GMO
The Big Picture
by Mark Saunders
November 10, 2013
*Disclaimer - Results may vary based on a variety of factors.
According to Wikipedia, A genetically modified organism GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
Are genetically modified organisms good or bad? Yes. Meaning it can be both good or bad. However, the key areas of controversy related to genetically modified foods are whether GM foods should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the effect of GM crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of GM crops for farmers, and the role of GM crops in feeding the world population.
This article was created from a health perspective to bring about awareness on this issue for you. I am sure you would rather not consume pesticides everyday, and I will share some different choices you can make.
According to the Non GMO Project as much as 80% of conventional processed foods are GMO.
*Disclaimer - Results may vary based on a variety of factors.
Check this out: according to Rima Laibow, MD, Medical Director of the Natural Solutions Foundation, "95% of all genetic modifications are done in order to allow the plants to survive more chemicals being sprayed on them (resulting in super weeds and super bugs), and to allow the animals to survive more drugs being put into them. Of course what happens is when the plant's and meat's genes change, our genes change by consuming them.
Just as the super weeds are altered, the super bugs are genetically altered by consuming the weeds. The bug eats the plant and its genes change. The animal eats the plant, its genes change. We eat the plants and the meat, and our genes change and our babies' genes change and the change is permanent!"
Also according to Rima, numerous studies claim genetically modified plants with pesticides can cause allergies and cancers.
What can you do to start making some better choices?
Here are a few tips to guide you through what can be very confusing when it comes to making informed decisions.
As mentioned on the website helpguide.org, "According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that analyzes the results of government pesticide testing in the U.S., the following 12 fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide levels on average. Because of their high pesticide levels when conventionally grown, it is best to buy these organic:
Apples
Bell Peppers
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (imported)
Kale
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Strawberries
These conventionally grown fruits and vegetables listed below were found to have the lowest levels of pesticides. Most of these have thicker skin or peel, which naturally protects them better from pests, and which also means their production does not require the use of as many pesticides.
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Cabbage
Corn (sweet)
Eggplant
Kiwi
Mango
Onion
Papaya
Distinctions on Organic vs. Conventional Meat and Dairy
Organic meat and dairy:
No antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides are given to animals
Conventionally raised meat and dairy:
Typically given antibiotics, hormones and feed grown with pesticides"
In regards to the good side of GMO, according a blog by John K.,
"Genentech, in 1978, created a bacteria that could produce human insulin.
Before that time, people with insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus
(a.k.a. Diabetes) had to use insulin from the pancreas of animals.
Herbert Boyer took the genes from a human that produced human insulin,
and he was able to insert them into a bacteria, E. coli. The
bacteria produced mass quantities of human insulin that was easy to
refine. Currently, almost all insulin used for diabetes is produced
from GMO E. coli. To me, this is one example of the good that
genetic engineering can do for humanity. While nothing is truly "safe",
this is about as safe an application as you can get, and the benefits,
in my opinion, do outweigh the risks."
This has been a look at the big picture on GMO and what you can do to start making some healthier choices. If you want to learn more, here is an entertaining movie resource about GMO from Gary Null PhD, Consumer Health Advocate, Film maker, Author, Radio Host, called Seeds of Death: Unveiling The Lies of GMO's - Full Movie.
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520.400.9573
Personal Trainer,
Consumer Health Advocate/Author
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