Oh No, GMOs!

There's this thing called GMOs. The short and skinny of GMOs is that they're not good. I lived with knowing that for a while because I like to keep things simple. The equation in my head went something like this:

GMOs=bad=won't eat.

But recently, that wasn't enough for me. I naturally wanted to know WHY they're not good.

To begin with, what IS a GMO? It stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Can also be synonymous with Gentetically Engineered Organism. So that in itself says a lot. It's basically technology mutating food organisms in unnatural ways. These laboratory-created mutations are unlabeled, virtually untested and on grocery shelves everywhere. I feel really uncomfortable not knowing what's in my food. Granted, I can't understand half of what's listed under INGREDIENTS of food...but that's the scary thing. If you look at anything off a typical grocery store shelf, look at the ingredients, you won't know most of what's on there. If you look at an organic box, most if not all the ingredients are recognizable or at least pronounceable.

Why are there GMOs in the first place? GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. (Hence why I don't shop at places like U-Save and Aldi...cheaper foods to me equal crappier food.)

Another scary thing is that these GMOs undergo very little testing for safety! There's no long-term studies that research the effects of these mutations on the human body. It is claimed that Americans have eaten GM foods for years with no ill effects. But these foods are unlabeled in the US and no one has monitored the consequences. Aside from us humans eating these things, our ANIMALS are also eating GMOs. Studies have shown, and it makes total sense too, that animals fed GMOs are way less healthier than naturally fed animals. I'm not sure about YOU, but I'd rather eat a bacteria-free, healthy cow than a bacteria-filled, sick cow. I can't be the only one who feels this way.

Animals aren't the only contaminants. The genetically modified crops require increased pesticides. GMOs with pesticides. Grrrrrrrrrrreat.

The thing with GMOs is that because they're not regulated, because there's very little research on what these crossbreeds do, because they're not even listed, it's difficult to know the extent of what they can do to us for sure. How can this affect us? There's been studies that show children are more prone to food allergies. We have increased toxin levels within us. There's definitely less nutrition value in these foods. It's possible that the bacteria that stays in our intestines from GMOs creates an antibiotic resistance.

So what can WE do?

Try to buy organic. With the organic label (there are strict qualifications to be able to put the word ORGANIC on a product), they can't intentionally have GMOs in the food item. Better yet, if the food has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal on it, even better.

Avoid at-risk ingredients. If it’s not labeled organic or verified non-GMO: Avoid products made with ingredients that might be derived from GMOs. The eight GM food crops are Corn, Soybeans, Canola, Cottonseed, Sugar Beets, Hawaiian Papaya (most) and a small amount of Zucchini and Yellow Squash. Avoid sugar when you can. If a non-organic product made in North American lists “sugar” as an ingredient (and NOT pure cane sugar), then it is almost certainly a combination of sugar from both sugar cane and GM sugar beets. Check out your dairy. Products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone. Look for labels stating No rBGH, rBST, or artificial hormones.

It's nearly impossible to eat NO GMOs in our country today because we're so dependent on others for food. Everything contains GMOs and the above ingredients. And yes, it's totally expensive to go all organic and eat more FRESH food instead of stuff off the shelves. But what you CAN do is do the best you can. Buy what you can afford. Maybe start by buying organic milk (or almond or coconut milk) instead of regular milk. Then next year, start buying organic fruits and veggies. Then the next year, buy hormone free meat. Things like that. Do what you can with what you have because every little bit counts towards a healthier you. And that's all I want for you.