5 Ways to Avoid Glyphosate in Your Food

The chemical glyphosate is used in weed killers. It's also used to dry out certain crops like beans, barley, beets, oats, potatoes, sunflowers and wheat faster at harvest time. Glyphosate has been shown to cause a wide range of serious symptoms in animals, including fatigue, drooling, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea and loss of appetite. It might also damage the gut flora and endocrine system and cause food sensitivities and cancer. Additionally, accidental ingestion of a weed killer that contains glyphosate can cause dizziness, headache, weakness, respiratory distress and low blood pressure.

Since research into the side effects of glyphosate is ongoing, many are choosing to avoid exposure. To avoid glyphosate, follow these five tips:

Wash Produce 

The outer layers of your fruits and vegetables can absorb this chemical. Washing though helps to remove residues. It also offers the added bonus of removing harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. If you're still concerned after washing the produce, peel off the outer layers entirely.

Eat Organic 

When you eat locally-grown organic foods, you guarantee that the food hasn't been sprayed with glyphosate or any weed killer that contains it. Organic farmers must follow strict environmental guidelines, even when dealing with weeds. As a result, you also know that the food hasn't been accidentally exposed to it because of weed-killing efforts.

Check Labels 

Plenty of people purchase premade and prepackaged meals and snacks, meal helper mixed ingredient packs and seasonings. All labels must state clearly the types of ingredients in these convenience food items. By checking labels, you can remove from your diet any premade foods that might contain glyphosate.

Rethink Herbicides 

You don't need to rely on toxic herbicides to kill weeds or even dry out crops. A lot of natural weed-killing alternatives exist, such as vinegar and salt. For drying out crops, you merely need to be more patient and follow proven methods used before glyphosate became the popular crop desiccant of farmers.

Grow Food 

The best way to deal with glyphosate in the food chain is by growing your own fruits and vegetables without using it for any reason. Tissues of animals that eat crops and other plants that have glyphosate residues also absorb it. If you have a large enough property and the time and means, you should consider growing some farm animals as well.
Avoiding glyphosate completely is unfortunately, very difficult. Reducing your exposure is still a good idea when it comes to your overall health.