Glyphosate & Pesticides: Exposure, Testing & Detox

The Chemistry in Your Cereal Bowl

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide on earth — over 1.8 billion pounds applied globally each year. If you eat conventional wheat, oats, corn, soy, or sugar beets, you’re consuming it. If you live near agricultural land, you’re breathing it. If you drink unfiltered water, you’re drinking it. It’s in 80% of urine samples tested in the US population (CDC NHANES data), including in people who eat primarily organic food.

The story of glyphosate is the story of modern agriculture’s Faustian bargain: a chemical that makes farming easier while quietly dismantling the biological systems that keep you healthy. Understanding its mechanisms — not just its existence — is what separates informed choice from naive consumption.

Glyphosate: Mechanism of Action

Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme EPSP synthase in the shikimate pathway. This pathway doesn’t exist in human cells, which is why Monsanto (now Bayer) spent decades claiming it was harmless to humans.

The problem: your gut bacteria have the shikimate pathway.

Your microbiome — the 38 trillion bacteria that produce neurotransmitters, synthesize vitamins, train your immune system, metabolize hormones, and maintain your intestinal barrier — is a target of glyphosate. This isn’t a theoretical concern. It’s a documented mechanism.

Selective Microbial Disruption

Shehata et al. (2013) published research in Current Microbiology demonstrating that glyphosate preferentially inhibits beneficial bacterial species while leaving pathogenic species relatively unaffected:

Inhibited by glyphosate (beneficial):

• Lactobacillus species — critical for gut barrier integrity, immune modulation, and vaginal health
• Bifidobacterium species — dominant in healthy infant guts, produce short-chain fatty acids, support immune development
• Enterococcus faecalis — part of normal flora, produces bacteriocins against pathogens

Resistant to glyphosate (pathogenic/opportunistic):

• Clostridium perfringens — produces toxins, associated with food poisoning and necrotic enteritis
• Clostridium botulinum — produces the most potent biological toxin known
• Salmonella species — enteric pathogen
• Escherichia coli (pathogenic strains) — relative resistance compared to beneficial strains

Think about what this means: glyphosate doesn’t sterilize your gut. It selectively eliminates the beneficial species that keep pathogens in check, creating a dysbiotic state where the wrong organisms thrive. This mirrors exactly the pattern we see in many chronic diseases — depletion of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium with overgrowth of Clostridium and gram-negative pathogens.

Intestinal Permeability — “Leaky Gut”

Samsel and Seneff published a series of papers (2013-2015 in Entropy, and subsequent journals) proposing that glyphosate contributes to intestinal permeability through multiple mechanisms:

1. Tight junction disruption: glyphosate increases zonulin production, the protein that modulates tight junctions between enterocytes. Elevated zonulin opens the paracellular pathway, allowing undigested food proteins, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and other antigens to enter the bloodstream.
2. Mucus layer degradation: beneficial bacteria maintain the mucus layer that protects the intestinal epithelium. When these bacteria are depleted, the mucus layer thins, exposing the epithelium to direct contact with luminal contents.
3. Inflammatory cascade: LPS translocation from gram-negative bacteria triggers Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation, NF-kB signaling, and systemic inflammation.

Mineral Chelation

Glyphosate was originally patented as a metal chelator (US Patent 3,160,632) before it was discovered to be an herbicide. It binds and sequesters essential minerals:

• Manganese: cofactor for mitochondrial SOD (antioxidant defense), arginase (urea cycle), and multiple enzymes. Manganese deficiency impairs bone formation, glucose metabolism, and wound healing.
• Zinc: essential for immune function, DNA repair, over 300 enzymatic reactions. Zinc deficiency is already epidemic — glyphosate exacerbates it.
• Iron: necessary for oxygen transport, electron transport chain, thyroid hormone synthesis. Glyphosate chelation may contribute to functional iron deficiency even with normal serum levels.
• Cobalt: required for vitamin B12 synthesis by gut bacteria. Chelation contributes to B12 deficiency.

This chelation occurs both in the food (reducing mineral content of glyphosate-treated crops) and in the gut (binding minerals you’ve consumed before they can be absorbed).

CYP Enzyme Disruption

Glyphosate inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes — the family of enzymes responsible for Phase I detoxification in the liver, as well as synthesis of:

• Active vitamin D: CYP27B1 converts 25-OH vitamin D to the active 1,25-dihydroxy form. Impairment contributes to the epidemic of vitamin D insufficiency.
• Cholesterol sulfate: important for skin barrier function and cellular signaling.
• Steroid hormones: testosterone, estrogen, cortisol all depend on CYP enzymes for synthesis and metabolism.
• Detoxification of other xenobiotics: when CYP enzymes are inhibited, your liver’s capacity to process other toxins (medications, environmental chemicals, mycotoxins) is reduced. This is why glyphosate may amplify the toxicity of every other chemical exposure.

