GMO's and other Food Myths

Some people think that Soy is good for a person to eat for good health.  I completely disagree.  Please do not give infants soy formula without knowing the side effects and risks to health.  Click here to view an excellent article by Dr. Marlene Merritt who explains soy and its potential risks.  Other than that, you can view a bullet point style brochure about Soy from Weston A. Price by clicking here and printing it to view or pass on to someone.

Note:  Weston A. Price Foundation does not receive donations or funding from industries that would benefit from informing the public of  the science it reviews.  Therefore, in my view, they are not influenced to promote any biased conclusion of the nutritional advise they provide.  I feel that this makes them a trusted source to view and learn what the current science of nutrition really does show.  If a cereal company, pharmeceutical company, or big manufacturing industry funds a study, be very wary of THEIR published conclusions.  I personally feel that the information that Weston A. Price Foundation provides on nutrition is not skewed by profit or prejudice.

Okay, so now about the other issue of Soy. More than 80% of it is Genetically Modified.  Corn is the only other food crop that is Genetically Modified as much as Soy.  What does that mean?

Please watch this short 2 minute 27 second clip.  http://youtu.be/Vv96D_ZURzs

What is Genetically Modified Food? 

Besides the numerous health consequences and risks of consuming unfermented soy that is not GMO (see brochure or the article for more on the science on that), I feel the most important reason to NOT consume soy is because more than 80% of it is Genetically Modified or Genetically Engineered. 

I learned recently what Genetic Engineering food (GMOs) means.  I knew it was something I didn't want to consume, but what exactly was GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms)?  In crude, basic terms, what I understood from the article I read is that they take a pesticide gene and force the DNA from one species (a toxin, antibiotic, etc.) and put it into a natural seed of an entirely different species.  This process produces a genetically modified seed to be planted and grown.  This makes it so that when an insect or pest bites the plant in the growing process, its' stomach explodes and the insect dies.  This is called the Bt Toxin form of GMO.

The problem with this scenario is that nature is ever evolving.  Eventually, she figures out how to evolve and survive.  So insects get stronger.  Their species want and need to survive and mother nature is very good at making that happen.  It's just like the overuse of anti-bacterial products and anti-biotics, which have created Super-Bugs that are now resistant to our current treatment options.  Nature is pretty darn smart, and species change to adapt to the conditions we create science to change.  Thank goodness, because all living species are critical to our delicate ecosystem.

The other scenerio of GMO is that they Genetically Modify by forcing the DNA of a completely different species into a seed "hoping" to make it resistant to being killed by their patented and toxic weed chemical (to kill the weeds but the plant tolerates the weed killer.  This is called a Roundup Ready plant).  One of the toxic chemicals in Roundup is called "Glyphosate" and it is found in the pesticide Roundup Herbicide that Farmer's spray on GMO crops.

SAFETY?  We are told by the huge industries that want to supply GMO, sell GMO's, and profit from GMO's, that it is safe for the pesticide gene inserted into natural seeds -and- the Roundup Pesticide to be consumed (by humans) and that it gets eliminated by our stomach acid and does not cross into our human blood.  This is NOT what the studies are beginning to show.

It has been shown in recent studies that the toxic GMO pesticide Bt is found in human blood of pregnant women and in their developing and unborn fetus.  You can see here where there was a study in Canada that showed that the GMO "Bt" DOES cross into the human blood stream and does CROSS INTO THE PLACENTA TO AN UNBORN FETUS.  See this short article reporting the study that shows Bt Toxin was found  in the blood of women and unborn children here.  This could mean that the Bt toxin that splits open the stomach of the insect that bites the growing corn plant does the same thing in us.  We eat the corn with the Bt toxin, it crosses into our human system, it pokes holes in our own stomach walls - creating leaky guts.  That says autoimmunity, allergies, and IBS, and so much more, to me.  This Bt toxin may remain in our system altering our own DNA and staying active.  That is a very scary thought to me.

These GMO's are shown to have effects on many parts of the body including the organs (brain, heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and reproductive organs).  This is REALLY NOT good. 

UPDATE TO BLOG - Cancerous tumors were the result of GMOs! - Click here to view a brand new study showing the effects of both the Bt toxin and the chemical Glyphosate.  The photos are graphic tumors produced by eating GMO corn and Roundup Insecticide in trace amounts.

