9 Ways to Avoid Genetically Modified Food

It is estimated that about 75 percent of processed foods sold in the U.S. contain at least some genetically modified food ingredients. Unlike many other countries, there is no law in the U.S. requiring the labeling of foods that contain GM ingredients, but if you know how to identify which foods are most commonly genetically modified, you can reduce how many GMOs you eat. Following are some tips on how you can avoid them:

1. Buy foods labeled "100% organic." Laws in both the U.S. and Canada do not allow food labels that say "100% organic" to contain any genetically engineered food, including animals that have been fed genetically modified feed. Be aware, however, that if the food is simply labeled "organic" it can still contain genetically modified ingredients up to 30%.

2. Look for the labels "non-GM" or "GMO-free." These can be hard to find, but if you re able to support manufacturers that produce foods that are not genetically engineered you encourage other manufacturers to follow their lead.

3. Buy whole, fresh foods rather than processed ones. Foods that you cook and prepare yourself are almost always healthier than anything you can buy ready-made. And cooking healthy food doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. There are many simple but delicious and healthy meals that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes that do not involve any genetically modified food.

4. Know which foods and the products that are made from them are most likely to have been the result of genetic engineering. For example:

• Corn - The ingredient derived from corn that is hardest to avoid is high fructose corn syrup. A huge percentage of processed foods and baked goods contains it, not to mention soda. Any food with a label saying there is corn of any kind in it should be avoided unless it states it is 100% organic. Popcorn is an exception, as there is currently no popcorn on the market that is genetically modified.
• Soybeans - Products made from soybeans include soy flour, soy isolates, soy lecithin, soy protein and isoflavones. Be sure that soy based products such as tofu, soy milk, edamame and such have a label stating it is organic to be sure it isn't genetically modified.
• Canola or Rapeseed - Made from the rapeseed plant, canola oil almost certainly is derived from genetically engineered crops, unless you are located in the EU, where no genetically modified crops of rapeseed are yet grown. You find it used mostly as cooking oil and in margarine, and though it is high in monounsaturated fat, it is not a healthy oil to use regularly due to its high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and because it goes rancid easily when heated. Olive oil is a better choice.
• Cottonseed oil - Cottonseed oil is a primary ingredient in shortening, vegetable oil and margarine, none of which are healthy fats, and many of which contain trans fats. It is also used to a great extent in processed foods like potato chips and other fried snack foods.
• Dairy - Some farmers inject cows with the genetically engineered hormone rBGH or rBST in order to boost milk production. Cows also may be fed genetically modified food in the form of grain and alfalfa unless the milk specifically states that it is organic. Look for products that advertise themselves as rBGH- or rBST-free.
• Sugar beets - There is unfortunately no way of knowing if something labeled as containing "sugar" comes from just sugar cane or if it also includes sugar made from beets, since there is no special labeling required. Beet sugar can be avoided by buying products labeled as being made with evaporated cane sugar, 100% cane sugar or organic sugar.

5. Avoid aspartame as a sweetener. The sweetener used in products such as NutraSweet and Equal, Aspartame is derived from genetically modified microorganisms. Any artificial sweetener is usually worse for your health than sugar, and should be avoided whenever possible.

6. Buy 100% fruit juices. Though most fruit juices are not derived from GM foods, the sweetener used in many of these juices (and sodas as well) is high fructose corn syrup, which is almost certainly from genetically modified corn.

7. Ensure your produce is not genetically modified by reading the number on the sticker.

• A 4-digit number indicates the food was conventionally grown and may or may not be genetically modified.
• A 5-digit number beginning with an 8 is a genetically modified food. However, not all GM foods can be identified because PLU labeling is optional.
• A 5-digit number beginning with a 9 indicates it is organic, and thus a non-GM food.

8. Buy meat that is 100% grass-fed. Most cattle in the U.S. are grass-fed until the last three to four months of their lives. At this point they are usually shipped to feedlots where they may be given GM corn and other genetically modified foods in order to increase the amount of "marbling" in the meat. Meat from these feedlot animals has higher levels of saturated fat and less of the healthy omega 3 fatty acids than grass-fed and grass-finished animals.

