You may notice I don't often write about research studies or complicated scientific analysis. It's not because it's unimportant, but for most of my audience, data and research articles only add to the overwhelm.  

However, I do want to discuss a recent study on the effects of Glyphosate, an herbicide (definition: a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth ) used on crops such as wheat and corn. This herbicide most commonly goes by the name Roundup and is now the most used agricultural chemical ever. Since its inception in 1974, 10 million tons have been sprayed on the crops used for your food and the food eaten by all the animals you eat. It's pervasive even in organic crops due to runoff and over-spraying. It's even been found consistently in breast milk. Simple fact, it's everywhere.

Why is this such a big deal? Because a new study has found that glyphosate disrupts our gut microbiome and blood chemistry...at levels regulators claim to be safe. So we all know too much of anything can be harmful but this study proves that even small amounts of this stuff IS harmful.

Vitamin D deficiency plays a significant role in autoimmune disease, gut health, and digestion. In fact, there is strong evidence that Vitamin D deficiency may even be a contributor to autoimmune disease.

Your body synthesizes Vitamin D in response to absorption of UVB radiation from the sun. It is a type of steroid hormone that controls the expression of more than 200 genes and the proteins those genes regulate.  

So, you’re cruising down the grocery store aisle and find yourself in the meat section. You likely have a variety to choose from…and some are way more expensive than others. 

Do you sometimes wonder what all those terms REALLY mean? And are the more expensive selections really better for you than the lower priced options?

The short answer: Maybe.

Medicine has come a long way in the last hundred years, and thankfully an awareness of gut health has as well. For a long time, doctors did not know how to treat the digestive issues that so many people experience today.

In 1892, William Osler, “The Father of Modern Medicine”, wrote that dysentery “has been more fatal to soldiers than powder and shot.” Author Mary Roach writes: