Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) come in many forms these days (unfortunately) and they are unpredictable and not safe. Let's dive into what they are and why there is cause for concern.
A genetically modified or genetically engineered organism has had changes made in a laboratory, which alters the DNA and ultimately damages it. The #1 result of this scientific tampering is surprise side effects.
Some adverse health effects being noted are nutritional deficiency, allergic responses, leaky gut, increased toxic load, organ damage and gene transfer or mutation. There are entirely unknown consequences to messing with nature like we have, and the repercussions on generations to come are yet to be experienced.
Sadly, over 90% of crops in North America are GMO crops.
Crops that are known to be genetically modified include the following ...
- Soy
- Corn
- Cotton
- Canola (rapeseed)
- Sugar beets
- Alfalfa (for animal feed)
- Papaya
- Zucchini
- Yellow Squash
- Apples
- Potatoes
- Del Monte's Pink Pineapple
Also available in Canada and the USA...genetically engineered Salmon! These salmon are engineered to grow faster, increasing profits. They are a particularly hungry fish, eating more in a shorter amount of time (are they saving money?) It should be noted that when these particular salmon were put in a tank and they lowered the amount of feed, the fish became aggressive and resorted to cannibalism. Food is energy, and I don't know about you, but that is not the kind of energy I am trying to put in my body. No thanks on the Frankenfish! The brand is AquAdvantage, if you want to avoid it.
There are different ways that crops and organisms are genetically modified.
Here is a brief breakdown of the different types of GMOs...
Roundup ready, or herbicide resistant seeds and plants. Plants are modified to withstand having chemicals sprayed all over them. This is a situation where chemical companies like Monsanto (which was sold to Bayer) have managed to use science to enable them to sell even more chemicals. Anti-life chemicals for everyone everywhere!
BT Crops. This process introduces the harmful bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis into plant cells. When insects eat the plant (usually corn), the bacteria causes their gut to open through a series of holes, and they die. Studies have shown that consuming this corn can cause similar holes in the human gut. This will cause many problems, as undigested particles not meant for the blood stream cross over and cause immune reactions.
Genome Editing. An example of this is Crispr technology, which is cheap and unregulated. The danger in this is unimaginable, as experiments are released "into the wild" and there are risks to our health and environment. To learn more about GMO 2.0, see this informative interview from Food Integrity Now.
Disease Resistant alterations. Courtesy of laboratory shenanigans.
Synthetic Biology. The design and creation of new biological parts, devices and systems. This can involve the removing of DNA to replace with more desirable DNA. Scientists are engineering microorganisms like yeast and bacteria to add genes, which then create proteins that are used in products like food and medicine. Examples of this technology are Aspartame, rbGH, Impossible Burger and Vanillas. I think we know that these things have been proven to have issues when consumed.
Gene Silencing. GMOs that are engineered with genes that silence other genes by creating RNA. Scientists have seen that this method can lead to altered gene expression when consumed.
GMO 2.0. See Jeffrey Smith's website (responsibletechnology.org) for information on new GMO technologies that are in the works, and how we can make efforts to stop them.
So just to be thorough...here are the reasons NOT to buy GMO products...
- They are harmful to your health.
- They are harmful to your environment.
- Unpredictable side effects.
- They enable farmers to use even MORE pesticides and chemicals.
- Government regulation is lacking...because shady corporate profits are priority.
- Industry funded science is designed to avoid finding problems with GMOs. Examples of where Biotech has rigged research to "prove" safety include tobacco, Agent Orange, PCBs and DDT.
- Research is insufficient. Independent scientists have been gagged, attacked, threatened, fired and denied funding in trying to release accurate information. The government supports Big Biotech, and it shows.
- GMO activity harms birds, insects, amphibians, soil organisms and whole ecosystems, reducing biodiversity.
- Reports have shown that GMO farming does not increase yields and it is unnecessary in the plight of feeding all the people.
- When we avoid GMOs, we help to reach the tipping point where companies are not making a profit, and things will change!