Glyphosate, the Food Supply and the Rise of Autism

The widespread, unchecked use of glyphosate containing herbicides is leading to higher autism rates.

This video was originally published on DrPerlMutter.com and republished with permission. DrPerlMutter.com

Dr. Perlmutter interviews Dr. Stephanie Seneff, research scientist at MIT about the toxic herbicide ingredient glyphosate. Dr. Seneff, who has an academic background in biology as well as technology fields in addition to publishing over a dozen peer-reviewed citations. She began investigating glyphosate when noticing that research being done on the rising autism epidemic seemed to focus on genetics. Because the rates of autism seemed to outpace the speed of gene mutation, she began researching environmental causes.

Her role as a researcher allowed her to analyze a number of studies and papers regarding autistic patients and gut issues that many autistic children have in common. When attending a talk about the dangers of glyphosate contamination, she was astounded to learn that the effects of this toxic ingredient match very similarly to the conditions that children experiencing autism have to put up with. Soy, wheat, corn and peanut crops (in addition to others) are all heavily treated with herbicides like RoundUp and because the chemical can also contaminate the soil, plants are absorbing it not just topically but via the roots as well. These plants aren’t just coated with the stuff, they are taking it into their bodies and when we eat them, we’re eating the herbicide as well.

Add in the fact that many crops are genetically modified to resist glyphosate and you have a perfect storm of factors that create an environment where autism thrives. You might be wondering how herbicide companies can get away with this, and the answer is pretty straight forward: they mislead the public. They claim that because the chemical attacks the shikimate pathway, which is the means by which plants, bacteria and fungi metabolize substances and turn them into energy. They say that because humans lack a shikimate pathway that we are completely unharmed by the substance. However, it does not account for the fact that up to 90% of our body is made up of bacteria that absolutely can be affected by it.

The good news is that by growing your own food, buying from local organic farms and spreading awareness all helps to stem the tide of autism. We can fight back against the Big Agriculture bullies. We just have to make a conscious decision to educate ourselves and not buy their products.

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