Monday, September 1, 2014

What does Roundup do to Health and which foods is it on?

I am re-printing a letter (partially) that I wrote to Stephanie Seneff who is a Senior Research Scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.  She received her B.S. degree in Biophysics in 1968, the M.S. and E.E. degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1980, and the Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1985, all from MIT.  

Dr. Stephanie Seneff,

You don’t know me but I have been following your interviews, speaking presentations, and science publications, as much as a lay person seeking health can.  

I am so thankful you are speaking about Roundup and Glyphosate and it’s affects on health.  To me, GMOs are only part of the picture.  People need to be monitoring and understanding this very powerful herbicide and chelator Roundup which is sprayed not only onto GMO foods but ALSO non-GMO foods.  See this article for more on Genetically Modified Foods and health.

I went GMO free after watching Jeffrey Smith's Genetic Roulette documentary and was a GMO labeling activist in California, but I was not looking at Roundup specifically and it's deleterious health affects.  I just learned from you that they are spraying Roundup (Glyphosate) not only on GMO crops but also on around 160 varieties of food crops in America that are Non-GMO crops like; grains, rice, legumes, sugar-cane, tubers, dried peas, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cacao beans, herbs, teas, coffee, stevia, etc. (wheat, barley, rye, oats, sorghum, rice, all variety of beans and lentils, sugar-cane sugar, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and other foods, think gluten free items) with Roundup (Glyphosate) Herbicide and Chelator.  In many cases it's to aid in the harvest/drying process and frequently is sprayed on them just prior to harvest, being put to market, and consumed on our dinner tables.  

So, technically those above mentioned foods are not GMO foods, but they have Roundup (Glyphosate) sprayed on them just prior to harvest, unless organic.  So, we are most likely eating Roundup (Glyphosate), which is an Herbicide and Chelator of nutrients, when we eat non-organic versions of those foods.  My family was not organic on these items, in all cases.  Just GMO free.  Roundup is a whole other area, I think.


You have shown my family enough research so that we are now eating an ALL Organic food diet, not just non-gmo.  Eating ALL Organic is unfortunately the only way to eliminate, or at least reduce as much as possible, this toxic herbicide and chelator from our food choices.  This was a light bulb moment for me.

It shouldn't be this hard for a Mom to feed her family a healthy meal!

Thank you for speaking out.  I know scientists are sometimes apprehensive to go up against such powerful entities as the producers of this toxic substance.  

The way I understood the science of your findings:

Roundup/Glyphosate Interferes with and Disrupts:
  • The Shikamate Pathway in plants -and- the microbes/flora (gut bacteria or microbiome) in our gut and are both disrupted by Roundup/Glyphosate.
  • The three Essential Aromatic Amino Acids Tryptophan, Tyrosine, and Phenylalanine, get jammed and aren’t able to make the conversion to Serotonin, Thyroid Hormone, Dopamine, DNA signaling, and Melatonin.
  • Also, it interferes with the Cytochrome P45 (CYP) Enzymes in our LIVER making problems for us to detoxify, make Vitamin D, convert nutrients into Sulfate (very important) and more.

Roundup/Glyphosate Inhibits:
  • LIVER CYP Enzymes
  • DETOXIFICATION Pathways (Sulfite to Sulfate)
  • Metabolism of FATTY ACIDS
  • Damaging Gut Bacteria – preferentially the Good Bacteria (worse than antibiotics)
  • Absorption Problems w/Nutrients (Chelating them)
  • Amino Acid Disruption
  • Minerals are either deficient in food or our body

So, what do the above disruptions or inhibitions do to the health of a body?
  • Detoxification pathways are inhibited - backing up toxic overload
  • Methylation is inhibited - Important for brain function and detoxification
  • Sulfite conversion to Sulfate (very important) is jammed
  • Feel good hormones don't get made, think depression, angry behavior and irritability
  • Mitochondria (powerhouses for our cellular energy) are disrupted
  • Dopamine is hindered, think Parkinson type conditions here
  • Gut (Microbiome) Dysfunction - Pathogenic Bacteria thrive while Good Healthy Bacteria are preferentially killed
  • Fatty Acids are not metabolized - think Fatty Liver, Fat Storage (body fat) on the body, and GI issues such as IBS and Fat Soluble Vitamin(s) Toxicity or Deficiency
  • Liver Malfunctions - sluggish or not able to make the conversions with the right nutrients/enzymes
  • Nutrient absorption difficulties - it's either not in the food, or it's being hindered from being utilized in the body
  • Sensitivities to wine (flushing) as Sulfites are not able to be converted into Sulfates
  • Hyper-Allergenic - Food or Environmental Sensitivities
  • Brain Function hindered - lack of Serotonin (or low levels) to the brain is highly associated with Autism

For the first time in the world Roundup (not just glyphosate) has been studied in the blood of rats, showing at .1ppb ( 50% less than is allowed in EU drinking water and thousands of times lower than is allowed in USA drinking water) rats showed sex hormone changes. The study shows that the adjuvents (other chemicals) in Roundup make glyphosate 1000 more toxic. This ground breaking study proves the EPA does not have evidence to say Roundup is safe and should be recalled immediately. Nicholas, in the clip shown above, speaks with Zen Honeycutt of Moms Across America at the "Food Safety and Sustainable Agriculture Forum 2014".

If you want to learn more you can go to Moms Across America which Professor Seralini, and French Researcher seen below, mentions several times.  He has conducted the only long-term study on GMO's and Roundup.




Just some FOOD for thought.  Organic food that is.