How Glyphosate and Alcohol Damage Your Gut & Your Body?
The modern world has the most comfort that mankind has ever achieved, but there’s a certain cost associated with that convenience. If we solely talk about human health, there are two harmful substances, glyphosate and alcohol, which are significant threats.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient which is used in herbicides such as Roundup and is the foundation on which industrial agriculture has become possible. It is sprayed extensively on crops, which become a huge part of the diet that all of us consume on a daily basis.
On the other hand, alcohol is consumed in a variety of ways. These substances are quite different, but both glyphosate and alcohol have profound, overlapping, and even harmful effects on the human body.
In fact, these substances target the delicate ecosystem of the gut microbiome and even extend their damage to the most important organs, such as the liver and brain, along with disrupting the hormonal balance.
In this blog post, you’ll get to learn about how glyphosate and alcohol damage your gut and body. So, let’s begin!
The Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome is an intricate community consisting of trillions of microorganisms that reside within our digestive tract. You would be surprised to know that it is the first line of defence against several attacks on our body by foreign microorganisms. It would not be an overstatement to say that the gut microbiome is the central hub for your overall health.
Both glyphosate and alcohol assault this vital ecosystem directly, causing many negative health outcomes. Glyphosate is designed in such a way that it inhibits the shikimate pathway in plants, which acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic within the human gut.
But you need to know that humans don’t have this pathway, and still, our beneficial gut bacteria rely on it immensely so as to synthesize the essential amino acids. As a result, glyphosate eradicates all of these beneficial strains, which will lead to an immediate and profound disruption of the microbial balance, which is most commonly known as dysbiosis. Due to this, an environment is created in which harmful bacteria can easily multiply unchecked.
In a similar manner, alcohol directly alters the gut microbiome composition. There have been many studies which indicate that chronic alcohol consumption lessens the diversity of beneficial bacteria, along with promoting the growth of pathogenic species. This imbalance compromises the gut’s ability to carry out its important functions, which can cause several systemic issues. Some of those functions are nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and the production of essential compounds.
Damaged Nutrient Absorption & Nutrient Deficiencies
Even beyond the disruption of the microbial balance, the damage caused by glyphosate and alcohol can cause impaired nutrient absorption and even nutritional deficiencies.
A healthy gut microbiome is important for the synthesis of different vitamins. Vitamin B is one of those vitamins(like B1, B6, B9, and B12), and the other one is Vitamin K. These vitamins are important for energy metabolism, nervous system function, and blood clotting. When glyphosate wipes out the bacteria which is responsible for this synthesis, the body’s natural production lines for these important vitamins get compromised.
Moreover, beneficial gut bacteria play an important role in absorbing important minerals such as magnesium and calcium, which are important for bone health. Alongside this, it is important for nerve function and plenty of enzymatic reactions as well.
Dysbiosis, whether it is induced by glyphosate or alcohol, can directly weaken these absorption pathways, which may even lead to chronic deficiencies. It can lead to chronic deficiencies that might manifest as fatigue, bone weakness, muscle cramps, and even other health problems. Alcohol, especially, can damage the intestinal lining, which reduces the surface area available for nutrient uptake.
The Leaky Gut Phenomenon
Did you know that one of the most concerning outcomes of both glyphosate and alcohol exposure is the increase in gut permeability? This phenomenon is most commonly known as the leaky gut syndrome.
The gut lining is a single layer of cells which is held together by tight junctions. They act as an important barrier which will selectively allow the digested nutrients directly into the bloodstream while preventing harmful substances from entering. Some of those harmful substances are toxins, undigested food particles, and even pathogens.
Both glyphosate and alcohol play a role in compromising the integrity of these tight junctions. Glyphosate, through its disruptive effect on the gut microbiome, can lead to weakening of this barrier in an indirect manner.
On the other hand, alcohol can irritate and damage the mucosal lining, which will lead to increased spaces between the cells. When the gut becomes leaky, these unfavourable substances can even escape into the systemic circulation.
The body’s immune system has an innate ability to recognize these foreign invaders, and it triggers an inflammatory response. This response is not just locally in the gut but has presence throughout the entire body. This sustained systemic inflammation is only a precursor and contributes to different types of chronic diseases. Some of these diseases are autoimmune disorders, food sensitivities and even chronic fatigue.
Final Thoughts
Glyphosate and alcohol pose a dual threat to your health, and they even have a cascading effect which begins in the gut and has a harmful effect on the entire body.
From the disruption of the vital gut microbiome and the diminished nutrient absorption, the impact is quite profound. Alongside this, it is accompanied by direct damage to the most important organs, such as the liver and brain.
Both of these substances can fuel systemic inflammation, which contributes to different conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome to autoimmune disorders and even cancers of different kinds.
Furthermore, their influence on hormonal balance can even lead to considerable weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, and a significant impact on mental well-being.
By understanding these intricate mechanisms of harm, you will be empowered to make the right choices for your diet and lifestyle. This will definitely lead to a reduction in exposure to these toxins.
So, prioritize your gut health and your overall health by minimizing alcohol intake and choosing clean and unprocessed food. It will protect the delicate gut equilibrium, which is important for maintaining optimal health for a long time to come.