IARC Classification and the Monsanto Papers

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) — the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization — classified glyphosate as a “Group 2A: probable carcinogen.” This was based on evidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in exposed agricultural workers and “sufficient evidence” of carcinogenicity in animal studies.

The Monsanto Papers — internal documents released through litigation — revealed that Monsanto had ghostwritten studies published in peer-reviewed journals to support glyphosate safety, had influenced EPA regulatory proceedings, and had known about cancer risks for decades. Bayer (which acquired Monsanto in 2018) has paid over $10 billion in settlements to plaintiffs who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after Roundup exposure.

Organophosphate Pesticides

While glyphosate dominates the herbicide conversation, organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos, malathion, diazinon) represent a separate and equally concerning exposure class.

Mechanism

Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase — the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This causes accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve synapses, leading to overstimulation. In acute poisoning, this causes the SLUDGE syndrome (salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI distress, emesis). At chronic low doses, the effects are subtler but serious.

Neurodevelopmental Effects

The CHAMACOS cohort study (Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas) — a longitudinal study by Brenda Eskenazi’s group at UC Berkeley — has followed children of agricultural workers in California’s Salinas Valley since 1999. Key findings:

• Prenatal organophosphate exposure (measured by dialkyl phosphate metabolites in maternal urine) was associated with reduced IQ at age 7 (Bouchard et al., 2011, Environmental Health Perspectives)
• Associated with attention problems, poorer working memory, and perceptual reasoning deficits
• Effects were dose-dependent and persisted through adolescence

These aren’t farm workers being directly sprayed. These are community members exposed through drift, residue on food, and household proximity to treated fields. And the metabolites found in their urine are the same ones found in the general population from dietary pesticide exposure.

Chlorpyrifos

Once the most commonly used organophosphate in US homes and agriculture. The EPA proposed a ban in 2015 based on evidence of neurodevelopmental harm to children, but the ban was reversed in 2017 under political pressure. Finally banned for agricultural use in 2022. Still used in some countries and still present as residue in imported foods.

Testing for Pesticide Exposure

Urine Glyphosate Testing

Great Plains Laboratory (now Mosaic Diagnostics) GPL-TOX or HRL (Health Research Laboratory): measures urinary glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA. Optimal is undetectable. Most Americans test between 0.5-3.0 mcg/L. Levels above 1.0 mcg/L warrant attention.

Testing protocol: collect a first-morning urine sample. Avoid excessive water intake before collection (dilution affects results). For comparison, test before and after 2-4 weeks of organic diet to quantify your food-related exposure.

Organophosphate Metabolites

Urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites — dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), and their thio-analogues — reflect recent organophosphate exposure. Available through specialty labs.

Cholinesterase Levels

Red blood cell (RBC) cholinesterase and plasma (butyryl) cholinesterase can assess organophosphate body burden. Depressed levels indicate significant exposure. Most useful for occupationally exposed individuals.

The Detox Protocol

Step 1: Eliminate Ongoing Exposure (This Is the Treatment)

Switch to organic food. The evidence is clear and dramatic:

• Curl et al. (2015) in Environmental Health Perspectives showed that switching to an organic diet for just one week reduced urinary organophosphate metabolites by 89% in children.
• Hyland et al. (2019) in Environmental Research demonstrated that families switching to an all-organic diet showed dramatic reductions in urinary levels of glyphosate, organophosphates, 2,4-D, and pyrethroids within 6 days. The average reduction across all pesticide classes was 60.5%.

Six days. Not six months of detox supplements. Six days of eating differently. This tells you that for most people, ongoing dietary exposure — not some historical body burden — is driving current pesticide levels. Stop the input, and the body clears much of it quickly.

Priority organic foods (based on pesticide residue testing): wheat/oats/grains (commonly sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant at harvest), soy, corn, strawberries, spinach, kale, apples, grapes, and all foods on the EWG Dirty Dozen list.

Water filtration: reverse osmosis or quality activated carbon filtration removes glyphosate and most pesticides. Municipal treatment does not adequately address these compounds.

Avoid spray drift: if you live near agricultural land, keep windows closed during spraying season, use HEPA air filtration, and don’t let children play outside on windy days near treated fields.

Step 2: Restore Gut Microbiome

Since glyphosate selectively depletes beneficial bacteria, replenishment is essential:

• High-quality probiotics: multiple Lactobacillus strains (L. rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium strains (B. longum, B. infantis, B. lactis). Dose: 50-100 billion CFU daily for 3-6 months. Seed DS-01 and Visbiome provide well-researched multi-strain formulations.
• Prebiotic fiber: feeds beneficial bacteria. Inulin (from chicory root or Jerusalem artichoke), FOS, GOS, resistant starch (cooked and cooled potatoes, green bananas), psyllium husk. Target 25-35 grams of diverse fiber daily.
• Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt (unsweetened), kombucha, miso. Sonnenburg & Sonnenburg’s research at Stanford shows that fermented food consumption increases microbiome diversity more effectively than fiber alone.
• Bone broth: provides glutamine and glycine for intestinal repair, plus gelatin that supports the mucus layer.

