What is a Genetically Modified Organism? How does it affect me? How can I avoid them?
We are excited to bring you this first post of a three-part blog series about Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s. A GMO is a food or food additive that is genetically engineered, meaning that a foreign gene has been introduced into a plant or animal product. Proven studies have shown eating GMO’s can be harmful to our health, having been linked to cancer and premature death. Unfortunately, GMO’s are now in more than 75% of foods in America! The worst part? GMO foods are not required to be labeled in the US! That means most of the time, we don’t know that we are eating them even though they are hidden in most of our food.
Silent Supermarket Takeover
GMO’s quietly began to appear on shelves in 1994 and then they began to slowly infiltrate supermarkets. Most people were unaware of this change at the time, so there was little backlash on the issue. Therefore, food manufacturing giants were able to stop legislation in regards to labeling.
GMO’s are genetically modified to resist insects, produce higher levels of certain nutrients, and resist the toxicity of herbicides. The stronger herbicides are more effective in killing weeds, but they also leave a more toxic residue within the plant, which is passed onto us when we consume it.
The Scary Truth
A study by French and Italian researchers, published in the journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology found this: Death rate were five times higher among male animals fed GMO corn, and six times higher among GMO-fed females. The GMO-fed animals, especially females, very rapidly developed massive cancerous tumors. It has also been found that animals eating GMO corn pass on fertility problems for three generations.
Studies also show that it may take decades for the effects of eating GMO’s to become evident in humans. The impact of GMO’s on human health is not fully known, but what we do know is terrifying.
Banned In Other Countries
In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are restrictions or outright bans on GMO’s because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S. on the other hand, the FDA has approved commercial production of GMO’s based on “studies” conducted by the same companies that created them and profit from their sale.
The Only Protection?
The only way to protect yourself and your family against the effects of GMO’s is to eat as few of them as possible. In America, it has become almost impossible to avoid them altogether. But by using smart strategies, you can dramatically lower the grave risks associated with lab-created, DNA-manipulated foods.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, “Oh No GMO, Part 2” where we will talk about avoiding GMO’s and ways to identify them on your food labels, PLU codes on fruits and vegetables, and more!
Information taken from Dr. Baylock’s Guide to Avoiding GMO Foods.