Another point to know is that Farmers are having a hard time after about the third year after switching to GMO crops with weeds becoming a problem (Glyphosate not working) with the weeds becomming resistant to the herbicide/pesticide Roundup, the insects becoming resistant to the "patented" Monsanto Bt Toxin within the plant itself, and other issues cutting into their profit; wishing they hadn't made the change to GMO's.  They resort to hand labor in some cases.  Other herbicide alternatives are just not that available anymore.  They may have to resort to begin using Agent Orange or DDT to effectively kill the weeds

The GMO seed is owned and patented by Monsanto and they require the Farmers to sign a contract to agree that they WILL NOT re-use seed from their harvested crop (which is a normal practice for farmers to do). So, the next year the Farmers must purchase the higher cost GMO seed over and over again, each and every year. 

The GMO Bio-Tech Industry is buying up a huge number of Natural Seed companies; systematically eliminating Natural Seed. 

If GMOs are allowed to persist, Monsanto will have the monopoly on our Food supply and Seeds to plant, to a degree that NO company should have.  See this short film for more on there situation.  http://youtu.be/jEX654gN3c4

What do the Farmer's Say about GMO's?

It threatens the Organic farmers ability stay Organic or to stay in business.  Organic Farmers are being sued by Monstanto for "stealing" their patented seeds from the "wind" blowing the seeds that Monsanto owns into their crops.  It should be the other way around and Monsanto should be sued for contaminating their Organic crops with their science produced GMO seeds.  But, the small farmer is up against very large corporations, and very powerful people, that have unlimited resources.

What do GMO's do to the Organic Farmers and can GMO and Organic farming co-Exist?

The FDA says that NO SAFETY TESTING IS REQUIRED....WHAT?

Even with the URGING of THEIR OWN "FDA" SCIENTISTS to test for human safety before having people (and our children!) begin consuming GMOs and putting them into our food system, the FDA decided it did NOT need to conduct the appropriate studies to determine if GMO's were safe to put into our food system and still haven't.  So, in 1996, they began to put GMO's into our food.  Do we know enough about Genetically Modified foods to know what harm it can or does do?

The FDA Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had warned about all these problems even in the early 1990s. According to documents released from a lawsuit, the scientific consensus at the FDA was:

That GM foods were "inherently dangerous", and might create. . . 
1.) hard-to-detect allergies
2.) poisons
3.) gene transfer to gut bacteria
4.) new diseases
5.) nutritional problems

They urged their superiors to require rigorous long-term tests - see memos at www.biointegrity.org

All I know is that I do not want to be part of that human experiment.  If you want to eat them you can, but the people who don't, should be able to opt out of this currently ongoing Human Study, happening now, without our consent or agreement. They should need a persons consent to do such a potentially life threatening, human race experiment, with such unknown health risks (because they decided not to perform the appropriate studies on animals first).  I want nothing to do with that experiment.

If you want to see what Genetically Modified food does do to the animals and livestock that eat them, and human's that work in the fields of GMO's, they explain it (and show you) in this film called Genetic Roulette.  After watching this film I now understand what GMO foods are likely doing to the health of our Nation and the effect it will have on the ability to have future generations go on healthfully, or at all.  GMO's effect the reproductive organs of the study animals causing Sterility, Infertility, Birth Defects, Premature Death to Offspring, and failure to thrive in their newborns.  There are numerous Veterinarians, Medical Doctors, Farmers and Scientists speaking out in this film.

Learn about our food supply and which foods to eat and which ones to avoid to keep GMO's out of your diet and why it's VITAL for health, especially the health of our kids!  Kids are more vulnerable because there metabolisms are faster and there cell turn over is quicker (because they are growing so fast) and they are smaller and they don't need as much of a toxin to produce many harmful side effects.

Click here to view the film:  Genetic Roulette – The Gamble of Our Lives   

Watch it, preferably with your spouse and kids if you can.  Our children need to know about this too as our actions today will most impact their generation and all future generations.  

The film shows a list of THE MOST COMMON foods that contain Genetically Modified foods, how to best avoid them (if you choose), and which companies do not use GMO's.  Please understand this issue! 

