How to Cut Genetically Modified Foods Out of Your Life

Do you have health issues? Who doesn’t, right? Most people have something bothering them whether it be chronic pain, digestive issues, allergies, headaches, lack of energy, auto-immune diseases and more. More Americans than ever now have life threatening diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

These issues are on the rise!!! Diabetes has more than tripled since 1982!!! Breast cancer has made a 75% increase in the last 10 years. These are astounding numbers. What is contributing to the rise in all disease, inflammation, chronic pain, allergies, etc.? Genetically Modified Foods (aka: GMO and GM)!!!! If you don’t believe me watch the film Genetic Roulette (http://geneticroulettemovie.com) You will see scientific proof about this very dangerous and widespread phenomenon.

The first GMOs began in the 90’s!!!!

OK – so we know GM/GMO foods are killing us and our children but what can we do about it? Stop eating them! There are only 9 genetically modified food crops but many items from these crops are found in packaged foods in your local supermarket – below are the 9 crops and a link to a downloadable shopping list or Iphone app.

There are four ways to avoid GMOs per “Genetic Roulette”

1.     Buy Organic

2.     Buy foods that say they are non GMO. Many foods contain a label saying – “Non GMO Project Verified” -- http://www.nongmoproject.org/

3.     Buy products listed in the non GMO shopping guide (http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/)

4.     Avoid the at risk ingredients all together (mainly: corn, soy, cottonseed oil, canola oil and sugar from sugar beets) – if any of these are grown in the US and do not say Organic they are GM.

Genetically Modified Crops in the US, 2012 according to Genetic Roulette at timecode 1:10:40.

1.     Soy

2.     Corn (not popcorn)

3.     Cottonseed (Oil)

4.     Canola (Oil)

5.     Sugar Beets (for sugar - used for sweetening, for example Heinz Ketchup contains GM Sugar Beets).

6.     Papaya (Hawaiian and Chinese)

7.     Zucchini

8.     Yellow Crookneck Squash

9.     Alfalfa (for hay)

This one, though not actually a “crop” is widespread and dangerous:

10.  Aspartame (which should never be consumed anyway as it’s highly toxic!!!) – this is found in almost all sugar free products including sugar free coke and pepsi. Here is Dr. Mercola’s article titled: Aspartame is, by Far, the Most Dangerous Substance on the Market that is Added To Foods - http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx

 

What can you do to avoid GMO/GM foods?

·      Familiarize yourself with the 10 genetically modified foods and then stop eating all products containing them unless they have the labels USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project somewhere on the packaging. Better yet - eat more whole foods: fruits and vegetables!

·      READ LABELS!!!! – this is really important if you are buying any food in a package. If it doesn’t say USDA Organic on it or have the Non-GMO Project symbol, read what’s in it. If there is “high fructose corn syrup” it’s most likely GM corn syrup. If it says soy, it’s likely GM soy. Etc. If it does not say USDA Organic then it’s probably GM – period! Even if you find non-organic packaged food that do not contain any of the GM crops in it there still could be “hidden GMOs” – http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/

·      Eat only grass fed meat. Corn fed meat contains GMOs.

·      Drink only organic milk and cream. Non organic dairy contains RbGH and GMOs.

·      Make sure your cheese does not contain RbGH or is organic.

When eating out (do’s and don’ts):

1.     Do eat salads and vegetables (but do not eat corn, zucchini, yellow squash, soybeans (ie: edamame) or papayas when at a restaurant!!!)
2.     Do eat (wild) fish (careful about fish that is high in mercury) Also note that they are currently genetically modifying Salmon but I don’t think it’s on the market yet. For a comprehensive list of fish that contain the highest levels of Mercury (including a printable wallet guide) go here: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp  Not all farm fish contain contaminants but many do. Ask the chef or server where they acquire their fish from. And there is a great debate about eating wild fish because many commercial boats are destroying the ocean and all life in it.
3.     Do eat... Rabbits eat grass so hopefully they are safe to eat in a restaurant as are Ostrich, Elk and Buffalo.
4.     If you order cooked vegetables ask what oil they are cooked in since Canola, Corn, Soy and Cottonseed oil are main GM crops.
5.   Don't eat chicken that's not organic. It turns out that chickens in the wild eat grass and small critters but commercial chickens are fed chicken meal which is made up mostly of corn :(  I don't know if it's safe to eat other game birds out because I would assume many are also fed chicken feed. (duck, squab, guinea fowl, etc.)
6.     Don’t eat soy or corn when you’re out.
7.     Don’t eat non-organic beef as it most likely contains GMOs.
8.     Don’t eat anything with non-organic milk, cream or butter in it or it probably contains GMOs and RbGH.
Actually eating out is a gamble!! Whereas there is no GM wheat for example there are many GM additives that are added to products containing wheat such as hamburger buns and pasta just to name a few. PLEASE read the information contained in the link below for a complete list of what to avoid when eating out!!!!
Here is even more in-depth information about avoiding GMOs when dining out!! -- http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/dine-out-non-gmo.html

Cooking:

You can easily buy and cook non-GM foods. Be sure to look at labels. For example non-organic soy sauce is made with GMOs. Non-organic corn chips are made with GMO corn, etc. Buy foods with the USDA Organic Label or the Non-GMO Project Label.

Shopping – What you can buy and what to look for:

1.     Be careful here!!! Trader Joes and Whole Foods carry GM food! And they refuse to label it or not carry it. So again, if it’s packaged make sure it has the USDA Organic symbol on it or the Non-GMO Project label on it (the word “natural” doesn’t mean anything).

2.     There are only 2 vegys (zucchini and yellow crooked neck squash) and 1 fruit (papaya) that’s GMO so you don’t have to buy organic fruits and vegys in order to avoid GMOs but organic is tastier and better for you (containing more vitamins and minerals).

3.     Buy grass fed beef, organic chicken and other game birds.

4.     Buy organic milk, cream and cheese.

5.     Fish (check mercury levels here: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp)

In my opinion the best places to shop are Good Earth in Fairfax, CA where they label GMO foods (including beef that have eaten GM corn) and they carry high quality and often local organic meats. Rainbow Grocery in SF, CA carries high quality local fruits/vegys and cheese. Bi-Rite in SF carries high quality organic meats, cheeses and other goods.

Water:

Because they have found the GM toxins in our water (as well as in the blood of city dwellers and in utero in pregnant women) we have to filter our water. Either reverse osmosis or buy natural spring water. Tap water can be toxic.

Again, if you need to find out exactly how horrible GMOs and RbGH are for your body (and how they kill oxen who eat them in 48 hours!!) please watch Genetic Roulette!!!!! (http://geneticroulettemovie.com/)

Many products that consumers ingest contain GMOs – one of these where GMOs are hidden is in Vitamins - Vitamin E is usually made from soy. Vitamins A, B2, B6, and B12 may be derived from GMOs as well as vitamin D and vitamin K may have "carriers" derived from GM corn sources, such as starch, glucose, and maltodextrin. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is often made from corn but since it’s rarely made in North America it probably does not contain GMOs.

For a downloadable and printable GMO shopping guide, Non-GMO tips (in English and Spanish) or the Iphone/Ipad App:

http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/

This downloadable is by far the most comprehensive one I have seen to date including “invisible GMOs” and brands that are certified by the Non-GMO Project and therefore DO NOT contain GMOs.

For a quick peek at a comprehensive list of all commercial products that contain GMO’s that you don’t have to download:

http://shiftfrequency.com/comprehensive-list-of-gmo-products/