What are Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s)?

In the last few years there has been a lot of talk about genetically modified foods and trying to get them labelled properly so that we can be sure to avoid them.  These modified foods saturate our diets today, in fact they are found in over 80% of processed foods.  So this affects each and every one of us and most people are completely unaware.  This is a subject I feel very passionate about so I want to share some of the highlights I found as I researched this topic in detail.  We  have the right to know what is in our food and how it affects our health.  So I hope you find this information beneficial and be sure to SHARE this post with others who would be interested.

A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is  a plant that has been modified, in a lab, by being injected with a DNA  from another species to create a specific trait or characteristic.  These plants that are created contain DNA (genetic) structures of animals, fish, bacteria virus, insects, and even humans! So, in effect they are artificially mutated foods at a cellular level.  Let’s just think about what this means for the “food” we are eating.  That means that now you may be eating a tomato that has been crossed with a fish gene, or plants mixed with a bug gene, pig genes mixed with a vegetable gene, even corn with a human gene, or hepatitis virus gene!  Imagine if you have a severe fish allergy and you eat a tomato injected with a fish gene, you could have  a serious allergic reaction and not even know why.  In over 30 countries around the world these foods are banned or at least have significant restrictions because they are not considered to be proven safe.  Yet, here in the USA not only are they sold freely but there is no law requiring a label stating it is a GMO. There are no regulated health safety testing mandated for these type of foods!

So what are the effect of eating GM foods? The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) admittedly stated, “…GM foods pose a serious health risk.”  In several animal studies they found that changes in the immune system of animals were consistently noted, increase in allergies, asthma, accelerated aging, insulin regulation and inflammation.   These are all conditions that are on the rise here in the United States. In fact, one biologist after studying hundreds of scientific journals concluded that GMO’s are greatly contributing to the deteriorating health of Americans.

In one study conducted by The Cornucopia Institute, the following experience was reported, “When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks….The GM-fed babies were also smaller, and later had problems getting pregnant.” If GMO’s had this effect upon the babies of rats, what is it doing to our unborn fetus’ whose brain or vital organs  are developing, or to developing children who are dependent on pure, fresh, wholesome foods for their health and growth? How important it is for pregnant or lactating mothers to eat as much fresh, organic fruits and vegetables as possible.

Not only are they harmful to our health but to the environment as well.   They reduce bio-diversity, pollute water resources, and are not sustainable.  For example, they are eliminating habitat for  the Monarch butterfly, whose population is already down 50% in the United States.  Their herbicides harm marine ecosystems, birds, insects and soil organisms.

What Can We Do?

Here are four tips on how to avoid genetically modified foods:

1) Buy organic. Certified organic products cannot intentionally include GMO ingredients.

2) Avoid Ingredients that are potentially GMO’s.  Most processed foods contain GM ingredients so replacing them with  as much whole, organic, ripe fruits, vegetables and leafy greens as possible is one of the best ways to avoid them.   As of now the main GM crops are corn, soybeans, some zucchini and yellow squash, Hawaiian papaya, sugar beets, canola, and cottonseed.you will not be supporting the selling of GMO food.  So, if it’s not labelled organic or verified non-GMO avoid these ingredients.

3) Look for the Non-GMO Project Seals.  The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to providing consumers with clearly labeled and independently verified Non-GMO choices. So, any products with this label has been verified to be in compliance for GMO avoidance.

4) Download IRT’s Non-GMO shopping guide here to learn what ingredients to avoid including hidden ingredients on the label.

Remember everything is a question of supply and demand, if there is no demand there will be no supply. So if you chose not to buy GMO food you are one less person creating a demand for such a supply of horrific experimental lab food.

For more info on GMO’s and how to avoid click here and the link below:

https://www.nongmoproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/GM-Crops-just-the-science.pdf

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