I feel that nutritionally, this will have one of, if not THE biggest impact on our future generations.  Your kids don't get a vote, and don't always have a choice on what they get to eat, but YOU SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE for your kids and yourself.  We have a right to know what food we are eating, what's in our food, and a CHOICE to eat the foods we feel good about. 

Should we Gamble the Health of a population?



Please know that the public school lunches that are provided to our children are extremely high in these GMO foods.  I would say about 50% - 75%  of the foods provided to our children, in the school lunch program, is GMO.  What does this do?  Think about that.  Do you know?  http://youtu.be/TVH9x4s-5Pc



What happens when Children Eat GMO's?

Hidden Health Dangers to Children

To read further on GMO's, this article entitled Why We Need to Label Genetically Modified Foods is an excellent overview of the details and what you need to know.  Here is another excellent article explaining GMO health risks to weight gain and other significant health ramifications of eating GMO's.

Let's Review the Health risks of eating Genetically Engineered Foods or Genetically Modified Organisms in this short clip 1 minute 47 second clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXoZoZS-sB4&feature=youtube_gdata_player:

Quick Overview of what are the Health Risks of eating GMO foods?

If you want to know more (to read further) about non GMO Soy, and the effect of consuming it, aside from being GMO (if that wasn't bad enough), this article is an excellent explanation of how soy works in the body and the health risks of overexposing children (and adults) to its estrogen-like substances in the amount of around 5 birth control pills, and its ability to block "essential" minerals (through its anti-nutrients) from being able to be absorbed.  It not only blocks the minerals within the soy itself, but also the foods consumed with it.  The article was published in Acupuncture Today and was written by Dr. Marlene Merritt.  You can also view some of her you-tube clips on health and weight loss below this post or going to the blog at www.health-seeker.blogspot.com.  You can view her article by clicking here .  

The most powerful influence on health; FOOD!

Why would someone forgo a food they desire?  This is extremely important for an individual, or a family member, to get so they understand why they would eat foods that are healthy and avoid ones that are not. 

Maybe a goal is lowering the risk of modern diseases or being free of prescriptive medication, which almost always have side effects or consequences.

 

Only when you have a reason, is it even important to know and understand which foods in the diet are actually healthy to eat. 

 

Without the why, it just feels like a punishment.  It is important to absolutely know why you would be determined to obtain something more valuable than eating the easiest way; to just consume the most accessible, available and convenient foods.  These convenience foods are so common and accessible why would you choose not to eat them? 

  

The way you cook, the foods you bring into the house, or put into your body, are almost assuredly helping or hindering you or your families ability to create health in the body.  But, why would anyone be willing to NOT eat what's convenient, common, and easily accessible and available (and cheaper).

 

Some people are unwilling to abstain from a food they like and to make changes to obtain health. That is any persons right, I feel. 

But, for me, I prize health (and weight control) that is what motivates me.  It is more important than eating a convenience food.  Everyone will have a different why.  Some people have life or death reasons to make the necessary food choice changes. 

It has to be important enough to someone; like being well throughout the aging process.  I think this is a big one.  For me, being mentally present and in good physical health for my young daughter, for as long as possible, is absolutely worth giving up sugar, wheat, soy, most blood sugar triggering starches and grains, and replacing them with nutrient-dense replacements.  I love the way I eat now.  You have to figure out what works.  Everybody is different.

 

A person ultimately has to decide they want to obtain optimal health by eating nutrient-dense, non-inflammatory, foods.  It has to be important to them to make certain food choices (to eat, or sometimes more difficult in the beginning, NOT TO EAT something - making better choices to get full or satisfied). 

Then you need to know what foods are anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense for health.

You have to want health, joint flexibility, the ability to maintain mobility till the end of life, to have balance, agility and strength in the body, remain disease-free, experience optimal aging without the need for costly prescription drugs, have better looking and acting skin, and a high mental capacity so you are not viewed as old and without input.

 

If you don't want the outcome or know why you would avoid foods, it just feels like punishment. 

When you understand that food is THE most powerful influence on health, aging gracefully, mobility and independence through the aging process, thus sustaining a healthy body and mind, it becomes a no-brainer decision to make healthy food choices. 

