GMOs and glyphosate may feel like a topic in the health industry that has been beaten to death. Most people know that you should avoid them, but this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what is happening in the world of Genetically Modified Organisms. Today we go deep into the realm of GMO 2.0 to reinforce the fundamental nature of these threats posed by new gene-editing technologies to the planet’s ecosystems.

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD

What Are GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are foods that have had their DNA manipulated by man. Although it was touted to be ‘safe, precise, and predictable, the latest science demonstrates unequivocally it is none of the above ^1. On the contrary, many specialists in the industry touted GMOs as the most significant drivers of disease in our modern-day ^1.

The Problem with GMOs

When food is genetically modified, this alteration can create allergens, toxins, carcinogens, and new diseases, unfortunately passed on to the humans exposed to them ^1. When manipulating the DNA of foods like this, GMOs alter DNA in the humans that consume or are exposed to them in similar ways ^2.

Studies in rats exploring the generic safety of GMOs showed pre-cancerous cell growth in the digestive tract, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy of the liver, and damaged immune system in just ten days ^3. This is simply for conventional GMOs, made by forcing the genes from one species into another species. It only scratches the surface compared to the kind of gene manipulation happening today.

GMOs and Glyphosate

Soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa are the six main GMOs, and they are all engineered to be sprayed with dangerous pesticides and herbicides like Roundup ^4. Think of the fact that a fruit or vegetable can typically only take so much herbicide or pesticides before it dies. In contrast, GMOs have been specifically designed to be grown with pesticides, which then bioaccumulate in the plants, the environment in which they are sprayed, and the consumer ^4.

Glyphosate is the main active ingredient in Roundup, and it has been associated with more health concerns than you can imagine, including leaky gut, leaky brain, liver disease, kidney failure, cancer, endocrine disruption, depression, celiac disease, autism, and a host of autoimmune conditions^5-6.

Glyphosate impacts human health in multiple ways. It’s patented to descale industrial boilers and pipes because it’s a potent chelator, grabs on to minerals, and strips them off the walls ^7. It does in food and our bodies because it binds to minerals, making them unavailable. This leads to mineral deficient food, including mineral deficient animal products for animals that consume GMO feed.

Free-floating minerals in the body act like ignition to our metabolic pathways, and thanks to GMO and Glyphosate consumption, they can no longer function ^8. Unfortunately, this leads to a host of metabolically-related illnesses and diseases.

Glyphosate also destroys the tight junctions in the human gut, which causes a leaky gut ^9. A leaky gut allows foreign invaders and undigested foods to penetrate the gut lining, triggering an immune response in the body. As a result, diagnoses including Crohn’s, colitis, and celiac disease are often directly linked to glyphosate damage ^1.

Glyphosate also penetrates the blood-brain barrier and lodges itself in the brain ^10. As a result, glyphosate is linked to many mental health and neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.

The list goes on and on with the health-destroying capabilities of glyphosate. From mitochondrial damage to serotonin downregulation and insomnia, it’s clear that glyphosate has no place in the life of anyone who values their health 11. Genetically modified foods and glyphosate go hand in hand. Still, instead of banning GMOs– the United States and other major countries have invested in a new and even more insidious GMO technology called gene editing.

GMOs 2.0

Gene editing is the most modern creation in the GMO world. Unlike its predecessor, it is not about fusing two species; instead, gene editing actually changes gene sequences directly in one species. According to a study in the prestigious Nature journal, this new form of gene editing causes chromosomal mayhem ^12.

Gene editing might sound fancy, but it is incredibly cheap technology. As a result, everything with DNA is targeted. Furthermore, once you release a GMO, you can’t recall it– GMOs can self-propagate ^1. These two truths make for a very concerning reality that humans are messing with DNA modification in a way that we can never reverse.

The most common side effect of genetic engineering is surprising side effects. Our future generations may not inherit the benefits of billions of years of nature’s natural evolution but instead the product of laboratory creations. These genetic time bombs will be nothing we can take back or undo or fix once it’s released ^1.

Despite this, governments allow gene-edited products to be put on the market and in the environment without any oversight 13. This is because the cost of gene editing products and companies like CRISPR is incredibly low, and this technology spreads across the country like wildfire.

No matter how blatant the fraud is or how seriously dangerous the science has shown gene manipulation to be, the biotech industry still gets away with its lies despite how well-documented everything is. These big companies manipulate safety standards thanks to their billions of dollars and powerful influence.

