Understanding GMOs: Part 6

Image via nofavt.wordpress.com

BY: SHANNA WAHLQUIST, CONTRIBUTOR

Hello Friends!

Over the course of the last five weeks, we've identified 10 major assaults to the body, stemming from the consumption of insecticide and herbicide resistant GMO foods and food products, as well as damage from the environmental pollutants they produce.

Before we dive into the ways you can protect yourself next week, I thought we'd do a little review session today so your brain doesn't explode trying to process it all!

Here's why you should be wary of GMO foods and food products...

1.  They introduce Xenoestrogens into our body  - These are molecules derived from herbicides and pesticides which mimick estrogen in the body – basically, fake estrogen. They bind to the same cell receptors inducing a response, but they are undetectable in blood testing. Awesome.

2. Endocrine disruption - Multiple studies show the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup,Glyphosphate, is a known endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptions trigger hormone imbalances which lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases, including infertility and infant mortality. Please remind me which system in the body isn’t reliant on hormone signaling for proper function? Oh wait, they all are….shoot. FYI – many hormone imbalances are due to compromised detoxification functions.

3. Compromised Sulfur Metabolism - This leads to dysbiosis in the gut, leaky gut and inflammation. Have Crohns or Colitis?  Check your Sulfate levels.

4. Dysbiosis in the gut - Both insect resistant and herbicide resistant GMOs have been shown to selectively attack our beneficial gut flora – leading to a block in key pathways of our HUMAN health and function, and an overpopulation of bad bacteria, which leads to a leaky gut, inflammation, toxicity, digestive issues, neurological issues, mental and emotional health issues, infertility, cognitive ability, disrupted immune function, etc.

5. Leaky Gut - Now we are compromised and are at war with anything that dances over into our blood stream, bypassing the liver and other valuable pathways protecting us from foreign invaders. Even food that hasn't finished being digested can enter our blood stream. When this happens, we elicit an immune response. Poor guys can’t get a day off!  It's no wonder we end up with some form of chronic disease!

Image via sundayisforlovers.wordpress.com

6. Inflammation - Ahhh...the root cause of every chronic disease! Have knee/hip/neck/joint pain?  Inflammation. Have bleeding gums?  Inflammation. Diabetes, cancer, infertility, heart disease?  You’ve got inflammation. When your immune system can’t shut off it’s response, and is constantly being called in to action, and you have improper hormone signaling is telling the body to do one things when it really needs another, we are pretty much at war with ourselves. 

7.  Methionine Depletion – Methionine, an essential sulfur containing amino acid, has been linked to Autism when deficient. Compromised gut flora has also been linked to Autism. Hmmm….coincidence or possible pathway?

8.  Suppression of Cytochrome P450, which is responsible for Phase I detoxification in the Liver. Without getting into the process of normal liver function, there are three main phases - Phase I enzymes neutralize or convert chemicals to intermediaries for Phase II enzymes to conjugate (meaning the enzymes attach something to the toxin/intermediary ). This neutralizes the toxin and makes it water soluble so we can excrete it out via urine, sweat or bile. Phase III takes place in the gallbladder. So if you block Phase I, you can’t get to Phase II or III without some creative problem solving – which the body orchestrates. However this alternate route produces toxins and free radicals. Shoot. Best stick with Plan A – Phase I, Phase II and Phase III all the way!

9. Depletion of Cations – Calcium, Magnesium, Cobalt, Zinc and Iron - these are the cations I'm referring to. These puppies are essential for Phase I, II and III Liver detoxification and excretion.

10. Compromised Immune Function - I don’t think we need further elaboration here... you get it, right?

Next week, we'll wrap up this series with some simple tips for being a more conscious consumer and some simple tools to help you take back your health, so stay tuned!

References for this series:

1     http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/glyphosate/glyphosate.html 

2   "Genetically Modified Organisms and the deterioration of health in the United States” N.L. Swanson, 4/24/2013, Seattle Examiner.com

3   A Samsel and S. Senef Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases.  http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/4/1416

4     http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/

5    http://vimeo.com/65914121

6    http://www.responsibletechnology.org/resources/powerpoint-presentation-on-gmos

7   V. E. Prescott, et al, “Transgenic Expression of Bean r-Amylase Inhibitor in Peas Results in Altered Structure and Immunogenicity,” Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry (2005): 53

Shanna Wahlquist is a Certified Holistic Health Coach specializing in empowering women to adopt a sustainable and healthy lifestyle without “dieting” or feeling deprived, and supporting them in balancing their gut-mind-body relationship, which she believes is the foundation of every chronic disease and ailment.  She is the mother of two toddlers, ages 4 and 2.5 years old; her happy place is in the ocean surf, and her guilty pleasure is red wine – especially if it involves a limo with a group of friends! Shanna found her path to holistic healing after discovering the benefits of vegetable juicing in February 2012, a journey inspired by her desperation to discover the cause of the sudden onset of recurrent chronic respiratory illnesses suffered by her children. She used that experience as a launchpad for a career change and ended up discovering her true authentic self and life’s purpose. She’s always had a passion for science, food, healing and stewardship, and has created a business where she can enjoy them all simultaneously while making a difference in the lives of her family, friends, clients and community. You can find her on facebook at “NourishingMySoul”,  her blog at www.shannawahlquist.wordpress.com or her website, www.shannawahlquist.com.