Step 3: Bind and Remove

• Humic and fulvic acid: these naturally occurring compounds from decomposed organic matter bind glyphosate in the gut and facilitate elimination. Fulvic acid also helps restore mineral bioavailability. Dose: 200-400 mg fulvic acid or 12 oz of diluted humic/fulvic solution daily. ION*Gut Health (formerly Restore) is a well-known product based on lignite-derived fulvic molecules that supports tight junction integrity.
• Glycine supplementation: glyphosate is a glycine analogue — it substitutes for glycine in protein synthesis, creating dysfunctional proteins. Supplementing glycine (3-5 grams/day, taken between meals) provides competitive displacement, ensuring adequate glycine for proper protein folding, glutathione synthesis, and collagen production. Glycine is also the simplest amino acid and one of the cheapest supplements available.
• Activated charcoal or bentonite clay: 500-1,000 mg activated charcoal or 1 tablespoon bentonite clay in water, taken 2 hours away from food and supplements, binds residual pesticides in the GI tract. Use for 2-4 weeks, not indefinitely (can bind minerals and medications).

Step 4: Support Liver Detoxification

Glyphosate impairs CYP enzymes. Support Phase I and Phase II detoxification:

• Glutathione: the master intracellular antioxidant and detoxification molecule. Liposomal glutathione (500-1,000 mg/day) or S-acetyl glutathione for better oral bioavailability. Or support endogenous production with:
• N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 600-1,200 mg/day — the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis. Also directly supports Phase II conjugation.
• Milk thistle (silymarin): 200-400 mg standardized extract/day. Upregulates glutathione, supports hepatocyte regeneration, and has specific protective effects against multiple environmental toxins. Research by Abenavoli et al. (2018) confirmed silymarin’s hepatoprotective mechanisms.
• Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale. Sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts is the most potent natural Nrf2 activator, upregulating Phase II detoxification enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, UGT, NQO1).
• B vitamins: methylated forms (methylfolate, methylcobalamin, P5P) to support methylation-dependent detoxification pathways that glyphosate impairs.

Step 5: Replenish Chelated Minerals

• Zinc: 15-30 mg/day as zinc picolinate or zinc bisglycinate. Always balance with copper (1-2 mg) for long-term supplementation.
• Manganese: 2-5 mg/day. Critical for mitochondrial SOD. Found in nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.
• Iron: only supplement if testing confirms deficiency (ferritin, serum iron, TIBC). Iron overload is as dangerous as deficiency. Liver, red meat, and cooked spinach are food sources.
• Magnesium: 400-800 mg/day as glycinate or malate. Most Americans are deficient independent of glyphosate exposure.

Step 6: Enhance Elimination

• Infrared sauna: 20-40 minutes, 3-5 times per week. Pesticides are eliminated through sweat. Genuis et al. (2011) in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health demonstrated that organochlorine pesticides and their metabolites appear in sweat, even when undetectable in blood — sweat is an independent elimination pathway.
• Hydration: adequate water intake supports renal clearance. Add electrolytes and trace minerals.
• Fiber: 30-40 grams daily from diverse sources. Binds toxins in the enterohepatic circulation and promotes daily bowel movements (the primary elimination route).

Prevention: Living in a Glyphosate-Saturated World

You cannot eliminate all exposure. Glyphosate is in the rain, the soil, and the groundwater. But you can dramatically reduce your load:

1. Eat organic, especially grains, soy, corn, and high-residue produce
2. Filter your water — RO or quality carbon block
3. Avoid Roundup and all glyphosate-containing products in your yard — use organic lawn care
4. Time outdoor activities around agricultural spraying schedules if you live in farming communities
5. Wash produce thoroughly (won’t remove systemic pesticides but helps with surface residue)
6. Remove shoes at the door — herbicide residue tracks indoors from treated lawns
7. Support organic agriculture with your purchasing power — every organic purchase is a vote against the chemical farming model

The Systems View

Glyphosate doesn’t cause a single disease. It disrupts the foundational systems — gut microbiome, mineral status, liver detoxification, intestinal barrier — that protect you from every disease. This is why research links it to such diverse conditions: celiac disease, autism, obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s, cancer, kidney disease, and infertility. It’s not that one chemical causes all these things directly. It’s that one chemical undermines the systems that prevent all these things.

This is environmental medicine at its most essential: the recognition that the chemical environment your body operates in determines, to a large degree, which genes get expressed, which systems fail first, and which diseases develop. The body is resilient — remarkably so. But resilience has limits, and we’re testing them.

If you knew that six days of dietary change could cut your pesticide burden in half, what would you eat differently starting tomorrow?