There’s an argument that has been batted around in online conversations, one that I thought that, because it was so patently absurd and so readily disproven, it would simply disappear into the blogosphere . . . but it hasn’t. So let’s talk about this idea.
The idea goes like this: Because glyphosate is liberally applied to wheat, including its application as a desiccant and for weed control pre-planting, during maturation, and pre-harvest, the high concentrations of this herbicide in wheat products are the cause for all the problems that emerge with wheat consumption. It means that, minus glyphosate, wheat is now a healthy food for human consumption. As you will learn, while there is no argument from me that glyphosate is indeed a problem, given its carcinogenic and endocrine-disruptive potential, removing it most definitely does not make wheat a healthy choice for food.
First of all, if that were true, all we would have to do is consume organic wheat, i.e., wheat and wheat fields not treated with glyphosate. If you are grain-free, give that a try: You will learn very quickly that the diarrhea, bloating, abdominal discomfort, high blood sugars, joint pain, emotional effects, suicidal thoughts and other re-exposure phenomena are still provokable in the absence of glyphosate.
This is because, even minus glyphosate, modern wheat still contains:
- Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)—Modern strains of wheat have been selected for greater wheat germ agglutinin content because it confers pest resistance, making the wheat plant less susceptible to various insects, molds, and other infestations. But WGA is toxic to humans. Wheat germ agglutinin is an exceptionally potent gastrointestinal toxin and provocateur of inflammation if it enters the bloodstream (which it does, accounting for the many humans with antibodies against WGA). WGA blocks the action of the intestinal hormone, cholecystokinin, reducing bile release from the gallbladder (and causing bile stasis that leads to gallstones) and enzyme release from the pancreas, effects that impair digestion and cultivate dysbiosis. All this happens whether or not glyphosate is present.
- Phytates have likewise been enriched in modern wheat strains, also for their pest-resistance properties. But phytates bind most or nearly all iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium in the intestines and prevent their absorption, explaining why, for instance, iron deficiency anemia is common and can be resistant to iron supplementation, a condition that promptly reverses with removal of all grains. Phytates exert these effects in the absence of glyphosate.
- Gliadin—Recall that gliadin-derived opioid peptides stimulate appetite, exert a range of peculiar emotional effects, and are responsible for many forms of food obsessions and addictions. Gliadin has also been shown to be the initiating factor in type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions. Glyphosate is not required for these toxic effects of gliadin to be experienced.
- Amylopectin A—Amylopectin A is the complex carbohydrate of wheat and other seeds of grasses that is highly digestible to the enzyme, amylase. Amylopectin A is responsible for the high-glycemic indexes of all wheat products, whole or processed, a glycemic index that exceeds that of sucrose or table sugar. High blood sugars, high blood insulin, and insulin resistance results from consuming foods containing amylopectin A regardless of glyphosate content.
- Allergens—Modern breeding methods have introduced dozens of changes into various proteins such as alpha amylase inhibitors, thioredoxins, gamma gliadins, and glutenins, thereby amplifying their allergic potential that can manifest as gastrointestinal upset, skin rashes, or asthma.
There’s more, but I think you get the idea. Removing glyphosate is a good thing, but it does not leave a healthy plant behind. Wheat is among the most toxic things you could consume cleverly disguised as food.
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Whatever you want to say about wheat, please understand that glycosphate is not applied as a “dessicant” before harvest, except in unusual rare circumstances on less than 5% of wheat acres when natural conditions will not dry the wheat before winter rains arrive (ie northern climates with short growing season, as found in Canada). Wheat had been drying just fine for > 100 years in hot 100+ degree summers and farmers are not going to pay for something the sun does for free, which is quite expensive, BTW. Current wheat prices are under cost of production, so unneeded costs are avoided. The illogic of your claim should be self evident. Furthermore, export wheat is tested by purchasers such as Japan, and contaminated wheat would not be accepted, which has never happened, because as said before, the practice of spraying growing wheat is extremely limited.
Basically, you are repeating hearsay, which is not supported by practice or evidence, nor reported by those closest to the fields, not some misinformed NYC blogger.