To avoid meat that has been fed GMOs, make sure the animal was 100% grass-fed or pasture-fed (sometimes also referred to as grass-finished or pasture-finished). For animals such as pigs and poultry that cannot be 100% grass-fed, it's better to buy meat that is labeled as 100% organic.

Wild caught fish are better than farm raised, as farm raised fish are fed fish meal containing GM grains and sometimes meat and bone meal. Eggs should be labeled 100% organic, as those with only a "free-range," "natural," or "cage-free" label are not necessarily free of GMOs.

9. Buy your meat and produce at local farmers' markets. Most genetically modified food is grown on large industrial farms. The farmers' market allows you to talk directly with the farmer to find out how the food was grown. These markets also usually provide a range of other products, such as organic honey, grains, baked goods, etc. You could also join a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm where you receive a box of fresh, seasonal produce every week during the growing season. Another place to find healthy, non-GMO products is your neighborhood co-op.

Laurel Avery, DiHom, is a homeopath who became interested in natural health and the positive effects of healthy eating after moving to Europe from her native U.S. She now devotes her time to helping expose the dangers of genetically modified food and helping others learn how to achieve vibrant health through their diet.

For more about healthy eating and how you can easily cook delicious meals for yourself and your family, visit http://www.natural-health-guide.com.

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What is Genetically Modified Food?

An estimated 60 to 70 percent of all foods on supermarket shelves today contain genetically modified ingredients. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by the time you read this, 85 percent of the soybeans planted in the United States and up to 45 percent of the corn will be genetically engineered. It has been estimated that 70-75 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves including soda, soup, crackers, condiments, baby food, pancakes, candy bars, and condiments contain genetically modified ingredients. That means if you are eating foods that contain vegetable oil, soy products like soy burgers, or any foods that are made with cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, or soy derivatives, there is a good chance that you are putting food that's been genetically modified into your body.

The scary thing is that there's no way to know for sure
The government has not implemented a regulations system that would require producers of GM food to tell consumers that a food has been genetically altered or that it contains GM ingredients. What's more, under current law biotech companies don't have to inform the FDA or perform human testing before introducing a new genetically engineered food product. As a result, GM foods are flooding the marketplaces and millions of unsuspecting consumers are purchasing and consuming unlabeled genetically modified foods. Don't be one of them! See below for tips on how to avoid eating GM foods.

How are foods genetically modified? Genes can be likened to blueprints for each organism. Due to major advances in technology, scientists are now able to select genetic material from organisms such as plants, animals, or even microbes, and insert it into the permanent genetic code of another.

For example, a gene found in flounder that enables them to survive in cold water was transplanted into tomatoes so that they would become resistant to frost. Genes from soil bacterium are transferred into foods such as corn and canola so that they repel insects. Other examples of our tampering with Mother Nature include: Potatoes that contain bacteria genes, "super" pigs with human growth genes, fish with cattle growth genes, and thousands of other plants, animals, and insects.

These genetically modified creations are then being patented and released into the marketplace without having any idea about what the long term effects will have on the environment, ourselves, and our children. Several studies over the last decade reveal that genetically modified foods can pose serious health risks to humans, domesticated animals, wildlife and the environment. The effects on human can include: higher risks of toxicity, resistance to antibiotics, suppression of the immune system, and even cancer. The impact on the environment as a result of using GMO's in agriculture could lead to contamination of non-genetically modified life forms and biological pollution which could completely through off Nature's delicate balance.

The bottom line is: We need dozens of years of research before we start tampering with DNA because we don't know what's going to happen. How much do we know about genetics, anyway? DNA was just discovered fifty years ago. We need to seriously contemplate the implications of what tampering with Mother Nature could cost us. We could be destroying elements in our ecosystem permanently by introducing untested genetically modified foods and organisms. I suggest that you join me in the fight against genetically modified foods. The most powerful way to do that is NOT support GM products. Here are some tips on how to avoid these products.

