A recent study found a “huge increase” in both the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases in the U.S. over the last 20 years. The study links the increasing use of the herbicide glyphosate, which has increased greatly the last few decades as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our diets also increased. And as the study points out, “Glyphosate disrupts the endocrine system and the balance of gut bacteria, it damages DNA and is a driver of mutations that lead to cancer.” In other words, it causes a whole slew of problems.
Read more about why you should avoid eating GMOs
Researchers searched U.S. government databases for GMO crop data, glyphosate use data and disease epidemiological data. They performed correlation analyses on 22 diseases. They found “strong correlations” for liver, kidney, bladder/urinary and thyroid cancers, with thyroid and bladder cancers seeming to especially be on track with the introduction of GMO crops and the glyphosate use that corresponds. Thyroid cancer seems to affect women more while liver and kidney cancers seem to affect men more.
During the last 20 years the amount of serious illnesses affecting Americans has greatly increased and life expectancy has decreased. An estimated 25 percent of the American population suffers from multiple chronic diseases. Serious illnesses once only seen among people over 65 are now seen in younger people. This includes type 2 diabetes. During the same time period “there has been an exponential increase in the amount of glyphosate applied to food crops and in the percentage of GMO food crops planted,” the study noted.
Glyphosate is in air, water and food. Glyphosate residues have been found in glyphosate-resistant soy of up to 4.4 parts per million (ppm). In Germany, glyphosate was found in the urine of dairy cows. The glyphosate residues allowed on food in the U.S. are some of the highest in the world. In July 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised the maximum allowable residues of glyphosate.
The agri-chemical industry claims that less pesticides and herbicides are being used. Since the introduction of GMO seeds in 1996 the amount of glyphosate usage on U.S. crops has increased from 27 million pounds to 250 million pounds in 2009.
Read more about how GMO foods change gut bacteria
Researchers concluded that more studies need to be conducted on GMO crops, glyphosate and the increase of chronic diseases in the U.S. But you don’t have to wait for more research to tell you that GMOs are harmful to your health. You can start eliminating them from your diet.
Image: United Soybean Board