Kate, wheat farmer wrote: «Whatever you want to say about wheat, please understand that glycosphate is not applied as a “dessicant” before harvest, except in unusual rare circumstances on less than 5% of wheat acres…»
Which may be true, but entirely misses the point of the article here, which is that application of glyphosate, or actual Roundup®, whether under the euphemisms of dessication or “staging”, is just a misdemeanor on the rap sheet of greater wheat felonies.
re: «Current wheat prices are under cost of production…»
The market may be telling you something there. Be considering other productive uses of the ground, perhaps turning it to pasture and running consumable critters on it. Farmers here in KS are finally able to ponder hemp as a possible crop, so I’m not sure that hemp would be a really attractive market going forward.
re: «…nor reported by those closest to the fields, not some misinformed NYC blogger.»
Actually the practice first came to the attention of this blog directly from a farmer, in 2012.
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But Kate…
Even though you articulate your points about spray toxicity from your perspective and even though there might even be “healthy” alternatives to a toxic chemical “dessicant”, I would love to hear you address the real issues about wheat. First and foremost being that wheat is simply not good for human consumption and we must stop eating it and the other related grains in order to regain our failing health. I ask this as someone who earnestly made the transition away all grain consumption.
What do you think about this as a wheat farmer? I ask this not as a challenge but because you are obviously thoughtful and intelligent. Have you been open to what Dr. Davis has researched and presented?
Best,
CA
Regarding Glyphosate (e.g. RoundUp) it was first used as an industrial mineral chelator. Think about that! See Dr Zach Bush and Stephanie Seneff on the WEB. Here is one article http://blog.restore4life.com/gut-brain-axis/
Dan wrote: «Regarding Glyphosate (e.g. RoundUp)…»
Roundup®, of course, isn’t just glyphosate. It contains other agents, such as POEA, that confound insight into actual effects in humans. POEA kills lots of different lifeforms.
In any event, glyphosate alone is a herbicide. Its job is to kill plants. A question that arises on that is: what fraction of an optimized human gut flora is commensal eukaryotes (plants), and what are the consequences of distorting that population? I don’t know, and doubt that Bayer (formerly Monsanto) knows either.
As Dr. Davis points out, this is only a small portion of the wheat-as-all-purpose-human-toxin story. But do avoid crops where herbicides and pesticides are used, crops that are pesticides (Bt genes), and crops that require post-harvest anti-fungal treatments.
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Dr. Davis:
Thank you for this very well written explanation of what’s going on with wheat & grains. For those of you unfamiliar with what glyphosate really is, it’s commonly known under the brand name of “Round-Up”. a common weed killer.
And all the other things mentioned are also bad for human consumption as well, giving people all sorts of health issues, or worse yet, making them worse as time goes on. I can personally relate to that, given how long I ate all the wrong things during my lifetime.
And yet, there are so many people who STILL don’t get it because they refuse to believe none of the facts! My own s-i-l is one of those individuals, even when I mention how much better I feel. She thinks that there should be instant relief the minute a person drops wheat & grains from her eating habits. She’s also in the belief that there isn’t any such thing as inflammation to the body.
Any amount of relief from aches & pain that go away is helpful, even when it isn’t 100%. A lot of the problems that I had from diagnosed fibromyalgia have been relieved. The arthritis is still with me, but it sure has calmed down a lot. I could go on & on, but you get the picture.
One problem that many people have is impatience to notice the good things that come of this kind of eating. We didn’t get fat & a wheat belly overnight. All the other things also grew over time, therefore there will not be immediate relief. Everything takes TIME, and that’s huge problem with so many people: they expect things to be instantaneous. Nothing is that way about most things. Stick with it, and there WILL BE RESULTS down the road.
Sandra,
I can vouch for your understanding that not all symptoms and effects disappear immediately when we stop eating grains. I have been grain free for five years now and while many different issues resolved immediately, some took a year or more and others have taken several years.
In addition, no one knows the amount of damage grains have caused over the time each of us has consumed them. Not everything is entirely reversible. However… would I trade the chance to eat even one little bite of bread for the good health I enjoy now? Not a chance! This is the very best I have felt since I was a child! The energy, the flexibility, the ease from all kinds of symptoms caused by grains is a freedom I cherish and celebrate every day! I have gone grain free and will never go back. So yes, everyone, be gentle with your expectations and do give yourself time! You only have your health to gain!
Living it!
CA