Genetically modified food and autoimmunity

July 7, 2017Dr Kalpana Shekhawat Blog

As Functional medicine expert , I have been encountering more and more patients suffering from some or the other form of Autoimmune disorder.

Lets try to understand what could be instrumental in causing this condition.

Unfortunately the food made available to us today is only focusing on better shelf life and more production, which largely compromises the nutritional value as well as exposes our body to the host of insults due to toxic load of the available food.

A genetically modified organism is developed in a laboratory setting. When creating a GMO, the genetic material from one species is forced into the DNA of an unrelated plant or animal.

This unnatural genetic exchange takes place between bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, and human beings.

There are two types of GM CROPS:

1. Herbicide tolerant, to increase tolerance for high dose of herbicides.

this variety is designed to survive high doses of toxic weed killers. These toxic weed killers lead to series of health disorders like birth defects, cancer, and hormone disruption, Autoimmunity. When used on highly resistant crops, some of these toxins end up in our food.

2. Self generating insecticide

This variety of GM foods is designed to produce its own insecticide in each and every cell, example is BT-toxin.

BT-toxin is an insecticide that breaks open the stomachs of insects in order to kill them. It has been reported that BT-toxin can also break the wall of human cells.

Genetically modified food generates a deep toxicity within the body

A genetically modified organism is something that was developed in a laboratory setting. When creating a GMO, the genetic material from one species is forced into the DNA of an unrelated plant or animal. This unnatural genetic swapping takes place between bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, and human beings.

These crops are developed to allow farmers to use more herbicides without killing the crops.

This is detrimental to our body as continuous exposure to toxins, including pesticides, is one of the key environmental trigger for developing an autoimmune disease, by keeping constant toxic burden on cells can cause your existing autoimmune condition to progress.

GMO Foods Lead to a Leaky Gut:

Leaky gut is a precondition to the autoimmune diseases.

In addition to Bt-toxin, many GM crops are also designed to improve on the natural “plant protectors” present in the plants. That includes chemicals such as saponins, digestive enzyme inhibitors, agglutinins, and prolamins. All of these contribute to inflammation, leaky gut, and gut dysbiosis, which have a negative impact on people with autoimmune diseases.

GMO Foods Disrupt Gut Balance

Having a good amount of good gut bacteria is especially important for individuals who have autoimmune diseases because good gut bacteria fight off the bad bacteria like botulism and salmonella. However, glyphosate is a strong antibiotic which wreaks havoc on our good gut bacteria. Many of the bad bacteria, on the other hand, are resistant to glyphosate which puts our health at a serious risk for developing inflammation, Candida overgrowth, and leaky gut as bad bacteria multiply unchecked.

Ways to avoid genetically modified food:

1. Buy organic: National and state organic certification rules do not allow GMOs to be labeled “organic.” When you buy organic, you buy food free not only of synthetic pesticides but also genetically modified ingredients.

2. Top GMO foods to avoid:

Corn
Soy
Sugar
Aspartame
Papayas
Canola
Dairy
Yellow squash
Zucchini
Vegetable oils

3. Switch to grass-fed meat

4. Support mandatory labeling of GMOs

Dr Kalpana Shekhawat-M.D.

Functional Medicine Specialist.