Once upon a time, our grandfathers and grandmothers farmed and foraged, eating the fruit of their labor. Life was simple. Our ancestors were invigorated by their work; they enjoyed vibrant health and joy.
Now, let’s fast-forward to today. Amidst thousands of modern inventions and progression, we find ourselves the most-unhealthy our race has ever been. We live in an age with more hospitals, medications and diagnoses than we can keep up with. The food industry booms and our grocery stores teem with countless tantalizing foods and products. But, as we begin to examine our progress, we find a scary truth hidden in our food labels that cover the food products produced from our factories rather than farms. We find names of ingredients that we never knew existed before. Further inspection reveals an even darker truth that has been hiding in our pantries unbeknownst to us.
We have become participants in a massive science experiment without our knowledge or consent. Who knew our pantries were laboratories? The introduction of genetically modified foods seemed harmless at first. The idea of feeding more and increasing the efficiency of our farming techniques seemed like a logical reason to start experimenting. However, we were playing with high stakes and the risks of this experimentation are only now coming to light.
Genetically Modified foods were first introduced in 1994 (first documented case). The World Health Organization defines GM foods as “...foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism.” Genetic engineering integrates the genes of alternate species into the DNA of another species with the goal of obtaining a desired characteristic or trait. For example, fish genes are inserted into tomatoes through genetic engineering to increase the tomatoes’ tolerance for cold temperature extremes. Unfortunately, this engineering breach between species has been shown to produce very undesirable consequences.
Studies point to horrible health effects that will have far-reaching and exponentially disastrous effects on our health and the health of future generations. One study, jointly conducted by the Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security and Surov's Institute of Ecology found that mice fed GM soy over a 2 year period experienced higher rates of sterility and infant mortality. These results were correlated directly to their consumption of GM soy. Another study published by the International Journal of Biological Sciences showed a link between Monsanto produced maize (genetically engineered corn crop) consumption and kidney and liver damage. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine released a statement saying, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food.” These health risks included: faulty insulin regulation, accelerated aging, immune system failure, and infertility. The above research outline results of just a handful of the many studies currently circulating regarding the negative effects of GM crops.
Acknowled
ging these negative effects leads us to only one conclusion. We must choose GMO-free foods and lobby for the removal of GM crops, not only for our personal health, but for the health of generations to come. The most common GM foods today include: soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow squash. Not to mention, the genetic engineering of these crops affects and pervades other common food products like meats, dairy products, food additives, etc. Avoiding these GM foods can be a challenge, it is important to shop looking for foods verified to be non-GMO and that contain non-GMO ingredients. If you are ready to commit to stopping your pantry from being a part of this mad-run away laboratory experiment, you may want to check out the Green PolkaDot Box, a membership organization dedicated to selling only GMO-free food and products.
What are YOU doing to keep GMO foods out of YOUR home? Share your ideas in our comments section below.
Bio: The Green PolkaDot Box is an online based membership organization offering natural and organic foods. This family-owned and envisioned business is driven by a huge dream. Their mission is to provide everyone with access to organic, clean foods and products at the lowest possible price, thereby eliminating food deserts across the nation.
The Green PolkaDot Box ships all guaranteed GMO-free foods and products (including: organic produce, refrigerated and frozen foods and dry goods) directly to your front door in, of course, a green polkadot box. Their goal is to become the nation’s largest and most influential buying club that can help educate the public about diet and disease, motivating grass-root changes that will ripple to affect both the food and health industry at large.
Sources:
http://www.who.int/vaccines/en/poliolab/webhelp/Chapter_10/10_3_Genetically_modified_microorganisms_and_organisms.htm
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/article-gmo-soy-linked-to-sterility
http://archive.truthout.org/1215091
http://aaemonline.org/gmopost.html
