Glyphosate may be Causing Deadly Bacteria to Flourish in Digestive System

While antibiotics typically hold first prize in depleting the body’s gut flora levels, it seems that the omnipresent agrochemical, glyphosate (found in the popular herbicide, Roundup) may be causing widespread changes in the microbiome of those who consume it.

Main Ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp, Patented as an Antibiotic

Monsanto developed the glyphosate molecule in the 1970s and marketed it as Roundup from 1973. What you may not be aware of, though, is that Monsanto also patented glyphosate as an antibiotic in 2010. It seems that the chemical may have been destroying our healthy gut bacteria along with other bacteria this whole time.

Glyphosate Leading to the Overgrowth of Deadly Bacteria?

One study to confirm this is titled, “The Influence of Glyphosate on the Microbiota and Production of Botulinum Neurotoxin During Ruminal Fermentation.”

It found that a deadly bacteria which grows with glyphosate use was causing dysbiosis (pathogenic alteration of gut bacteria). The condition profoundly affects and alters the holobiont – a collection of closely associated species that have complex interactions. This can have far-reaching affects on our health.

The harmful bacteria in question? A highly pathogenic Clostridium botulinum strain.

So it seems that glyphosate interferes with the microbial communities that form the basis for our digestive health, altering its complex functioning in a manner that interferes with the production of basic amino acids and neurohormones, giving the harmful bacteria carte blanche to run freely through our intestinal tracts.

Disrupting the “Shikimic Acid Pathway”

In plants, glyphosate disrupts the shikimic acid pathway through inhibition of the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase. The resulting deficiency in EPSP production leads to reductions in aromatic amino acids that are vital for protein synthesis and plant growth.

The same was found for rats in another study.

While the shikimic acid pathway is not found in animal cells, including humans, the pathway is found in the trillions of microbes that live in and around the human gut.

Beneficial Bacteria Suppressed, Pathogenic Bacteria Glyphosate-Resistant in Poultry Study

The journal Current Microbiology published a study that caught glyphosate suppressing beneficial bacteria in poultry specimens – in vitro.

But it gets worse. While good bacteria died, highly pathogenic bacteria were unaffected by glyphosate. These pathogens included Salmonella Entritidis, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum.

“A reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract microbiota by ingestion of glyphosate could disturb the normal gut bacterial community. Also, the toxicity of glyphosate to the most prevalent Enterococcus spp. could be a significant predisposing factor that is associated with the increase in C. botulinum-mediated diseases by suppressing the antagonistic effect of these bacteria on clostridia.”

Others Speak on the Potential Link Between Glyphosate and Gut Health

Dr. Don Huber, a professor emeritus of plant pathology at Purdue University, also explains that though glyphosate is an herbicide, it was first patented as a mineral chelator. It mobilizes nutrients so that your body cannot absorb them. Since glyphosate was also patented as an antibiotic, it does double damage.

He says:

“When you take the good bacteria out, then the bad bacteria fill that void, because there aren’t any voids in nature. We have all of these gut-related problems, whether it’s autism, leaky gut, C. difficile diarrhea, gluten intolerance, or any of the other problems. All of these diseases are an expression of disruption of that intestinal microflora that keeps you healthy.”

The toxic substance works by interfering with the biochemistry of bacteria in our GI tracts, destroying amino acids in what is called the shikimate pathway. Specifically, glyphosate depletes the amino acids tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine, which can then contribute to obesity, depression, autism, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. It doesn’t work immediately, except in cases of acute toxic exposure, but develops little by little.

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Antibiotic Resistance is a Huge Issue

In 2013, the Chief Medical Officer for England, Dame ally Davies, announced that antibiotic-resistant diseases posed an ‘apocalyptic’ threat to the world. The CDC has even admitted (finally) that the age of antibiotics must come to an end as antibiotic-resistant bacteria begin to reign supreme over conventional treatments. Has Monsanto purposefully created a healthy bacteria killer?

Poor Gut Flora Means Poor Health

Our gut bacteria has been carefully crafted by Mother Nature for ages so that we could thrive in an environment containing a host of microbes. Scientists have even studied 700-year old poop, analyzing 14^th century petrified human feces to understand the human digestive system more fully.

If the delicate balance of our gut bacteria is altered, we can only expect disease.

As awareness grows, more and more people are realizing that poor gut flora often means poor health. Without the proper ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria, overall health suffers and you could be left feeling depressed.

In fact, poor gut health has been directly tied to mental illness, which may explain the influx of people being diagnosed with a mental illness. Not only that, but obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome have all been tied to poor gut health.