Then, and  only then, do you have to know which foods are healthy and do not promote inflammation and therefore disease. 

 

Otherwise, you don't need to know what to eat, because there is no reason to make healthy food choices.

Inflammation in the body, (a response mostly caused by our food choices we eat) is ultimately the cause of all modern disease. What do I mean by modern disease; Muscular Schlerosis, Parkinsons, Alzheimer's (now being called Type 3 Diabetes or Diabetes of the Brain), Cancer, Heart Disease, Leaky Gut Issues that are being linked to promote Auto-Immune Diseases like fibromyalga and chronic fatigue.

Are there other things we can do to promote health?  Yes, of course.  Yoga is one thing that comes to mind that does promote most of the anti-aging benefits mentioned in this post and one additional thing; reduces stress.  But, without the proper fuel in the body, you would not have the energy, joint health, and desire, to practice yoga.  It all starts with FOOD.

Okay, so you say you want to obtain your own personal health goals and they are important enough to make better food choices, what then?

 

Here's two thoughts on health goals that I think of often and what I feel is THE most powerful influence on health in the body; FOOD.

• If a food causes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, I feel it negates any and all health benefits of the food because Insulin causes low grade and chronic inflammation in the body and inflammation promotes ALL modern disease.  

• There isn't a need to lower blood sugar with medications, if blood sugar is not being raised by the wrong blood sugar producing foods, in the first place.

The USDA says to eat so-called "healthy" whole grains and other blood sugar producing foods, so they must be good for us, right? 

I call them "filler-foods" which replace real food.  These are the foods that are most convenient, common, and accessible, and are also parading as healthy foods, but are not.  Cheap grain and cereal foods are just CHEAP "filler-foods" (which government promotes as a health food because it's their job to).  Our Department of Agriculture (USDA) is supposed to support and promote US agriculture like grains, wheat, corn, soy, and increase its yield - a complete conflict of interest to the American public.  Unfortunately, these filler-foods end up replacing real, traditional, nutrient-dense foods, to a much too high degree, and should be avoided or kept to a minimum in the diet. 

I recently heard on Jimmy Moore's podcast interview with Adele Hite that The "USDA" food guidelines (pyramid or food plate) that recommend our food choices are a department directly under, and part of, the U.S.Department of Agriculture "USDA" which is rarely understood fact.  The people making the healthy food recommendations are part of the same governmental department or division as the people promoting agriculture.  In fact, the food recommendations are UNDER the control of the Agriculture Department.  So, the fox is guarding the hen-house.  USDAgriculture wants to promote and sell our countries agriculture, that's one of their jobs and goals. 

The food recommended to us to promote health has little to do with the current science and more to do with promoting and increasing profit of these foods and stimulating the economy.  They want us to eat these very cheap "filler-foods" that support our agriculture, but are they making us a healthier nation?  It is sad. 

Take a look around the streets where you live and decide for yourself.

We want to eat (and sometimes crave) these CHEAP filler-foods because they produce a blood sugar roller-coaster effect (so we HAVE to eat something, and fast, to help bring our blood sugar back up) and they produce an addictive response in the body to want more. 

Huge positive changes with blood sugar control, and therefore reducing inflammation in the body and creating a healthy response, can occur by eliminating (or significantly reducing) starch and sugar.  Starch just turns IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY into sugar in the body.  Most importantly sugar is the most important thing to stop consuming.

That's what I did when I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes.  I controlled my blood sugar with diet, so I know it can be done. 

Do you want to do what it takes to get the results though?

It doesn't mean you can't find alternatives like I do with alternative sweets that I make myself and LOVE.  More to come with that topic.

Think about what's important to you!

Remember; inflammation, not cholesterol, causes risk to most ALL modern disease. 

Insulin causes an inflammatory response in the body.  Spiking blood sugar causes insulin.  Eating starch and sugar cause blood sugar to rise.

Look at it from start to finish.  The wrong food (starch and sugar) raises blood sugar, spiking blood sugar causes the body to produce insulin, insulin is inflammation, inflammation causes risk to most all modern disease.

If you are on a Statin to lower Cholesterol, watch this 1 minute 22 second clip: