Organophosphate toxicity can cause a wide range of symptoms in the body. One of the most well-known involves a cluster of symptoms identical to Myasthenia Gravis.Organophosphate Poisoning Basics
Environmental pollution from organophosphate pesticides is widespread. Organophosphates are used in agriculture, wildlife-control, lawn care, and gardening throughout the world. Organophosphate exposure has become a major societal concern because these substances have the ability to bioaccumulate and persist in the environment and in the body. In other words, they buildup in the bones and teeth and also in the environment over time and then, without appropriate interventions, organophosphates won’t degrade or go away on their own. So the body and the environment slowly become more and more toxic over time.The slow buildup of organophosphates in the bone tissues is most likely to occur when the body is deficient in vitamin K2, a nutrient that is not widely available in the food supply today due to the widespread use of organophosphate herbicides like RoundUp or glyphosate. Read more about how RoundUp/glyphosate contributes to human health problems here.
Organophosphates are present in more than just fields, lawns, and gardens. Organophosphates are also used as fire retardants on fabrics and they are prescribed as medicines under the category “bisphosphonates”. Phosphates are also present as food additives, which can increase the toxic “phosphate load” in the body enhancing susceptibility to organophosphate poisoning. Organophosphate residues are found on most fruits and vegetables in the produce section at the grocery store. That being said, not all phosphates are bad, which is why we’ve gathered material about organophosphates, phosphate food additives, and bisphosphonate drugs into one location to make it easier to identify the toxic phosphates that can make you sick. Read more about drugs that contain organophosphates here.
As a general rule, inorganic phosphates are okay. Organic phosphates are not. But unnaturally high levels of inorganic phosphates can have toxic effects on human health. We talk more about phosphate food additives here, which are usually inorganic phosphates that are put in food at unnaturally high levels.
One of the reasons why organophosphate exposure is such a serious problem is because phosphorus, a core element in every organophosphate insecticide, is the second most prolific mineral in our bodies. Our bodies need phosphorus, particularly in the form of phosphate, but organophosphates are a toxic form of phosphate that cause negative health effects through their action on the nervous system, bone tissues, and hormone levels. Phosphorus and phosphates exist in a fine balance with calcium and it’s possible to have far too much or too little healthy inorganic phosphorus / phosphate in the body so, in addition to the toxic nature of organophosphates (organic phosphates), “phosphate load” is an important concept in any discussion regarding organophosphates and other toxic forms of phosphorus.
Too much phosphorus / phosphate in the body can lead to bone weakness and speedy aging while too little phosphorus / phosphate in the body can lead to calcium levels that are too high. Phosphorus / phosphate levels in the body must be balanced and most of the time it’s best to eat a healthy diet that contains grass-fed animal products with organic fruits and vegetables that have not been inundated with organophosphates or other insecticides like methylbromide. Read more about methylbromide here. Exposure to organophosphates, phosphate food additives, and bisphosphonates seems to increase our phosphate load to toxic levels while simultaneously decreasing calcium levels in the body (because phosphorus and calcium levels are inversely related). The idea of phosphate load is not the only relevant concept in regard to organophosphates and bisphosphonate drugs, of course, but it’s important to understand that inorganic phosphate food additives can contribute to health problems, particularly in people who are arriving at the maximum threshold of organophosphate exposure that they can tolerate.
Calcium levels in the body impact the function of acetylcholine, the most important neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system. Acetylcholine is dependent on the behavior of calcium as it passes through ligand-gated ion channels in nicotinic receptors. Calcium also plays an integral role in the function of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors as well. So, while the connection between phosphate exposure and bone health may seem only distantly related to calcium levels and nervous system function, it’s important to recognize that there’s a link between bone health and nervous system health via calcium levels which impacts bone density as well as acetylcholine receptors in nervous system tissues among other things. Calcium and phosphate work together in the body in bones, cells, and nervous system tissues. If levels of one of these nutrients changes, the other nutrient changes as well.
Our bodies naturally crave, inorganic phosphorus as a mineral that is essential for healthy bones and teeth, but inorganic phosphorus / inorganic phosphate is also essential for the following biological activities in the human body:
- Energy production – Both Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) require a phosphate group in order to produce the cellular energy that powers the entire body.
- Protein production - All proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and most proteins contain phosphorus and sulfur as well depending on their amino acid structure. Phosphate ions are added naturally as post-translational modifications to Serine, Tyrosine, and Threonine.
- Cellular membrane production and integrity - Phospholipids are essential in the makeup of healthy cells. The phosphorus combined with fats/lipids ensure that cells can conduct electricity.
- DNA/RNA structural integrity - Phosphorus is essential in the creation of a healthy DNA/RNA backbone.
The Function of Healthy Phosphates in the Body
The word “phosphorus” means “light carrier” which brings to mind the idea of phosphorescence. The word phosphorescence comes from the fact that Hennig Brand discovered phosphorus due to a chemiluminescent reaction that occurred when this element was exposed to air. This special quality of luminescence and “phosphorescence” occurs when an atom of phosphorus absorbs ultraviolet light energy such as UV from sunlight. Photons (packets of light energy) cause the electrons to jump to higher energy levels than usual and then, later, give off that energy again as photons / light as they move back down to lower energy levels.We can say then, given that every inch of our bones, every cell in our bodies, and even every bit of our DNA is packed with phosphorus / phosphate and that the full-spectrum, healing light of the sun interacts with our bodies naturally to produce energy and to stay healthy. Sunscreen, as such, is more toxic to the body than sun exposure (with reasonable moderation, of course). Phosphate is, in fact, a fountain of energy as a vital part of the Kreb’s cycle. And this cycle of energy production that involves the exchange of phosphate as a sort of currency that makes the whole process “go” is, indeed, enhanced by things like fumaric acid which is produced in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Fumaric acid, though it is available in a few medicinal plants like Fumaria officinalis (earth smoke plant), is not available in the diet. Our only source of this healing substance comes from exposure of the skin to sunlight.
Read more about the use of fumaric acid and sunlight exposure to cure multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune diseases.
Learn about why patients go to sunlight and seawater resorts to cure psoriasis here. Or learn about Fumaria officinalis as an herbal cure for psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases here.
ATP, ADP, and Phosphate
Phosphorus is naturally able to absorb energy and give off energy which makes it ideally suited for its role in the production of cellular energy in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP). Cellular energy is derived from Adenosine TRIphosphate when a phosphate group is released to create Adenosine DIphosphate. The phosphate that is released as a source of energy in this oxidative phosphorylation reaction in the Kreb’s cycle is inorganic which means that it does not contain carbon. This is an important point because all organophosphates contain carbon atoms which make them behave differently and abnormally in the body in comparison with phosphates that do not contain carbon atoms. As we discussed in the previous articles, phosphorus and phosphate levels in the body are so intricately intertwined with calcium levels that it is nearly impossible to discuss one without also discussing the other. Vitamin D regulates the amount of phosphorus in the body in part through its action on calcium absorption in the intestines. Calcium levels and phosphate levels in the body are inversely related. As phosphate levels rise, calcium levels fall. The levels of both calcium and phosphate are managed and maintained by the kidneys and the parathyroid gland.Phosphate and DNA
Our DNA relies on the presence of inorganic phosphates to properly link nucleotides together to maintain the double helix structure. DNA strands are known as polynucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a nitrogen-containing nucleobase (cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine) along with deoxyribose and a phosphate group. The backbone of DNA is thus made up of a deoxyribose + phosphate backbone.Other Phosphate Functions
Phosphate plays a role in the production of cyclic AMP, in the phosphorylation of proteins, and in buffering the intracellular fluids among other things. Inorganic phosphate functions as a signaling molecule in the body and it plays a role in the progression of cancer. Indeed, nicotine and cigarettes are famous as carcinogens, but nicotine and phosphates are related topics in that both interact with acetylcholine receptors to stimulate the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, which consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system is often malfunctioning in diseases like Long COVID, Post COVID Vaccine Syndrome and other Vaccine Syndromes (note that most of the vaccines containing toxic phosphate-containing substances), autoimmune disease, autism, and in cancer. Indeed, some doctors focus exclusively on the interplay of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system to cure diseases like cancer.
The Origami of Autism: Transforming 2-Dimensional Thinking about ASD into 3-Dimensional Solutions - BUY HERE!As we discussed in the previous chapters, phosphorus and phosphate levels in the body are so intricately intertwined with calcium levels that it is nearly impossible to discuss one without also discussing the other. Vitamin D regulates the amount of phosphorus in the body in part through its action on calcium absorption in the intestines. Calcium levels and phosphate levels in the body are inversely related. As phosphate levels rise, calcium levels fall. The levels of both calcium and phosphate are managed and maintained by the kidneys and the parathyroid gland.
Can you protect yourself from organophosphates?
It is possible to protect yourself from organophosphates and we talk more about that here. Our focus right now is on providing an overview of how organophosphates affect humans and animals and how people might be exposed to phosphates that increase their phosphate load without realizing it. Before you can protect yourself from organophosphates, it’s vital that you understand the points of exposure because many of them can be controlled. Also, many people develop diseases that are caused by organophosphate exposure. Diseases like cancer, Myasthenia Gravis, Gulf War Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, kidney failure, autism, ADHD, and more can be caused by organophosphate exposure. If you or a loved one has one of these diseases, you may need to choose an organophosphate detoxification treatment as part of a protocol for healing. If you or a loved one is experiencing serious, life-threatening symptoms such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrhythmias caused by organophosphate poisoning, you should go to an emergency room for treatment. But if you’ve been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis or Gulf War Syndrome and you’re looking for a way to reverse organophosphate toxicity, start here.
Root Cause: Common Environmental Toxins and How to Protect Yourself From Them - BUY HERE!
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