Solutions

Go Organic

Unfortunately, going non-GMO is not enough. The toxicity problem of glyphosate and GMOs goes hand in hand, but glyphosate and Roundup are used across the country with conventional crops. So unless you’re committing to organic, there is a high chance that your food is sprayed with glyphosate either in the growing or harvesting process.

Some people worry about the added cost of organics, but it is helpful to think of it this way: combine your food and your health budget. Factoring in the long-term cost, not only financially but also emotionally and physically, of the disease and distress caused by consuming GMOs and glyphosate… you quite simply cannot afford not to go organic.

That being said, everything exists on a scale. Although avoiding GMOs is a top priority, many ways to minimize your exposure to glyphosate don’t involve going 100% certified organic. Buying spray-free is a good option, as is knowing which product is most heavily sprayed– and buying organic for those select items.

The other power of going non-GMO and organic is that the Achilles heel of this whole industry is consumer awareness. The more you understand the dangers of consuming and exposing your body to GMOs and glyphosate in food, the less revenue these companies make. So ultimately, voting with your dollar is the biggest game-changer for food products. Remember that these companies only have power because of profit; they take away their profit, and their industry disappears.

Vote Against the Use of GMOs

Unfortunately, voting with your dollar is not enough regarding the widespread uses of the gene-editing technology of GMOs 2.0. To help put an end to this insidious monster before it absolutely decimates the future of our human race, first watch the 16-minute film on https://protectnaturenow.com. Protect Nature Now is an organization dedicated to ending genetically engineered microbes’ shocking and world-altering effects.

From there, you can sign a petition and visit their advocacy platform to learn more about actionable steps you can take to help protect yourself, your family, and the future generations of humankind.

Summary

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the product of manipulating the genes of a living thing. Conventionally, GMOs have been created by hybridizing two or more foods and making them more resilient to high use of the herbicide Glyphosate. Glyphosate and GMOs cause extreme distress to human health, and despite this, they have been spreading across the country and the world at an alarming rate.

GMOs 2.0 are the use of gene editing, which is a cheap and hazardous science experiment that we cannot undo. To save the future humans of this planet from having to bear the cross of this dangerous tool, we can do two things: support the organic movement buying organic food and support the work of Jeffrey Smith at https://protectnaturenow.com.

Medical Disclaimer: information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended to share knowledge and information. This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD, for the accuracy of the information provided, but we encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

References

1. Smith, Jeffrey M. Seeds of Deception. Yes! Books, 2003.
2. Qiu, Shengnan, et al. “Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on Intestinal Morphology, Antioxidant Capacity and Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, vol. 187, 2020, p. 109846., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109846.
3. “Greenpeace Calls for Immediate Total Ban on GMO Food.” Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, https://www.iatp.org/news/greenpeace-calls-for-immediate-total-ban-on-gmo-food.
4. Seralini, GE. Update on the long-term toxicity of agricultural GMOs tolerant to roundup.Environ Sci Eur 32, 18 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-020-0296-8
5. Meftaul, Islam Md et al. “Controversies over human health and ecological impacts of glyphosate: Is it to be banned in modern agriculture?.” Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) vol. 263, Pt A (2020): 114372. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114372
6. Rueda-Ruzafa, Lola et al. “Gut microbiota and neurological effects of glyphosate.” Neurotoxicology vol. 75 (2019): 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2019.08.006
7. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/approved-cellular-and-gene-therapy-products.
8. Libretexts. “15: Metabolic Cycles.” Chemistry LibreTexts, Libretexts, 28 July 2021, https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Book%3A_Chemistry_for_Allied_Health_(Soult)/15%3A_Metabolic_Cycles.
9. Qiu, Shengnan, et al. “Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on Intestinal Morphology, Antioxidant Capacity and Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, vol. 187, 2020, p. 109846., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109846.
10. Samsel, Anthony, and Stephanie Seneff. “Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese, neurological diseases, and associated pathologies.” Surgical neurology international vol. 6 45. 24 Mar. 2015, doi:10.4103/2152-7806.153876
11. Martínez, María-Aránzazu et al. “Neurotransmitter changes in rat brain regions following glyphosate exposure.” Environmental research vol. 161 (2018): 212-219. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.051
12. Ledford, Heidi. “CRISPR Gene Editing in Human Embryos Wreaks Chromosomal Mayhem.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 25 June 2020, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01906-4.
13. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/approved-cellular-and-gene-therapy-products.
14. Qiu, Shengnan, et al. “Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on Intestinal Morphology, Antioxidant Capacity and Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, vol. 187, 2020, p. 109846., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109846.