I am sure you have heard of GMO’s, but do you know what they are or what that name even stands for? If you don’t, you really should.
GMO foods are the product of a particular kind of biotechnology called genetic engineering. This genetic engineering has been applied to common food crops, especially soybeans and corn, which are now primarily all GMO crops in the United States.
The purpose of modifying the genetics of our crops is primarily to: increase crop yields by making these crops resistant to mold, making them able to thrive on salt water irrigation, and last but not least, making the crops resistant to herbicides.
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Many scientists, physicians, and public health experts have grave concerns over GMO’s. First of all, these GMO’s have the potential to create new and unanticipated allergens that can evolve into new food allergies, potentially threatening the lives of thousands. Secondly, there has not been enough research done on the potential nutritional alterations that are happening to GMO crops, and how these changes will affect human bodies in the long-term. But most importantly, experts are concerned about the herbicides that are used on these GMO crops.
The first GMO crops, corn and soybeans, were first introduced to the US and sold in stores in the mid-1990’s. Since then, 90% of soybeans and corn are now GMO crops in the US.
These GMO crops were genetically modified to withstand the herbicide glyphosate, or RoundUp. The problem with glyphosate is simply that the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) identifies glyphosate as “probably a human carcinogen”, yet it is still sprayed on all GMO crops, and then eaten by whoever eats said crop.
Thus, the most commonly used herbicide in the US for GMO crops is likely causing cancer.
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Even worse, in 2014 the EPA approved a new herbicide combination called Enlist Duo. This is a combo of glyphosate (RoundUp) and 2.4 D. 2.4 D is also a terrifying compound to be spraying on our food, as it was a component found in Agent Orange (the toxic herbicide and defoliant that is associated with a slew of cancers and diseases that was used in the Vietnam War).
This is the stuff that is being sprayed on our food that we put on the table to feed our families. Every time you choose to eat GMO foods, you are eating toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. YUMMY!
Interestingly enough, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Philippines, and most of Europe have all banned the use of these chemicals, as well as GMO foods. There are also 64 other countries that require any food product containing any GMO materials to be posted with a GMO label.
The FDA currently requires NO labeling whatsoever of products containing GMO ingredients in the US. This is absolutely terrifying.
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Protect yourself and your loved ones from eating tainted food by purchasing only ORGANIC produce and food-stuffs. This ensures that no herbicides or pesticides were sprayed on your food and that it is free from any GMO ingredients. Also steer clear of any processed, fast, or restaurant food stuffs, instead opting for ‘whole’ foods (foods that come from the ground, like whole carrots instead of peeled and canned ones, for example).
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