This is the latest in a series that I’ve done on genetically modified foods. In the United States, the majority of processed foods now contain one or more laboratory engineered ingredients.
Nearly all of our corn grown in America comes from GM seed. The same is true for soy and rapeseed, used to make canola oil. Also, sugar beets are very likely to be genetically modified. Right now, according to a report from National Public Radio, approximately half of the sugar consumed in the US comes from sugar beets, as opposed to sugar cane. A number of years ago, sugar beet farmers throughout the United States began planting genetically altered seed, the NPR noted. (There’s a link to this report at the end of this post.)
The NPR pointed out that sugar beet seeds are genetically modified for a reason. The plants they yield are resistant to a certain herbicide called Roundup. Made by Monsanto, Roundup contains a controversial chemical called glyphosate.
Are GMO Foods Bad for People?
I’m not a doctor or a medical professional. But I do like to stay informed about health topics, and I want to share previously reported information on genetically modified foods with my readers.
This is one of a number of posts that I’ve written about genetically modified foods. That’s because I want my readers to have the facts they need, in order to make informed health decisions for themselves and their loved ones. You can read some of my previous GMO-related posts below.
Why Genetically Modified Food is Bad
I’m well aware that many people who visit my site have chronic health conditions. They come here seeking information on various natural remedies. I frequently write about herbs, homeopathy and esential oils. However, I don’t think I’d be giving them the full picture if I didn’t touch upon the raging GMO controversy.
I have a lot in common with many of my readers. I have chronic nerve inflammation. However, I’m able to keep this in check by leading a healthy lifestyle. I’ve decided to avoid GMOs. Even though it hasn’t been proven that genetically modified food leads to excess inflammation, one animal model suggests that it does. Much more research is needed. However, I’ve decided I’m not waiting for all the research results. I’m getting GMOs out of my diet, right now.
Dr. Judy Carman, PhD., has done groundbreaking research showing that genetically modified feed increases the incidence of stomach inflammation in pigs.
Do GMOs Cause Cancer?
No one has conclusively proven that genetically modified food increases the risk of cancer in humans. However, there’s a disturbing and widely cited animal study. This was conducted at the University of Caen in France. It showed that feeding GMO grain to lab rats resulted in large mammary tumors. In humans, this would be the equivalent of breast cancer.
This study has been widely cited. It’s also been widely criticized. However, one thing I should not is that this French study followed the rats longer than similar studies conducted elsewhere. The longer followup time, apparently, is when the tumors appeared.
Once again, I’m not waiting for additional research. I’ve seen enough pictures of these sickly rats to be duly concerned.
Are GMO Foods Dangerous?
I don’t want to alarm anyone unnecessarily. In the United States, we’ve been eating genetically modified foods for more than two decades. They’re now found in a wide range of processed products, including nearly all commercial processed goods, unless they’re labeled USDA-certified organic or have a Non-GMO Project sticker.
When you consider how much baked goods and other prepared items we consume, it’s safe to conclude that we, as a nation, eat a lot of GMOs. Obviously, they haven’t killed us. Future research may lay our worst fears to rest. But, right now, we’re subjects of a mass experiment.
Never before in the history of mankind have we eaten crops grown from genetically altered seeds. These are combinations not found in nature. They’d never happen naturally. We’re eating brave, new foods.
Getting GMOs Out of Your Diet
More than five years ago, I did a sweeping overhaul of my diet. I was using a lot of natural remedies to combat my chronic nerve pain. But I had limited success. Yes, I had to say goodbye to a lot of my favorite foods. This means I can’t eat them again. No more cake and ice cream. No more hot fudge Sundaes. (Cheating will eventually catch up with me.)
This was a drastic move. I was faced with rapidly declining health. So I made a decision I don’t regret. At first I just cleaned up the junk. Then I got rid of the GMOs. It was definitely a learning curve. But I don’t want to be part of an experiment that could end badly.
Cooking without GMOs means making your meals from scratch. But you learn. Once you get past the learning curve, it becomes much easier. If you want to start cooking without GMOs, and you think you need help getting started, maybe consider signing up with Real Plans for a month. This is a healthy meal planning service that shows you how to put real food meals on the table. Once a week, you receive a shopping list. This corresponds to a week’s worth of recipes. You put the two together, and enjoy a week’s worth of delicious meals. Click on the image below for more information.