How to avoid eating GMO foods:

Eat organic.
The Organic Food Production Act stipulates that food labeled organic cannot contain any genetically modified organisms.
Buy local. Shop at farmers' markets where you can buy direct from local growers. Ask them how they treat their crops.
Stop eating processed foods. Many processed foods include derivatives of corn, soy, and canola, which more than likely come from genetically modified plants. Buy whole foods like fruits, vegetables, sprouts, and grasses instead.

Read Food Labels.
If ingredients come from corn, soy, or canola, put the food back on the shelf. Look for labels on foods that say, "This product does not contain genetically modified organisms."
Get Involved.

Demand that proper labeling for genetically modified foods is required so people know what they are putting in their bodies.

The following foods listed below are currently being tested by the biotech industry in field trials in an attempt to create gene-altered varieties.

Fruits: Apples, Cherries, Cranberries, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Melons, Papayas, Pears, Persimmons, Pineapples, Plums, and Strawberries.

Vegetables: Bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, lettuce, mustard, olives, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, squash, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, watercress

Dry Foods: Barley, beans, soybeans, coffee, lentils, oats, popcorn, rice, sugar, and wheat.
Nuts and Seeds: Flax, peanuts, sunflowers, walnuts.
Remember: Say NO to GMOs!

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Does God Want Us To Eat GM-Food?

A growing number of people in the US are careful to avoid GM (genetically modified) Foods, but is almost impossible to do so. Any journey through the alleys of a supermarket becomes increasingly frustrating, as the Ingredients labels have become cryptic and deceptive, so that only experts can decipher them. That is, of course no coincident, the Food Industry has a vested interest to make Foods appear healthy by disguising unhealthy ingredients. For example MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) has disappeared from the labels, but not as Ingredients. But when the industry noted that consumers are dumping products with MSG, they simply disguised the labels as: Spices, Flavors, Yeast Extract, Hydrolized Vegetable Protein, and many other euphemisms. In fact, there are other tricks the industry is resorting to with the active help of the FDA which has ruled that when MSG is used in an Ingredient of the product, it does not have to be disclosed. So, evidently it doesn't need an Einstein to figure that you break down the amount into Ingredients of various Ingredients.

While at least an educated reader is able to see the scams on the labels, the GM Ingredients are an entirely different problem. Because the FDA has ruled that there is no difference between conventionally grown and GM produce and therefore GM Food needs no labeling. While the FDA is continuing to turn a blind eye to numerous studies proving otherwise, one must ask the simple question that a first grader could come up with: If GM-Food is identical, than why is it genetically modified? It really doesn't need a Nobel laureate to realize that when the genes are modified, there is a difference. Would the Biotech Industry spend billions into something that is not changing?

But back to the supermarket, where it may be futile attempt to fill a daily groceries cart without GM Foods, no matter how alert the shopper may be. For example, almost all processed Foods, including bakery items like Bread are made with Canola oil, of which nearly all of it is from GM-Rapeseeds. Sometimes the labels disguise the term by simply listing Vegetable oil, which means Canola, Soy or Cottonseed oil, all of which are GM. Then there is the ubiquitous cheap sweetener HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) from GM Corn. Most breakfast cereals are GM. Now we are expecting the FDA and USDA to approve GM Apples, Oranges and even Salmon, and as the Biotech Industry Lobby is forking out millions of dollars in corrupting the members on Capitol Hill, it is all but a foregone conclusion that this will happen. It's not a question if, but when. The Grassroot movements and Consumer Protection Organizations are sometimes successful in delaying approvals, but they can't prevent them.

In the EU, more than one million signatures from citizens petitioning for the halt of new GM approvals, were collected by Greenpeace and presented to EFSA (European Food Safety Agency), the EU equivalent of the FDA; who said that "public opinion doesn't count". EFSA had authorized 125 GM approvals since 1998. (gmwatch.eu December 1, 2010).

