What You Need to Know About GMOs

What do soda, fast food French fries, margarine, salad dressing, corn chips, and corn flakes all have in common? They all contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms) also know as genetically modified or engineered foods. Read on for answers to the most commonly asked questions about GMOs.
What are GMOs?
Genetically modified organisms are plants or animals created through the process of genetic engineering. Genetically engineered foods have a piece of DNA from a totally different species, such as bacteria or viruses, spliced into their DNA. Genetically engineered soybeans, for example, have DNA from bacteria and viruses forced into their DNA to help them withstand the onslaught of weed killers such as Roundup. Genetically engineered corn has DNA added so that it has a pesticide built right into it. This process creates a whole new unstable species of plant that would have never occurred in nature. None of the current GMO crops offer increased yield, drought tolerance, or enhanced nutrition.
Hybrid foods are completely different. Hybrids are created when cross pollination occurs between plants. This process can be facilitated by man or it can occur spontaneously in nature.
Which foods are genetically modified?
As of 2012, most corn, soy beans, canola, cotton, and sugar beets are GMO. From these crops, products such as corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, high fructose corn syrup, and many more are created and added to processed foods. This is why nearly 80% of processed and most fast foods contain GMOs.

Other crops that are genetically engineered include Hawaiian papaya, a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash, and alfalfa. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also considering approving a GMO salmon, which would grow much larger and faster than regular salmon.
Are they safe?
Despite what the agricultural industry might say, there is little research on the long-term effects of GMOs on human health and the environment. The FDA has allowed GMOs into our food supply with only the research and assurances of safety from the biotech companies that create them. Interestingly, the person at the FDA responsible for this decision was Michael Taylor, former vice president of public policy at Monsanto (the largest producer of genetically engineered seeds).
Independent research has found that several varieties of GMO corn caused organ damage in rats. Other studies have found that animals were losing their ability to reproduce. There are also concerns that GMOs can increase allergies or cause immune system problems.
Environmental issues are also a cause for concern. GMOs allow farmers to use more weed killers, exposing both us and the environment to more toxins. Super weeds and super bugs that are resistant to the weed killers and the pesticides built into GMOs are now showing up. In addition, GMO crops can cross pollinate with non-GMO crops, irreversibly changing the face of plant life with unknown consequences.
Are they labeled?
The U.S. is one of the only developed nations that does not require labeling of GMOs. Fifty countries including all of Europe and even China require labeling of genetically modified foods. Many European countries have banned GMOs.
Even though they have been in our food supply since 1996, most people in the U.S. know little about GMOs. Actually, the 2006 Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology poll found that only 26% of American consumers believe that they have ever eaten a food that was genetically engineered. The truth is most people, including babies and children, eat them every single day.
Will labeling genetically modified foods increase the cost of food?
The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act will not increase the cost of food for you or food producers. It simply adds a label to genetically engineered food. Companies change their labels all the time. Remember, when companies were required by law to add trans fats to labels, the cost of food did not go up.
What can I do to eat fewer genetically engineered foods?

• Vote "yes" on the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, which will require that genetically engineered foods are labeled. It will be on the November 2012 ballot. Once GMOs are labeled, we can make an informed choice. We have a right to know what's in the food we are eating and feeding to our families. Visit http://www.carighttoknow.org for more information.


• Buy Organic. All USDA certified organic foods are free of GMOs.


• Avoid nonorganic products that contain GMO foods including soy, corn, canola, cottonseed, and sugar beets. Read labels. If the food contains high fructose corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, it probably contains GMOs.


• Look for the "Non-GMO Project Verified" label. Some companies have voluntarily labeled their foods.


• Shop at Trader Joe's. All of their produce and all Trader Joe's brand foods are free of GMOs. So look for "Trader Joe's" on the label.


• Use the free iPhone app Shop No GMO.


• Go to http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com and download their shopping guide.

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Health and Nutrition - The Dangers of Sugar in Your Diet and Some Sweet Substitutes

"All human nutritional needs can be met in full without having to take a single spoonful of white or brown or raw sugar.'
The late Dr. John Yudkin - Sweet and Dangerous, Wyden, 1972, Queens College, London
We all know that too much sugar is really bad for our health. As a result of this there are lots of 'natural' sugar products available to buy in food stores, health food stores and on the internet. With so much choice what do you choose?

Our bodies need sugar in the form of glucose, especially our brain, which needs glucose to function properly. Sucrose is a disaccharide which is two sugars that is broken down into two simple sugars, glucose and fructose. Glucose in our blood provides us with energy. There are different sugars depending on the food we eat for example fructose is the main sugar in fruits, maltose, a sugar in grain like barley and lactose a sugar found in milk.
One of the sugars which have been heralded as one to replace 'white poison' or otherwise known, white table sugar or sucrose... is Agave (ah gah vay). Sometimes agave is referred to as a syrup or nectar and it has a similar taste to honey but not as thick. Without a doubt agave is a much better option than artificial sweeteners which should be avoided at all costs - the clue is in the name artificial!

