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Glyphosate is one of the most popular, widely used herbicides worldwide. Glyphosate-based herbicides are used in agriculture to maintain our food supply, so we are regularly exposed to Glyphosate through residues.
Glyphosate exposure has been known to affect human health negatively, but how does it affect our gut microbiome?
We have done months of research on how Glyphosate affects the gut microbiota of humans and the diseases it causes and represented thousands of individuals in lawsuits involving Glyphosate.
Table Of Contents
Quick Summary
- Glyphosate affects the gut microbiota composition of humans, which contributes to disease.
- These changes to the human microbiome cause anxiety, depression, inflammation, reflux, celiac disease, and colon cancer.
- Probiotic treatments can aid in healing celiac disease caused by Glyphosate.
- Glyphosate can be avoided by eating all organic or buying foods with a Glyphosate free label.
- Foods with the most Glyphosate include almonds, carrots, quinoa, soy, corn, and more.
What Does Glyphosate Do to Intestinal Flora?
The Environmental Protection Agency considers Glyphosate “safe” because it can’t affect metabolic pathways in mammalian cells. However, recent animal studies have shown the potential toxicity of Glyphosate and its effects on the gut microbiome [1].
Glyphosate’s effects on the human gut microbiome are caused by its exact mechanism to kill weeds. The gut microbiota includes various bacteria and fungi that control immune functions and other processes. Disrupting the human gut microbiome contributes to several diseases [2].
“Both Glyphosate and Roundup have an effect on the gut bacterial composition. Our gut is inhabited by thousands of different types of bacteria, and balance in their composition is crucial for our health. Anything that negatively disturbs the gut microbiome has the potential of causing ill health.”
– Dr. Michael Antonoiu, Molecular Geneticist
Diseases Caused By Gut Microbiota Composition Changes
Studies show that chronic exposure to the herbicide Glyphosate can produce adverse health outcomes in humans and animals. These gut changes have increased behaviors like anxiety and depression in mice.
Glyphosate has the potential to create an imbalance between opportunistic pathogens and the bacterial species of the gut. Changes to the human gut composition are shown to be associated with inflammation, reflux, obesity, celiac disease, and colon cancer [3].
Related Article: Glyphosate Lawsuit Update (2023)
Enzymes Glyphosate Targets
Glyphosate targets an enzyme called ESPS. This enzyme is the key to synthesizing essential aromatic amino acids. This enzyme is found in the shikimate pathway, which is found only in plants, fungi, and bacterial species.
However, Glyphosate has been shown to notably impact the human gut microbiome and the bacteria that live in the gut microbiota [4].
Related Article: How Does Glyphosate Harm DNA?
How to Treat Digestive Disorders That Glyphosate Causes
Human health has continued to be affected by the Glyphosate herbicide, including the bacterial species of the human microbiome.
Probiotic treatments have been recommended to aid in the healing of celiac disease. Lactobacilli help to assist wheat breakdown in decreasing wheat sensitivity.
Probiotic treatments with bifidobacteria have also been shown to ease the symptoms of celiac disease. This probiotic bacteria suppresses the inflammatory response of human microbiota in those with a celiac disease diagnosis [5].
How to Avoid Glyphosate in Food Products
One of the easiest ways to avoid Glyphosate in food is to look for a Glyphosate residue-free label. However, the rollout of these labels with food manufacturers is slow [6].
Your next best option is to buy organic. Buying certified organic products helps to reduce the risk of environmental contamination with Glyphosate and other toxic chemicals.
See all related toxic tort lawsuits our lawyers covered so far.
Which Foods Have the Most Glyphosate
The foods with the most Glyphosate are natural plants grown in the United States and China.
The foods that have the highest Glyphosate levels include [7]:
- Almonds
- Carrots
- Quinoa
- Soy
- Vegetable Oil
- Corn
- Corn Oil
- Canola Oil
- Beets
- Sweet Potatoes
Reasons For The Recall Of Glyphosate
There has been no recall of Glyphosate to date. However, in 2020, Bayer paid $39.5 million to settle claims that Monsanto put out misleading information asserting that Glyphosate only affected plant enzymes and couldn’t similarly impact people.
The case alleged that Glyphosate targeted an enzyme in humans that bolsters the immune system. Bayer bought Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide in 2018 [8].
Other Health Issues Glyphosate Causes
This herbicide has been known to cause other adverse health effects besides cancer. These include:
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Arrhythmia
- Eye irritation
- Skin irritation
- Increased saliva production
- Burns of the mouth and throat
- Vomiting
Symptoms of Exposure
Glyphosate has immediate effects from exposure. These include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Abdominal cramps
- Blue lips
- Throat and mouth irritation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
What Is the Burden of Proof for a Glyphosate Claim?
If you have experienced non-Hodgkin lymphoma or any adverse health effects associated with Glyphosate, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit.
Bayer may be liable for your illness based on the failure to warn customers that Glyphosate can affect the human microbial composition of the gut.
To hold Bayer accountable, you will need to prove two key elements:
- First, you will need to prove you have a history of exposure to Glyphosate. Whether you used it commercially, on your lawn as a weed killer, or have been exposed through food.
- Second, You will need medical proof that you have been identified as having non-Hodgkin lymphoma or any other adverse health effect that Glyphosate can cause.
Average Settlement
The average Glyphosate lawsuit settles for $5,000 to $250,000. As of 2020, Bayer has been ordered to pay $10 billion in settlements to people who have developed adverse health risks or cancer through Glyphosate exposure [9].
Related Articles:
See all related toxic tort lawsuits our lawyers covered so far.
FAQs
How Does Glyphosate Affect Honeybee Gut Microbiota?
Glyphosate affects the honey bee gut the same way it affects humans. The chemical disrupts the microbes in honey bees’ digestive system, which makes them vulnerable to infection.
Does Chronic Glyphosate Exposure Cause Leaky Gut?
Yes, chronic Glyphosate exposure causes a leaky gut. The chemical damages your gut lining, allowing undigested food to move outside your gut.
How Do I Reduce the Amount of Glyphosate in the Body?
The amount of Glyphosate in the body can be reduced by switching to an all-organic diet. You can also avoid foods that don’t have a Glyphosate residue-free label.
Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation with Our Lawyer
The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP is an experienced team of lawyers representing plaintiffs from all 50 states in Bayer lawsuits.
If you or a first-degree relative has been diagnosed with lymphoma or any other adverse health effect after being exposed to Glyphosate, contact us immediately for a free lawsuit evaluation. We can also help you with evidence collection, paperwork, and more.
References:
- https://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/does-glyphosate-affect-the-gut-microbiome/
- https://usrtk.org/pesticides/glyphosate-alterations-in-gut-microbiome/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.556729/full
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201120095858.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945755/
- https://www.betternutrition.com/ask-the-nutritionist/glyphosate-in-foods/
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/the-weedkiller-in-our-food-is-killing-us
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-30/bayer-pays-39-5-million-to-settle-roundup-false-ad-lawsuits?leadSource=uverify%20wall
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/business/roundup-settlement-lawsuits.html
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