More sinister is the Biotech giants partnering with the US government to coerce poor nations into dependency on GM crops, a fact that came to light through Wikileaks documents (gmwatch.eu December 1, 2010). Monsanto had earlier tried to exploit the devastated Haiti agriculture, by donating hundreds of tons of GM seeds, which would have put the Haitian farmers at the mercy of Monsanto forever. (foodsafetynews.com June 7, 2010).

Not everyone understands the distinction of "selective breeding" and "genetic engineering" of plants. Improving fruits and vegetables and adapting them to local conditions, is something that has been done since agriculture exists. But genetic engineering which alters the DNA of a plant by insertion of DNA from an Animal is quite a different matter, which raises fundamental questions: Was the Food that was bestowed on mankind and populated and flourished the world for thousands of years lacking in something?

The food provided by Nature nourished the world since Adam and Eve, so what causes men to "improve on creation" now? Industry advocates claim that GM is necessary to feed the world's growing population, but the fact is, that GM has utterly failed to live up to its promise. The real purpose of GM is to monopolize seeds for corporate profits. Politicians are quick to allude to epochal engineering success in creating healthier Food, such as for instance, Rice with increased Vitamin A to prevent blindness in developing countries. So was the Rice that Nature provided deficient in nutrients? Of course not, its over-intensive farming, soil erosion and depletion of nutrients in the soil that created nutrient deficient crops. GM just aggravates this problem by adding huge quantities of pesticides which end up in the produce.

But the fundamental question that the consumer may ask is: Should I eat GM-Food or not, what was the Creators intention? We find the answers in scripture, in Genesis 1: 11-12 (NIV) we read

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

So what God found good then, is suddenly put in question? God didn't say: It is good for now, but later I need the people I created to improve on what I provided. Everyone who believes in the God of Abraham, that includes Christians, Jews and Muslims, would agree that God's provision was perfect and didn't need mankind to tamper with. Sometimes the tinkering with Food is done for no real purpose or good other than that it can be done. As if Apples were not a just perfect fruit in hundreds of varieties, some US Inventor patented the "Granapple", an apple with artificial grape flavor. This is a clear and utterly redundant violation of the "after its kind" principle. Deuteronomy 22:9 (NIV) states:

Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.

What does "defiled" mean? An abundant number of studies and publications agree that genetically modified foods are not sustainable, it poses threats both to our health and to our environment. These threats include widespread crop failure, food mutations, allergic reactions, infertility, decreased nutritional value, creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, increased ingestion of herbicides and pesticides and other potentially irreversible changes to our environment. (Mike Dickson, Deceptive Seeds, tomorrowsworld.org).

It is very clear that GM Foods is not what we are meant to eat and ignorance and denial is showing its results by way of increasingly failing health. The US, the capital of undeclared GM Food is an obvious example, where life expectancy continues to plummet and ranks now at a dismal 49th position, ten years less than the Japanese citizens. While it may not be possible to avoid GM Food altogether, because governments don't want you to be able to identify and avoid it, we can, at least support organizations that collect signatures for petitions against new approvals and provide information on GM developments, such as the Organic Consumer Association, gmwatch.eu, Alliance for Natural Health USA, and many others.

Heinz R Gisel has built up laser and medical devices companies, spearheaded novel medical therapies and created global markets where non existed While being fascinated by challenges to turn technology into Health solutions, he realized that the current paradigm of "Symptoms fixing' is flawed, and Health-care needs to start at the cellular level long before symptoms occur. His unrelenting innovator spirit is now at work in creating awareness for his patent pending VitalityXress®: a Predictive Health Information System, which "measures" how Healthy you are and shows how you can boost and sustain Vitality at Peak level for life - naturally. He is an author, radio host and public speaker on many health technology, business and quality of life topics. His recent Book: "In Foodture We Trust", unveils how America has become the sickest Nation on Earth - and the way it can escape out of it.

Visit the Author:

Predictive Health

Vitality Concepts

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