June 2024
If it's Not the Gluten, is it the Glyphosate?
Over the years at the co-op, we've asked ourselves why, all of a sudden, everyone has gluten sensitivity and/or a million other food allergies.
Some say that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, may be responsible for the increase in gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Glyphosate may suppress healthy gut bacteria, including microbes that help digest gluten. A 2013 study published in Interdisciplinary Toxicology suggests that glyphosate is the most important factor in the increase in gluten intolerance and celiac disease. The study's authors, Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff, argue that the symptoms of gluten intolerance and celiac disease are similar to those in lab animals exposed to glyphosate. These symptoms include deficiencies in certain nutrients, an overgrowth of pathogens in the intestine, and impaired serotonin signaling
For the past two decades, we've spent a good amount of time studying this herbicide's effect on the human body and also talking with folks about their experience as an application in their farming practices. Most reported "dead soil"... plants can't grow nutritious food in dead soil because they can't absorb the nutrients they need to thrive. Dead soil can be caused by over-development, overuse of chemicals, and other harmful practices. Healthy soil is full of life, including microbes, bacteria, and fungi, which help plants and people. Disrupting the soil's microbiome can harm these pathways.
Our guts also have their own microbiome, and if that delicate balance is met with glyphosate, it can cause some pretty serious autoimmune and gut disorders. Glyphosate is the main component of Round Up and Round Up is an herbicide used to completely destroy the immune system of a plant. Gastroenterologists figured out a long time ago that 70–80% of the body's immune cells are located in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, making it the largest immune organ in the body. The gut's immune cells help to clear pathogens that pass through it daily, and they interact with the gut microbiome, which is made up of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses. This interaction helps the immune system differentiate between helpful microbes and harmful pathogens.
While most people will associate Round Up a a household weedkiller, they might not realize that Round Up is sprayed on some of the most common GMO foods produced in America and other countries. Corn and soy are the greatest culprits, with alfalfa not far behind. Alfalfa is the third most valuable crop in the United States, after corn and soybeans, with an estimated economic value of $8.7 billion annually. Most conventional cereals, crackers, and industrial frying oils are produced from soy and corn. Conventional cattle are fed both of these commodities along with alfalfa which means all conventional beef and dairy products will contain this agent! Unless you're a health puritan who never eats out or eats processed foods, it's pretty likely that we're ALL getting a daily dose of glyphosate in our food.
How can we avoid glyphosate in our food? Ask local farmers and ranchers about their pest management plans, and then buy from them as directly as possible! More direct purchasing means more money back to the producers who are replenishing America's topsoil, our greatest wealth. 🌱 💰🇺🇸
Most of the farms and ranches that we work with at the co-op are aware of the poisonous qualities of glyphosate, and they don't risk feeding it to their families or putting it on the soil and contaminating the Northern Nevada water supply. Round Up is not allowed in the NOP (National Organic Program) either. This means that if you buy certified USDA organic, you won't be getting glyphosate. Side note... not saying that the NOP holds the standard for what we think is good when it comes to food. BIG AG conglomerates have usurped this federal program and have actively lobbied to lower the standards… not in the name of human health, but of course, in the name of bigger profits. 😔 ... a longer conversation for another day... besides, small farmers always do the veggies better anyway 😎 😋 Interesting Fact: As of March 2024, Monsanto/Bayer has reached settlement agreements in nearly 100,000 Roundup lawsuits. Monsanto/Bayer has paid approximately $11 billion. They accomplished this by negotiating block settlement arrangements with plaintiffs’ lawyers who have significant cases in the litigation… and by settling with plaintiffs before trial. Here's just one of these cases: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/us/roundup-cancer-verdict-philadelphia-bayer-monsanto/index.html
One final important topic worth mentioning: definitely not stating that folks with life-threatening diseases like celiac can handle organic gluten-based grains. Unfortunately, that particular autoimmune disorder is not often or easily reversed. However, more consumers might be able to avoid the onset of certain gut and autoimmune disorders by getting glyphosate out of their diets... and those somewhere on the "gut dysbiosis spectrum" might benefit from naturally fermented sourdough bread, discussed in our next article. 🍞🥖💛
Thoughts & Research,
Amber Sallaberry
Co-GM & Co-Founder
[Good] Bread Isn't The Bad Guy
The Benefits of Naturally Leavened Breads (Like Sourdough)
A few words of nutritional wisdom from our in-house nutritionist:
Michelle Nash
Nutrition Education Director
Certified NTP & MScN
The Great Basin Community Food Co-op
While many of us can agree bread is delicious - it can sometimes get a bad wrap on its health benefits. The reality of it is, though, bread can either be classified as leavened or unleavened (which helps create some of those desire health benefits we all crave). Leavened breads are those where the dough rises during baking due to a release of gas as the grains in the dough ferment in the bread-making process, giving them their venerated fluffy texture.
Most leavened breads available today are made using baker’s yeast to raise the dough. Baker’s yeast is a single-celled organism, which feeds on sugars present in the dough and reproduces at a very fast rate, allowing these breads to rise in a fairly short time.
Here are some of the health benefits of consuming naturally leavened sourdough breads compared to those leavened with traditional baker’s yeast.
- Easier to Digest - They are easier to digest for many people because the wild yeast and bacteria present in the starter neutralize the phytic acid (antinutrients) and break down some of the proteins (like gluten!) in the grains. In fact, people that do not tolerate gluten well are sometimes able to consume sourdough breads with fewer digestive symptoms.
- Blood Sugar Balance - They have a gentler effect on blood sugar levels because the organic acids that are produced in the wild fermentation process slow the absorption of starches into the bloodstream.
- Increased Nutrient Availability - The deactivation of phytic acid in the fermentation process improves the nutrient profile by making the minerals in sourdough breads more bioavailable and absorbable.
