English (United Kingdom) 
Русский (Россия) Description
Zach Bush, MD is triple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is the founder of Seraphic Group, an organization devoted to developing root-cause solutions for human and ecological health in the sectors of big farming, big pharma, and Western Medicine at large. And he is also the founder of Farmers Footprint https://farmersfootprint.us, a non-profit coalition of farmers, educators, doctors, scientists, and business leaders aiming to expose the deleterious human and environmental impacts of chemical farming and pesticide reliance -- while simultaneously offering a path forward through regenerative agricultural practices.
Summary
The impact of modern agriculture and chemicals on human health and the environment. The Western civilization has built an economy around healthcare, but for thousands of years, the real control of populations has been around their food. With 7 billion people on Earth, controlling food has become a significant business and a means of political control.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, diseases like autism, Alzheimer's, and autoimmune diseases started to become epidemic. The prevalence of these diseases suggests that there may be a root cause for all of them, which is chronic inflammation. Between 1982 and 2000, something happened to the environment that decimated the protection system of human immune systems.
A significant shift in agriculture took place in the late 1800s and early 1900s when farming practices changed, like steel grinding for wheat and disrespecting the importance of crop rotation and soil rest. This led to the death of topsoil and the Dust Bowl of the 1920s and 30s. During World War II, the petroleum industry realized they could extract nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from oil and make chemical-based fertilizers. This led to the Green Revolution in the 1960s, which involved the use of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or NPK fertilizers.
However, the plants grown using these fertilizers were lacking in nutrients and medicine. This made them more susceptible to viruses, pests, and weeds. The chemical industry responded by developing more chemicals like weed killers and pesticides, which led to a co-dependent relationship between farmers and these products.
One of the most widely used chemicals in agriculture is glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, with four and a half billion pounds used annually. Glyphosate has been patented as an antibiotic and an antiparasite, not a weed killer. It works by blocking enzymes in soil bacteria, fungi, and plants, specifically the shikimate pathway, which is responsible for producing essential amino acids.
These essential amino acids are the building blocks for a healthy human body, and when glyphosate is introduced into the food chain, it prevents plants from producing them. This results in malnourished and sick organisms, including humans, pets, and other animals. Less than 0.1% of Roundup actually hits a weed, while the rest ends up in the soil and water systems, contaminating the environment and impacting human health.
A little bit of good news amidst the bad news is that there are bacteria and fungi that can eventually digest glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. However, we need to stop spraying it so that these bacteria and fungi can return. Current estimates suggest that if we stop spraying Roundup tomorrow, it would take about 50 years before our ecosystem sees a drop in the level of Roundup below toxic levels.
The reality is that public health statistics have become so grim that it is difficult to call this a conspiracy theory. In 2012, researchers discovered a connection between bacterial communication and glyphosate toxicity. This led to a better understanding of how glyphosate impacts the human body, not only by directly injuring the protein structure that holds our gut lining together but also by damaging the blood-brain barrier and kidney tubules.
This has contributed to a massive explosion in neurologic injuries and autoimmune diseases. However, identifying the problem is the first step in finding a solution. By understanding the consequences of using glyphosate and working to change our diet and nutrition, we can begin to restore our self-identity and improve our overall health. The organic food movement has already made significant progress, and if it continues to grow, it could have a substantial impact on chemical farming and Monsanto's financial stability.
In conclusion, the fabric of our nature is the message and capacity for regeneration. After every major extinction event, the level of stress within the genome inspires more creativity, adaptation, and resilience. By recognizing the issues caused by glyphosate and making changes in our lifestyles and food systems, we have the potential to overcome these challenges and create a healthier future for ourselves and the planet.