What is glyphosate exactly, and is it toxic to humans?

How does a toxin like glyphosate, an active ingredient in weedkiller, end up on our plants and then on our plates? And what exactly can it do to our digestive system? 

We’re investigating the truth behind this divisive herbicide, and whether it has an impact on our gut health, with Salvo Health Clinical Advisory Board Member Dr. Frank Lipman. 

‍What is glyphosate exactly?

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States. Most notably, it’s an active ingredient in Roundup—a weedkiller product from Monsanto, an agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation—as well as an active ingredient in many similar pesticides. 

Glyphosate does two things primarily: It is used to regulate plant growth, but farmers also use glyphosate as a desiccant, or a chemical to dry crops like beans, soybeans,  wheat, and oats right before harvesting them. How does it keep them dry? By killing off the inedible part of the crop, so that the edible part of the crop dries out and is ready for harvest faster. 

We recently spoke with Dr. Frank Lipman, Salvo Health Clinical Advisory Board Member, and a prolific functional medicine physician, about the agricultural popularity of Glyphosate, and the potential problems it could mean for humans trying to eat healthily. 

“It's not just on genetically modified organisms, but on some 70 different food crops, particularly grains and beans, to speed up the drying process in preparation for harvest. There are a lot of people who feel that glyphosate has permeated the food system, and is causing a lot of problems.” 

‍So how does glyphosate end up in our food from the field? And then in our bodies?

Pesticide residue remains on most foods that are treated with Glyphosate. (That’s why it is always important to wash your veggies and fruits.) However, no amount of scrubbing can be completely effective in ridding a plant of Glyphosate, as the ingredient is absorbed into the plant through the leaves, and it spreads to the entirety of the plant to control its growth. Meaning glyphosate exposure is likely unavoidable. Not to mention that Roundup is often used in public parks and outdoor spaces, meaning you can likely be exposed to it through the air. 

Because of its widespread use, organizations like the World Health Organization, the EPA, and other agencies often study the effects of Glyphosate on humans as a matter of public health. There has been concern about its link to cancer, and other diseases such as Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. 

‍What does glyphosate do to our bodies?

 In 2020, the EPA released a statement that glyphosate does not pose a risk to humans as long as it is used according to directions. However, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen.” 

 So what’s the truth? Research on glyphosate is divided, depending on the agency or organization conducting it.

There have been many studies done, as recently as June 2022, that concur on it being harmful to humans, such as a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that 80 percent of Americans have glyphosate in their urine. Studies on mice have also revealed that glyphosate can negatively affect the gut microbiome, causing gastrointestinal disorders, increasing the chances of obesity, and even impacting mood and mental health. Since glyphosate is often applied to wheat crops, it can be difficult to study its impact as gluten tends to be a problem already for those with Celiac disease and other gastrointestinal disorders. 

 Dr. Frank Lipman suspects that glyphosate may be a factor that causes inflammation and flare-ups for many of his patients with chronic gut conditions. 

“A lot of my patients will tell me, and it also happens to me, that when they go to Europe, and they eat the same foods like bread or pasta, they don't have a problem. I can’t say for certain, but glyphosates aren’t used in many countries overseas.” 

 In 2016, the Italian government banned the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest treatment and placed restrictions on glyphosate use in public areas. Italy was one of seven EU nations to ban the use of glyphosate. 

 How to avoid eating food with glyphosate?

This is a tricky question to answer because glyphosate is so widely used in our agricultural system. However, there are ways to keep a pulse on which foods may contain levels of glyphosate or glyphosate residue. 

Here are few options for you to consider when trying to avoid glyphosate:

• NGOs, and non-profit organizations, like The Detox Project keep an ongoing list of glyphosate-free products available online. 
• Cook with olive oil or avocado over other oils like canola or vegetable oil, which are much more likely to contain GMOs and high levels of glyphosate.
• Whenever possible, shop for certified organic food when at the grocery store or at farmers markets.
• If you have the space, grow your own vegetables and food. Even a fire escape can make a small garden. 

Dr. Lipman presses the importance of remaining aware, but not panicked: “You have to do your best, without becoming neurotic about it. I think becoming obsessed is probably just as unhealthy. Cook with olive oil, try to eat organic food. Keep it as simple as possible.” 

If you’re interested in learning more about America’s food supply, detoxing your nutrition and home, and tips for staying healthy, follow Salvo Health on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, and subscribe to The Salve to hear more from our Clinical Advisory Board. 

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