Are GMO’s Really That Bad?
What are GMOs?
GMO stands for genetically modified organism. GMOs are formed when genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially injected into the genes of another plant or animal. These genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or humans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 94 percent of all soy, 93 percent of corn, and 96 percent of cotton grown in the US are genetically engineered. Yikes!
Are GMOs Bad?
Scientists tinker with plants for many different reasons. Often, they extract a more desirable trait from one plant and add it to another. By altering the plant’s DNA, it may become more insect-resistant, require less water, or grow bigger in less time. In theory, it sounds like a great idea. But what do these GMOs do to humans? What about our environment?
Genetically-modified organisms are dangerous for many reasons. First, our bodies are not equipped to consume food in any other form other than its natural form. Humans don’t recognize GMO foods. If our bodies do not recognize these foods or are unable to break them down, then somewhere down the line the dysfunction will rear its ugly head. This is how disease begins, in the gut, during digestion.
These man-made, toxic products have been proven to cause numerous health issues. According to the Academy of Environmental Medicine, several animal studies have linked GMOs to organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. GMOs have also been shown to cause cancer.
“Any politician or scientist who tells you these (GMO) products are safe is either very stupid or lying.”
— David Suzuki, CC, OBC, Ph.D LLD, Genetics
Why Do Companies Use GMOs?
Money. It’s always about money. Large companies, like Monsanto, (the world’s largest seed company), want to produce products that taste good, look good, and sell off the shelves. Trust me, these companies are not concerned about your health.
More On Monsanto
When you visit Monsanto’s website and click on the Who Are We tab, you will find this: “We are a sustainable agriculture company. We deliver agricultural products that support farmers all around the world. We are focused on empowering farmers—large and small—to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. We do this with our leading seed brands in crops like corn, cotton, oil-seeds, fruits and vegetables. We also produce leading in-the-seed trait technologies for farmers, which are aimed at protecting their yield, supporting their on-farm efficiency and reducing their on-farm cost.”
Well, they have clearly forgotten to mention a few details.
Here is another more accurate description of Monstanto:
According Dr. Joseph Mercola: “Monsanto tries to pass itself off as an innovative agricultural company, when in reality they produced two of the most toxic substances ever known, polychlorinated biphenyls, (PCBs), and dioxin (Agent Orange).”
Dr. Mercola also says that Monsanto is the mastermind behind some of the most dangerous products on the market today including:
Genetically modified crops (Monsanto provides the seeds for 90 percent of the world’s GM crops.)
Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides
Aspartame
Recombinant bovine somatotropin ( rBST), a genetically-modified growth hormone given to dairy cows to make them produce more milk
How To Avoid GMOs
Avoiding GMOs is difficult. The majority of the foods available in the grocery store (unless organic, local, or labeled non-GMO) and most of the foods you eat at restaurants are loaded with GMOs.
Recommendations for avoiding GMOs:
· Avoid all foods with corn, canola, and soy.
· Buy foods that are labeled GMO-free.
· Shop for organic foods. (By law, they must contain less than 5 percent genetically-modified products.)
· Shop at your local farmers’ market or plant your own garden.
· Stay informed via natural health websites.