprayed to keep those weeds and pests away, you’re depleting your glutathione. Low levels of glutathione have been correlated with decreased immune function and increased vulnerability to infection and autoimmune disease, as it reduces the liver’s ability to detoxify.
There are two forms of glutathione that we carry at Valeo. Trizomal Glutathione and Optimal Liposomal Glutathione. You can call our office at 952-949-0676 to reserve a bottle for pick-up, or ask Dr. Aaron or Dr. Rob about these supplements during your next visit.
2. Improve your detoxification
Reasonably, if you are being exposed to toxins, you want to make sure your body is well-equipped to get rid of those toxins. If you notice that you are not having regular bowel movements, that is a big indication that your body may not be detoxifying as well as it should be. Other indications of poor detoxification or poor liver function (the liver plays a large role in detoxifying) include:
- Acne and other skin conditions
- Autoimmunity
- Blood sugar issues
- Bloating
- Chemical sensitivity
- Cravings
- Difficulty losing weight
- Excess sweating
- “Fuzzy” tongue with white or yellow coating
- Insomnia, especially between the hours of 1-4 am
- Stool that is light, pale, or floats
One way you can improve detoxification is through focusing on foods that support your liver, such as cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, berries, green tea, fatty fish, probiotic foods, and liver. Aim for these foods to be organic, since the goal is to reduce the burden on your liver. Also aim to drink plenty of clean water on a daily basis.
If you still are having issues, schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron or Dr. Rob to discuss your liver function and possible remedies, supplements, protocols, or detoxification programs that may work well for you to improve your body’s ability to detoxify.
3. Don’t Give Up
Continue to purchase organic produce whenever possible. Know that by tacking the actions above, you are doing plenty to support your health and well-being! If you are feeling overwhelmed or confused in how to best maintain or improve your health, you can also schedule an appointment with our health coach.
Have questions or wish to reserve a supplement or schedule an appointment with one of our providers? Call our office at 952-949-0676.
