Genetically Modified (GM) crops have recently been getting more and more press due to the concerns that many people have about how safe they are for human or animal consumption.
Many of the claims, made by the GM Crop Industry and its supporters, are not true. These crops can be toxic, allergenic or less nutritious than their natural counterparts, aren’t adequately regulated to ensure safety, don’t increase crop yield, and don’t reduce pesticide use but increase it.
These GM crops also create serious problems for farmers, including herbicide-tolerant “superweeds”, compromised soil quality, and increased disease susceptibility in crops.
The most common crops that contain Genetically Modified Organisms are soy, corn and wheat, although the GM industry is rapidly creating other GM crops, such as GM alfalfa, a recent addition to this list. Corn, soy and alfalfa are commonly used as feed for livestock, including cattle, dairy cows, pigs, chickens, farm raised fish, as well as horses.
There have been a number of different studies that have demonstrated the harmful physiological effects of GM ‘foods’. One study showed that GM DNA finds its way into human gut bacteria, with potentially harmful effects. Other studies have shown that Roundup (glyphosate), which is used on these GM crops, has an adverse effect on these same gut bacteria, leading to various health problems. An additional study found that GM corn and roundup caused tumors and organ damage in the lab animals.
If an individual eats a diet to achieve and maintain optimal health, they will be eating significant amounts grains and/or beans and as a result should drastically reduce their intake of health destroying crops by eating only GMO Free or Organically Grown grains and beans. The problem for those eating animal products is that, as stated above, the meat, eggs and fish that they eat will contain GM DNA , unless they are consuming certified organically raised meats, eggs and wild caught seafood. Meats and eggs from animals that are verified as being raised on organic pastures, would also be free of GM DNA.
The best solution is to avoid all animal products completely.
There is currently a strong movement by some concerned groups to require food producers to list GMO ingredients on the product labels. Other groups object to this because they feel that having them in the ingredient list serves to legitimize the GM substances, when these substances should clearly be banned completely from food products, due to their harmful effects.
For those interested in achieving and maintaining optimal health, the best approach here is to assiduously avoid GM containing foods.
For more info on this please watch the following outstanding documentary:
The Future of Food (Intro)
The Farm Wars website also has more information.
The video Origins & Aims of GMO covers the genesis and creators of GM foods.
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