The Experts Weigh In: Not Just A Gut Feeling!

Image via getresponse.com

BY: CYNTHIA HENRICH, CONTRIBUTOR

"The primary seat of insanity is generally in the region of the stomach and intestines." - Philippe Pinel, 1807

Imagine for a moment that you find yourself in a strange room. Surrounding you are heaps of garbage which are oozing a rather disturbing Love Canal-like substance onto the floor that even the bugs are avoiding. And the bugs; hoards of bugs munching on some sticky, sugary stuff wedged into the nooks and crannies of the floor boards. There’s a cleaning lady frantically trying to mop up the mess, but it’s impossible to keep up. You’re starting to feel a bit nauseous and unable to focus. Out of the corner of your eye you notice a rather shady looking gang of people and notice the flash of a weapon here and there on their bodies. Your tend to really absorb the energy of your surroundings, so at this moment you are teetering between a soul-sucking depression and a massive breath-stealing anxiety attack. There were a couple of policeman patrolling a moment ago, you seem to remember, until you notice that they are tied up over in the corner. You suddenly have a flash of clarity and see that there are gaping holes in the walls and that you can escape through them. No sooner are you through the nearest breach, when you are assaulted, asked for your ID (which no one can decipher) and pinned to the ground. You are told that you have triggered a security alert and have been determined a threat to the community. And your nightmare is just beginning.

That’s what conditions are like in an imbalanced digestive system. 

The villi lining your intestines - Image via flylib.com

Your intestinal system is a complex environment that is truly the core of your health. What you eat is only a part of the picture. What you absorb and what you can produce and defend against are the other big parts of this puzzle. A healthy small intestine is lined with villi, small finger-like projections that if spread out over a surface would be equivalent to the area of a tennis court. These villi are responsible for absorbing what we consume, by letting nutrients seep into our bloodstream so the body can use them for energy. 

Throughout our intestinal system, we have bacteria that function almost as an independent organism. This is known as our microbiota. Eating fermented foods and taking different probiotics can help to keep this system balanced and healthy. These bacteria fight for real estate on the lining of our intestines. This can get challenging, because the typical diet tends to feed the bad bacteria and give them the edge in the battle. The good guys prefer to eat non-sugary, green based foods, and the bad guys just want sugar and junk. Guess who usually wins the battle?

These microbiota are where the story gets very interesting. They help to regulate inflammation in our body by controlling certain inflammatory markers known as cytokines. Cytokines are like the special forces warriors that support the bad bacterial troops with flame throwers. They run the good guys out of town and invite over their friends... the yeast, viruses, fungal colonies and (if the party is really happening) the parasites get in the game. At this point, it’s the Animal House fraternity party of epic proportions, and you know what that’s like to clean up. Our inflammation gets out of control, and the good bacteria cannot produce the neurotransmitters that are crucial for a calm and balanced mood and brain. So the holy war going on in our intestines is mirrored in our brain, which is literally so inflamed that it feels like it’s on fire. 

Image via nicecarmrslarusso.blogspot.com

Now that we’ve broken the proverbial windows and punched holes in the sheetrock of our intestines, food that is not properly digested is making its way into our bloodstream. This is known as a leaky gut and these undigested proteins are being coded as invaders by our immune system. The immune system now initiates an attack which is the basis of many of our autoimmune conditions. This is similar to my example earlier where you were trying to escape the room but security considered you a threat to the environment. You know that you’re a good guy, but no one recognizes you anymore.

The gut is the production and storage facility for approximately 90% of the neurotransmitters that enable our brains to perform with clarity. Some of the top offenders responsible for throwing our system out of balance are:

•  chemically laced processed foods
•  foods treated with pesticides and fertilizers
• genetically modified foods
•  sugar and substances digested as sugar
• antibiotic usage
•  unrecognized or ignored food allergies and intolerances
•  stress
•  hormonal imbalances
• resultant nutritional deficiencies

There is a relationship between certain neurotransmitters and our microbiota. Different strains can reduce anxiety, reduce inflammation in bowel conditions, like colitis, IBD and IBS, regulate those inflammatory cytokine warriors, and importantly regulate the neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. If we think of serotonin as being responsible for a happy mood, then we should think of dopamine as being in charge of the rush associated with risk taking. This risk taking could come in the form of gambling, risky sexual behavior, drinking, drug use; these behaviors wash your deprived brain in dopamine. Your brain then craves more dopamine because it is not getting it from a balanced gut system, and this leads to addictive behaviors to constantly provide the pleasure chemical of dopamine to your thirsty brain. Similarly, those feelings of being choked with emotion are due to a release of serotonin in our esophagus; the feeling of having to run to the bathroom is also due to a release of serotonin, but in our intestines (often why Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI’s, are prescribed off label for constipation).

The key is achieving and maintaining the health and balance of your digestive system and the over one hundred million neurotransmitters that line its length, which incredibly is approximately the same number as in the brain. So when you have a gut feeling about something, it’s not just a saying - it’s the reality of your physiology.

Cynthia Henrich is a Certified Holistic Health Coach specializing in healing gastrointestinal conditions, inflammation, and cancer with an integrative approach. You can join her "tribe" on Facebook at Holistic Health Insider and follow her latest project on Facebook at Urban Homesteading - The Sanctuary on the Glen Project. I've been blessed to call Cynthia my personal Health Coach and she has helped me immensely.