Weed killer now linked to rise in liver disease

You’ve probably heard about the dangers associated with Monsanto’s popular weed killer Roundup. In fact, its nasty reputation is finally catching up to it…

Recently, a jury awarded a California couple $2 billion for the damage Roundup caused to their health, resulting in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after decades of using the product on their property.

And this judgment comes on the heels of two prior hefty monetary awards where juries also sided with cancer victims over Big Agra.

Now the floodgates are open: It’s been reported that thousands of lawsuits have been filed, something that should make each and every one of us concerned about our exposure to glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup.

Could you have been exposed — even if you haven’t been working towards a beautification award for your yard? The answer is most certainly, yes.

Here’s what you need to know about past exposure and protecting yourself from not only cancer — but the latest danger tied to glyphosate… liver disease.

Glyphosate residue and liver disease

The main ingredient in Monsanto’s weed killer that’s the cause of all of its health dangers is glyphosate. Hands down, it’s the most widely used herbicide in our country. Now, a team from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has found that it’s not only capable of causing cancer — but also liver disease…

Their study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, measured levels of glyphosate in the urine of patients with and without NASH. NASH is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a more severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD, where patients end up with inflammation as well as fat accumulation in their livers.

And, the danger glyphosate poses to your liver were demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt…

The researchers discovered that the amount of glyphosate residue was significantly higher in the urine of patients with NASH than it was in patients whose liver was healthy. And, the association was true regardless of any other outside factors including body mass index, age, race, ethnicity, and whether or not the patient also had diabetes.

The researchers say that when you add this to the results of previous studies in animals, it shows that there is a link between glyphosate and fatty liver disease, a condition that’s been on the rise right along with the growing amount of the weed killer found in our food supply.

“There have been a handful of studies, all of which we cited in our paper, where animals either were or weren’t fed Roundup or glyphosate directly, and they all point to the same thing: the development of liver pathology,” said Paul J. Mills, PhD, professor and chief in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Avoiding the fatty liver danger of roundup

To avoid the risks that come with glyphosate, never use Roundup on your lawn and encourage your neighbors to ban the chemical as well. It’s also important to only choose foods that are organic and non-GMO in order to stay away from foods that are routinely doused in the chemical at harvest to hasten “dry down.”

Take steps to support the health of your liver…

• Milk Thistle – Milk thistle has been used for thousands of years to support better liver health by promoting the elimination of heavy metal build-up, medication residue, environmental pollutants, and alcohol.
• Turmeric – An Indian herb that fights inflammation, turmeric helps protect your liver from oxidative stress and promotes healthy liver function.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) – An incredibly potent antioxidant, ALA helps keep fats from accumulating in your liver.
• Schisandra – An ancient Chinese herb, Schisandra activates enzymes in your liver cells that produce glutathione — the master antioxidant that detoxifies your body.

Sources:

1. $2 Billion Verdict Against Monsanto Is Third to Find Roundup Caused Cancer — The New York Times
2. It’s in the Weeds: Herbicide Linked to Human Liver Disease — UC San Diego Health