Agave is a plant which looks like a cactus and can be found in desert areas in places like Mexico. When the agave plant is harvested the sap is extracted and then heated at a low temperature at which point the carbohydrates are broken down into sugars. Agave is available in both light and dark, the darker it is the less time it has been heated and filtrated.
Peter Pure from Raw Food Party asks the question is Agave good for you?
* Sugar is sugar is sugar is sugar
* Sugar ages you
* It is the cause of immune system crashes
* It is an anti-nutrient
* It rots your teeth
* It's causes diabetes
* Sugar ferments your blood cells
* Sugar is food for candida, cancer, viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and mould
There are many people suffering with sugar addiction, some people are aware of this others are not. If someone 'gives up' sugar for whatever reason, they are only eliminating spoons of 'visible' sugar on breakfast cereal, or in tea or coffee but there are so many foods, including natural foods such as fruit which contain a form of sugar. Processed foods have so much sugar that we now have a sugar crisis in our health service in the form of type 2 diabetes and an assortment of degenerative diseases.
Peter suggests 'Many people will want us to believe that this and that new form of sugar is okay.That is not the case. Even honey, by far the best of all sugars, needs to be limited. Dates and fruits too for that matter'

My experience is that people make incredible health breakthrough's for themselves just by getting off the main sugar culprits - all grains and grain products, bread, pasta, cornflakes, rice, barley, spelt, quinoa, beans, lentils, corn, potatoes and refined foods (preferably dried fruit too).
Why grains and beans/lentils first? Simple - you probably wouldn't eat 2 bowls of honey in one go, but you might eat 2 bowls of rice (for example).
Sugar in all it's forms is just a part of a transitional diet as people get off their sugar addictions (with a few rare exceptions of athletes who burn a lot of sugar).
The only exception to all of this, if there is any magic "sugar" is stevia - which is a herb that taste's sweet but is not sugar.'

Stevia (stee v ah) or sweet herb, harvested from places such as South America and Asia as an alternative sweetener can be purchased as a lplant, liquid or powder. Japanese people have been using stevia successfully for many years and they don't have the same health and weight problems as we have in western culture, unless of course they eat a western diet! Stevia is much sweeter than sugar so you don't use or need too much of it and as it is a natural herbal sweetener.
Another natural sugar alternative is Xylotil, which looks and tastes exactly like sugar and does not have that horrid aftertaste associated with so many chemical sweeteners. Xylotil has fewer calories and carbohydrates than sugar and as a result it is slowly absorbed in the body and does not cause an increased rush of insulin so is better for anyone suffering with diabetes. Xylotil can be used in cooking to replace refined white sugar but like all sugar you need to identify how much sugar you are consuming in your diet, especially all hidden sugar which piles on the pounds, empty calories and over time makes you ill.

Of course, there are multiple things to consider to become more healthy, lose weight or live your life to your body's full potential. Sugar is just one.

Benefits of Gluten Free Foods for Your Body

Gluten and Celiac
People with celiac disease are advised to stay away from food products with gluten. This is the reason why many health food stores and groceries offer gluten free foods. Gluten is a type of protein that is found in wheat, cereals and some grains. Its purpose is to maintain elasticity during fermentation, which prevents foods from having a sticky texture.


GLUTEN FREE FOOD

Individuals who suffer from celiac disease can't process gluten. The illness can lead to complications such as infertility and gastrointestinal troubles because gluten is a harmful invader to their body. Their bodies' immune system creates a response that damages the small intestines and results in several nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal issues.

Foods for People without Celiac Disease
Gluten is found in most processed foods. Going on a diet means avoiding eating processed foods, which often contain a lot of empty calories anyway. Avoiding processed foods becomes a natural way to lose weight.
There are people who are sensitive to gluten but don't suffer from celiac disease. They would feel better with a diet consisting of gluten free foods. Gluten sensitivity is a common condition where people have adverse reactions to gluten. Some of its symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, fatigue, and pain in joints and bones.
When going on a diet, you eat more vegetables and fruits. They are healthy food sources without starch. A gluten free diet eliminates unhealthy oils and unhealthy carbohydrates from your system. It also reduces the risk of some cancers, diabetes, and even heart disease. The diet can also help protect from germs and viruses.
A gluten free diet can help you lose weight. It is composed of gluten free foods that have essential carbohydrates, proteins and fat. You just have to keep the right portion size and choose starches without gluten such as sweet potatoes and brown rice.
Choosing the Right Foods
It is easier to find foods without gluten today compared to the past. But not all of them are healthy as some contain high amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats. Since people with celiac disease can safely eat lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products, a gluten free diet will be made up of natural foods.

If you have symptoms of celiac disease, or other symptoms of gluten sensitivity, then it will be beneficial to start eating gluten free foods. Though it is a great natural weight loss method, food choices will be limited because gluten is found in so many foods. You have to give up on breakfast cereals, breads, crackers, pastas, and most processed foods with gluten. You can also decrease your nutrient intake without a properly balanced diet when choosing gluten free. Therefore, it is ideal to consult with a dietician before going on a gluten free diet.

Get rid of gluten from your diet now!




by R. Swierkowski

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