By Michelle Ishakov….
Do you know what genetically modified foods are and how they affect your health and the foods you eat? Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods that are produced from genetically modified organism (GMOs). They have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. Genes from other plants, viruses, bacteria, and
animals are inserted into the genes of products such as corn to make them resistant to drought, disease, and pesticides, as well as increasing their shelf life.
The most common modified foods are derived from plants including high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, cotton seed oil, and wheat. These ingredients are added to many processed foods found in supermarkets today. Between 70 to 75% of processed foods such as soda, soup, corn chips, pizza, baby food, and infant formula contain these ingredients. Conventional milk products including butter, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream may also be altered with a synthetic GE (genetically engineered) growth hormone.
Documented health risks associated with these foods include toxic and allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, immune suppression, and other serious illnesses. The safety of GM foods has not been proven. Every independent animal feeding study conducted on GE foods show adverse or unexplained health effects such as problems with growth and organ development, damaged immune systems and organs, bleeding stomachs, and increased death rates. The effect of the synthetic growth hormone on humans has been linked to elevated risks of cancer. For this reason, many countries have banned modified foods from being imported and grown or have laws required labeling on foods that do contain GMOs. Genetically engineered foods are not labeled in the United States, so unless you are buying foods that are 100% organic, you will never know if they contain GMOs.
Eating 100% organic foods will limit your exposure to dangerous chemicals, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, growth hormones, and antibiotics. GM foods are prohibited from carrying an “organic” label.
Many companies, including “natural food” companies, make foods with GM ingredients. These companies include Coca Cola, Kraft, Nestle, Libby’s, Ocean Spray, Kellog, Nature Valley, Hershey, Quaker, Pepperidge Farm, Campbells, Heinz, Keebler, Crisco, Peter Pan, Smuckers, Progresso, Eggo, Stouffers, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Yoplait, Land O Lakes, and Dannon. And the list goes on!
For more tips on how to avoid these harmful ingredients, please visit me at Nutriway in the Promenade Shops of Aventura. I can also be reached at 305- 438-7775 or by email mishakov@mynutriway. com. See you soon!