The co-op kitchen makes organic, naturally leavened sourdough bread using a 43-year-old starter from Feather River Food Co-op in Quincy, CA (thanks for sharing, friends 🌻). This delicious and nutritious bread is used in all toasts and sandwiches in the cafe, as well as our house-made breadcrumbs, croutons, and sandwiches available on the main floor of the store.
June GBCFC Sales 🍒🪴🍞
2 for $6 ($3 ea)
(Originally $3.99)
LOCAL Tahoe Pops
Tahoe Pops are handcrafted locally right here in Lake Tahoe, using fresh Tahoe water and organic milk. Their ingredients are consciously selected direct from several regional farms, including V&M Farms, RP Ranch, Rodriguez Farms, JSM Organic Farms, and Hamlow Farms. Tahoe Pops also uses recyclable and biodegradable packaging on their tasty pops.
Available in the following flavors: Chocolate Fudgecicle, Cookies & Cream, Thai Tea, Toasted Coconut, Watermelon Mojito, Cherry Limeade, Peach, and Pina Colada.
Valid 6.1.24 - 6.30.24
20% OFF
Garden Supplies (Excludes Plants & Soil)
Whether you've planted all your seedlings from our big sale or still have a few more pots to place and seeds to sew, we've got you covered.
In our 20% off sale, we've included everything from seeds, pots, soil amendments, tools, and hats all to get YOU stocked up and ready for a successful gardening season.
Valid 6.1.24 - 6.30.24
$2 OFF
HOUSEMADE Chicken Cobb Salad
This tasty salad features LOCAL Kool Kids Ranch Eggs (Spanish Springs, NV), and uses LOCAL Greens when available from DFI (Reno, NV), Bridge 33 (Reno, NV), and Holley Family Farms (Dayton, NV).
*Romaine, *Local lettuce when available, *Local Kool Kids Ranch EGG, *Housemade Garlic Herb Chicken, Non-GMO Nitrate Free Bacon, *Housemade PUFA FREE Ranch Dressing, *Tomato *Indicates Organic Ingredient
Valid 6.1.24 - 6.30.24
$1 OFF All HOUSEMADE Toasts
Whether you're a sweet or savory person, we HIGHLY encourage you to give our toasts a try up in the Foodshed Cafe. Choose from the classic Avocado Toast, our Jammy Toast with housemade fruit jam, or the Goat with house-whipped chive goat cheese for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Plus all our toasts are made on a thick hunk of our incredible housemade sourdough (see the nutrition article for added benefits of eating naturally leavened bread).
Valid 6.1.24 - 6.30.24
20% OFF
Organic Stonefruit
White and yellow nectarines, white and yellow peaches, apricots, and cherries ... need we say more?
These stone-cold, stonefruit beauties are all on sale right now - and tis the season. Whether you're enjoying plain, dipped in fresh whipped cream, or will mix up into a freshly baked pie, we'll have a variety of organic stonefruit for your summer cravings!
Valid 6.1.24 - 6.30.24
NEW! LOCAL Creme Brulee Kouign Amann from Perenn
We're excited to announce this new addition to our bake case, thanks to the incredible bakers over at Perenn Bakery! This crunchy and buttery pastry is the cream of the crop with a vanilla bean Creme Brulee filling pipped into its center. Plus, it's topped with 24-karat gold leaf. Talk about decadence for your mid-week pick-me-up. Hurry in, these dailies go quickly and are located right upstairs in the Foodshed Cafe.
Daily, while supplies last
Thanks to YOU - Another Successful Seedling Sale In the Books 👍
Update from our Local Food & Sustainability Director, Philip Moore 🌱
Another lush street seedling sale in the books ... can you believe it was our 17th year? A few highlights from this year's sale on Saturday May 18th include:
- We paid the farmers $27,600 for their online sales! This is one of the main reasons we host this event ... and don't charge our farmers for booth space ... to help them get a head start (and some cash flow) for the start of the biggest growing season.
- We had two local musicians - Argyle Mikkelson playing her omnichord and fiddler Kat MacMartin grace us with some incredible music to pair with the shining sun and community conversations. We even saw a few littles carelessly dancing the day away.
- We had hundreds of people buying seedlings from 17 local farmers and picking up the seedlings they ordered online before the event, as well as selecting as they went.
- All the farmers I spoke to after the event had a good day of sales - THANK YOU!
- The co-op continues to carry local seedlings for the next few weeks if you missed the in-person event - so don't wait another day to get those plants in the ground!
Edible Landscape Updates
Have you glimpsed the edible landscape garden lately? 👀 Annual vegetables, perennial herbs & flowers, fruit trees, berries, grapes, and pollinator plants are thriving thanks to our edible landscape team! 👏 Between pruning the fruit trees earlier in the spring and maintaining the beds, the team has been hard at work! 🌳 🌷 Take note of our delicious Lahontan garlic bed (shoutout to Mewaldt Organics), strawberries, rhubarb, bean sprouts, and pollinator plants that encourage healthy flora for bugs, bees, and butterflies! 🦋🐞🌱
E-GIFT CARDS... PERFECT GIFT
We've got the perfect gift for any occasion! Buy a co-op gift card online and then text or email it to your recipient. They can scan it from their phone at the register to pay for their next grocery trip. 🥳
ORDER YOUR ONLINE E-GIFT CARD
Soup's on! And MOVED UPSTAIRS!
All soups are made daily with
in the co-op kitchen. We use all certified organic ingredients and as much local as seasonally available.
Anyone can shop, everyone can join!
Open everyday from 7:30am – 9pm
Great Basin Community Food Co-op
240 Court St Reno, NV 89501
775.324.6133
info@greatbasinfood.coop
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