What’s the Connection: GMO, Fatty Liver Disease, Leaky Gut?

While it’s true we live in a highly industrialized world where much of what we encounter is a product of chemical processing, there is something afoot that is much more troubling. Years ago alcohol, hepatitis and hepatitis b were the main drivers for fatty liver disease. When left untreated alcoholism led to liver cirrhosis and loss of liver function as the liver becomes overwhelmed. Today this same decline is initiated through non-alcoholic sources in the food supply call NAFLD or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. detoks

We often hear the following questions:

What’s the connection between fatty liver disease & environment?
Has the food supply changed that much in the past 50 years?
Do we really need to eat organic foods? 
​​Where do these toxins originate?

Why are so many toxins flowing into our system? Monsanto, the company that brought us Agent Orange has a lot to do with this recent problem. Monsanto’s scientists decided more than two decades ago to create Genetically Engineered crops (GE crops) also known as GMOs. These crops require the use of strong pesticides like Roundup™. Monsanto manufactured pesticide Roundup has been in the news as they continue to lose many court cases around the world because of irrefutable research that conclusively points to Roundup as a known carcinogen.

GE crops have far higher concentrations of pesticide use as they are engineered to withstand massive amounts of exposure. As insects become increasingly resistant to large amounts of Roundup used on GE crops, crops absorb higher concentrations of pesticide as they grow in the fields.

Associated Diseases with Glyphosate?

When good bacteria are come in contact with glyphosate it releases ammonia into the blood stream setting up the body’s system for the following diseases:

Glyphosate: What it is and how it Damages the Body

Glyphosate is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Glyphosate is non-discriminatory; it kills all crops and weeds it comes into contact with without human intervention.

Monsanto claims glyphosate is safe for humans because it acts on a mechanism present only in plants but not in animals or humans. It turns out it’s the same mechanism that exists in the bacteria to aid the human body! Human bodies are outnumbered by a 10:1 ratio of bacteria to cells and rely on the health of these same bacteria. Glyphosate’s deadly impact on our natural gut bacteria has substantial negative consequences. To make matters worse, glyphosate does more damage to beneficial bacteria than pathogenic organisms—leaving behind extremely harmful colonies in their wake.

Harmful bacteria overgrowth in an environment that promotes the growth of candida and chronic inflammation produces a leaky gut. This sequence of events are linked to increased gluten sensitivity and Irritated Bowel Syndrome (IBS) causing suffering experienced by many people in the United States.

The second mechanism glyphosate will damage in the body is cytochrome, preventing liver detoxification by halting the work of liver enzymes [cytochrome P450]. Pesticides increase toxicity through gut leakage into the body and reduce the body’s ability to remove them at the same time. This fact was repeatedly omitted in Monsanto’s reports to the U.S. government’s regulatory agencies.

Third, exposure to glyphosate stunts the body’s ability to produce vital digestive enzymes contributing to serious digestive dysfunction and compromise. Digestive enzymes are produced by breaking down important nutrients for absorption. Aside from malnutrition the absence of digestive enzymes provide a food source for pathogenic bacteria and yeast.

According to Dr. Stephanie Senoff, premiere research scientist at MIT, glyphosate is, “the most important factor in the development of multiple chronic diseases and conditions that have become prevalent in Western societies.” This includes fatty liver and leaky gut caused by the breakdown of gut bacteria or dysbiosis.

Where is Glyphosate?

It is important that readers understand glyphosate is used on GE crops and conventional crops. Roundup carcinogens are much higher in GE crops or GMOs when compared to conventional crops. The exposed produce is systemically infused with poisons, and they cannot be washed off. Our only healthy choice in this case is to consume organic produce.

At What Levels of Consumption is Glyphosate Dangerous?

Let’s take a look at these findings from GE corn. GE corn contains 13 parts per million (ppm) of glyphosate in every kernel. Research has determined organ damage in animals takes place at levels of 0.01 ppm. A consumer will receive nearly a thousand times that dosage from eating GMO corn. This is why it is necessary to avoid all high fructose corn syrups as virtually all are GMO based.

Not Dangerous Enough? Welcome Bt-toxin to the Mix!

GE corn carries with it an additional hazard as it’s engineered to produce an additional insecticide: Bt-toxin. The mechanism by which Bt-toxin works on an insect is the exact same way it interacts with humans. The toxin literally punches holes in the stomach lining. The lining of the stomach is arguably the most important line of defense for the immune system and the Bt-toxin comprises stomach lining. Bt-toxin is so pervasive in the foods we eat that a recent study finds its presence in 83% of pregnant women and 80% of fetuses’ tested.

Glyphosate & Bt-Toxin is Not the Full Extent of Carcinogens

Monsanto has skirted scientific scrutiny for a litany of other chemicals in its Roundup cocktail by listing the ingredients as ‘inert’, or unreactive. One of these is polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA.

In a 2009 study, researchers find POEA more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself. A conclusion they called, “astonishing”. Today we are just beginning to understand the dangers that Roundup poses to our health. Not to be deterred Roundup has its defenders; all of which have financial ties to Monsanto or its subsidiaries.

Do Your Own Research

Anyone researching this topic must be wary of dissenting opinion on the dangers of GE crops. Most of these defenders have been employed in the past by big tobacco, the vaccine industry and industries involved in the pollution of the environment. Companies involved in GE technology have a lot to lose in this fight and have billions at stake. Don’t underestimate their ability to persuade some members of the scientific community to obfuscate the real science illuminating the dangers of GE technologies.

Gut health issues need to be addressed for anyone suffering from elevated liver enzymes, obesity, diabetes and other related ailments. For further information please read our other articles discussing Leaky Gut, Type II diabetes and Obesity.

The best way to avoid GMOs is to consult the www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com or download the free iPhone app ShopNoGMO.

Look for products with either the “Non-GMO Project Verified” or the “Certified Organic” seal. Avoid ingredients derived from the foods most likely to be genetically modified.

References

1. https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/17/us-france-gmo-idUSKCN0RH1BV20150917
2. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/09/monsanto-roundup-herbicide.aspx
3. Journal of Entropy Mesnage R, Clair E, Gress S, Then C, Szekacs A, Seralini GE. Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide. J Appl Toxicol. 2013;33 (7):695-699.
4. Shehata AA, Schrodl W, Aldin AA, Hafez HM, Kruger M. The effect of glyphosate on potential pathogens and beneficial members of poultry microbiota in vitro. Curr Microbiol. 2013;66 (4):350-358.
5. Senapati T, Mukerjee A, Ghosh A et al. Observations on the effect of glyphosate based herbicide on ultra structure (SEM) and enzymatic activity in different regions of alimentary canal and gill of Channa punctatus. Journal of Crop and Weed. 2009;5 (1):236-245.
6. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weed-whacking-herbicide-p/
7. Aris A, Leblanc S. Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to genetically modified foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Reprod Toxicol. 2011;31 (4):528-533. [12] Collado MC, Donat E, Ribes-Koninckx C, Calabuig M, Sanz Y. Specific duodenal and faecal bacterial groups associated with paediatric coeliac disease. J Clin Pathol. 2009;62 (3):264-269.