Americans have been eating genetically modified food for about 20 years.
Until I began researching this topic, I had no idea why.
What I discovered is alarming.
On this site, I talk about natural remedies and leading a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle means good food choices.
Changing the way you eat isn’t easy. It’s can also get expensive. That’s why I also like to share shopping tips.
Hopefully, these tips can help you avoid buying foods with genetically modified ingredients, if that’s what you choose to do.
Also, I periodically put out information about real food clean eating meal plans.
These plans make it easy to prepare delicious recipes, minus the GMOs. They’re also designed to save time and money.
I try to present affordable options. That’s because I know special diets can be costly, if you don’t shop carefully.
In the beginning, I bought my healthy foods at a regular grocery store. But I couldn’t keep doing this. One month I spent so much money that I had virtually nothing left over for anything else.
Now, I shop for discount foods, supplements and cosmetics at Vitacost and at Pureformulas.
For me, clean eating isn’t optional. About 10 years ago I developed a potentially crippling nerve disease. My condition is incurable.
But I’m able to live a normal life. My most debilitating symptoms have disappeared. I’m so grateful that I can walk again, and that I don’t need a wheelchair.
Avoiding GMOs in Our Daily Life
(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)
My recovery happened in stages.
But it accelerated after I stopped eating GMOs. (I also gave up dairy foods around this time, so that may be a factor in my ecovery too.)
Although I can’t prove that GMOs were making me sick, I feel a lot better now than I did a decade ago.
I also attribute my good health to prayer and a lot of natural remedies, which I still use.
But the GMOs definitely had to go. Here’s why.
Why Genetically Modified Food?
Genetic engineering just seems like a bad idea, even before you realize why it’s done. I believe it’s impossible to improve upon what God has created
But it’s truly shocking to learn why seeds are being created with species-crossing gene combinations that don’t exist in nature.
This is much different from the long-standing practice of selective breeding, which doesn’t involve laboratory insertion of foreign material.
Avoiding GMO Products When You Shop
Genetically modified crops are bred to withstand insects and disease, as well as applications of herbicides that would otherwise kill them.
That’s why some genetically modified seeds are called “Roundup Ready.”
Are GMOs Bad for Human Consumption?
Monsanto Roundup is used on these crops.
This product contains a controversial ingredient called glyphosate. This chemical is now being linked to cancer. This is why I urge all my readers to avoid GMOs.
If anyone needs help getting GMO-filled processed food out of their diet, I also suggest getting that help, by signing up for Real Plans, just for a month.
(Even with Real Plans you will still have to make sure you’re not cooking with GMO foods. But if you follow the plan you will eliminate the very unhealthy processed meals.)
This clean eating meal planning service offers live support.
Real Plans is totally risk free. It comes with a 30-day money back guarantee if you don’t like it.
How to Avoid Genetically Modified Food
Once I realize what I was feeding my family, I started cleaning up my kitchen. I began buying all organic food, shopping at my local grocery store.
But this became too expensive to sustain. So I started searching for alternatives. For a couple of years, I shopped at local discount stores, grabbing whatever organic or non-GMO food I could find. But this took up too much of my week.
Where to Buy Non GMO Soy Sauce
Since I don’t want to spend all my time shopping, I turned to the Internet. Now, some of my grocery budget is spent at Vitacost. This large online health food store saves me time and money.
One of the crops most likely to be engineered is soy. So I’m able to buy a gluten-free soy sauce substitute at Vitacost for less than I’d pay at my local supermarket.
Liquid Aminos tastes just like regular soy sauce. I buy the 32-ounce size to save even more.
Glyphosate Health Problems
There’s growing concern that genetic modification leads to an increase in the amount of herbicides released into the environment.
It’s impossible to totally wash these chemicals off of our food. Plus, they migrate into the soil, where they are likely taken up by the plants as they grow.
Also, because weeds are becoming resistant to the current batch of herbicides, more and more chemicals are needed to achieve the desired results.
Can Glyphosate Cause Cancer?
One of the active ingredients in Roundup, glyphosate, has been tentatively tied to a number of health problems, including cancer. It’s believed this chemical can disrupt human hormones.
There are additional worries, based on French research, that the simple act of genetic modification, even without an herbicide, presents a health risk. This is why I like to make real meals from unprocessed food.
Why Genetically Modified Food is Bad
Gilles-Eric Seralini, PhD., of the University of Caen in France, has conducted controlled studies. Rats were fed a partial diet of genetically modified corn. These animals developed massive mammary tumors.
Dr. Seralini believed this was because of the genetic modification itself, and not necessarily the addition of glyphosate that’s sprayed on the crops.
Rats in another group given only glyphosate only didn’t develop cancerous tumors at the same rate. You can watch Dr. Seralini in the video below. He says earlier studies concluding GMOs were safe didn’t follow the animals long enough.
Which Foods are Genetically Modified Food?
Genetically modified food has been banned in Peru and Ecuador.
Dozens of other countries require labeling.
The European Union only allows a handful of engineered crops. Russia will not accept imports of American corn. That’s because the vast majority is genetically modified.
Americans are very much behind the curve in resisting GM food.
Right now, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of all the items sold in a regular grocery store contain at least some GMOs.
Processed Foods With GMOs
This includes most processed foods, unless the package specifically says otherwise.
In the United States, you will find Non-GMO Project labels on certain items. USDA certified organic food also do not contain GMOs.
You can also expect fast foods and restaurant foods to contain GMOs, unless they specifically say they don’t. Only a handful of restaurants, mostly in the western states, have an all-organic menu.
Healthy Organic Snack Foods
If I travel, I try to avoid GMOs as much as possible. That’s why I pack healthy organic snacks, so I don’t have to totally rely upon restaurant food.
Vitacost sells discount organic and non-GMO items.
Vitacost is also a good place to stock up on healthy essentials. I’ve now placed multiple orders with this company, and I’m really impressed with the service.
How Much Corn is GMO
In America, we use a lot of corn. It’s grown for human consumption and animal feed.
Corn is also added to processed goods. High fructose corn syrup is found in a lot of juices and snacks.
Baking powder and filler for some medications may also contain corn. Currently, about 90 percent of American corn fields are grown from genetically modified seed.
Avoiding GMO Corn
Until a couple of years ago, though, the corn-on-the-cob from your local farm stand was probably GMO free.
However, in 2012, the first GMO “sweet corn” was harvested.
Some grocers have pledged not to sell it.
But in the US, we don’t have labeling laws. So it’s hit or miss as to which type of corn you’re buying. However, it’s easy to find GMO-free corn based snacks, especially if you shop online.
If you want to avoid GMOs, your best bet is to buy only USDA-certified organic corn products, like the ones shown above.
Or, if you want to enjoy fresh corn, you can visit a local farm stand and ask the farmer which types of seeds are used.
However, you should be aware that some health experts believe that genetically modified strains can still contaminate organically grown crops, and that it’s virtually impossible to get truly non-GMO corn.
I don’t know if this is true. However, because this is an open question, I don’t buy organic corn all that often.
GMO Seralini Interview
Are Soybeans Genetically Modified?
More than 90 percent of soy in the United States is genetically modified. Soy (in some form) is often added to soups and baked goods. Soy is the second largest food crop in the US. (Corn is number one.)
However, it is possible to buy organic soy products online at Vitacost.
GMO Soybeans Dangers
Soy is also an ingredient in animal feed. There’s mounting evidence that GM soy has devastating health effects, at least on laboratory animals.
Various studies from Russia showed that hamsters fed soy grew hair inside their mouths. They were sterile by the third generation.
There was also a high rate of mortality among the babies born to these hamsters.
The scientist who conducted these studies is named Alexey V. Surov and he is affiliated with the Institute of Ecology and Evolution and the National Association for Gene Security, as reported by the Institute for Responsible Technology.
Where to Buy Cheap Coconut Oil
Many people consider virgin coconut oil a healthier choice, compared than canola. Here’s why.
About 90 percent of rapeseed, the crop that produces canola oil, is genetically modified.
There’s already controversy over whether this inexpensive oil, which is typically hydrogenated, is good for us.
Despite this, canola oil is marketed as a “healthy” alternative to saturated fat found in meat and dairy products. Now, with the added layer of genetic modification, the debate is raging.
Is Canola Oil Genetically Modified?
Canola oil is often used in frying, in baked goods and to make snack foods such as potato chips. Unless a package says otherwise, chances are it’s genetically modified.
Instead of canola oil, I now fry a lot of my foods in pure organic coconut oil. I get this at Vitacost. It’s delicious and every bit as good as some of the more expensive brands I’ve tried. This coconut oil from Vitacost ships for free, as does the rest of your order.
Is Sugar Genetically Modified?
At one time, our sweet tooth was satisfied with sugar cane. Now, though, about half of the sugar consumed in the US comes from sugar beets.
Nearly all of these beets are genetically modified. However, if you’re looking for organic non-GMO sugar, it’s also available online.
Sugar is often added to commercial baked goods. So are corn starch, corn oil, soybean flour and canola oil. It’s conceivable the doughnuts you eat, which were never that healthy to begin with, are made from several genetically modified ingredients.
This is yet another reason to eat your fruits and vegetables. Right now, only Hawaiian papaya and a small percentage of zucchini are genetically engineered.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not meant to diagnose‚ treat or cure any disease or medical condition.
For Additional Reading
Where to Buy Organic Vegetable Seeds
Where to Buy Organic Garden Soil
Health Food Stores Online Reviews
Top 5 Genetically Modified Foods to Avoid
Where to Find Organic Food Coupons
Where Do I Buy Organic Coconut Oil?
Where to Get the Cheapest Organic Food Online
GMO Soy and Sterility Findings
How To Avoid Genetically Modified Food
Not eating GMOs means I need to cook nearly all of my family meals at home, from scratch. This is not nearly as difficult as it sounds, once you get used to it. However, there is a learning curve. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t. But once you get used to cooking this way, it becomes second nature. You also develop a taste for real food. And you lose your taste for processed food.
Avoiding GMO Foods Shopping List Tips
If you’re ready to start eating better, but need a little help, I highly recommend Real Plans. This is a budget food planning service designed to save time and money. Food waste is reduced, because you receive a week’s worth of recipes, plus a shopping list. So you buy only what you need. The recipes are designed to be delicious and nutritious.
For more information on how to get started making healthier meals, click on the picture below.
Reasons To Avoid GMOs
I encourage my readers to do their own research. Volumes have been written on the topic of genetic modification of our food. There are still many unknowns. It will take years to sort it all out. As someone who spent my earlier career as a mainstream medical writer, I realize that studies are only as good as their design. Who funds a study may have an impact upon the design. So please take some time to research this yourself. Your health may depend upon it.
