Understanding What GMOs Are and How to Avoid Them
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Understanding What GMOs Are and How to Avoid Them

GMO Basics: Understand What GMOs Are and How to Avoid Them
From Calmfully Non-GMO, courtesy of Natural Vitality 

What Is a GMO? 

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are created when a plant's DNA is altered with the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. 

Example: Bt Corn. The corn is engineered to include a gene from a bacterium that kills insects that are harmful to the corn plant. 

Hybrids vs. GMOs 

How does this differ from hybrid plant breeding that farmers have been using for thousands of years? Hybrid breeding is limited to combining the traits of closely related plant species. 

Example: A grapefruit is a hybrid of the sweet orange and pummelo fruits. 

Are GMOs Safe? 

America is an odd one out on the issue of GMO safety. In more than sixty countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restric- tions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs, according to the Non-GMO Project. 

There is a growing catalog of environmental and health risks associated with GMOs. Among these are concerns that GMOs

  • are not adequately regulated to ensure safety;
  • increase pesticide use;
  • create serious problems for farmers, including herbicide-tolerant "superweeds," compromised soil quality, and increased disease susceptibility in crops;
  • are as energy hungry as any other chemically farmed crops;
  • are not the touted solution to the problem of world hunger but actually distract from its real causes -- poverty, lack of access to food, and availability of land to grow it on.

The ongoing debate over GMOs and GMO labeling will likely continue for some time. In the meanwhile, we've got to eat! From a holistic perspective, our mental and emotional states affect our bodies; so a state of fear regarding food is one stress worth navigating around. 

Instead, consider focusing on all that we can eat; saying no can be a simple act of passing something up and focusing on what you do want rather than stressing over what you don't. 

The GMO Eight 

The eight GM crops are corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, sugar beets, papaya from China or Hawaii (most), and a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash. GM alfalfa is also fed to livestock. 

The Easiest Way to Avoid GMOs 

Non-GMO Project Verified: When you reach for the butterfly, you know independent third-party verification ensures your food has followed industry best practices for GMO avoidance, including the testing of all major high-risk ingredients. The Non-GMO Project Verified label indicates that the product bearing the seal has gone through a rigorous process and is thus the most reliable way to shop non-GMO. For more information, visit livingnongmo.org ornongmoproject.org. 

USDA Certified Organic: The use of GMOs is prohibited in organic products. This means an organic farmer can't plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer can't use any GMO ingredients. To meet the USDA organic regulations, farmers and processors must show they aren't using GMOs and that, from farm to table, they are protecting their products from contact with prohibited substances, such as GMOs. 

© 2015 Natural Vitality 

Calmfully Non-GMO
Enter the inspiring world of GMO-free living. 

So many chefs, farmers and people like you are opting out of GMOs. Meet them here in our latest eBook -- Calmfully Non-GMO. In addition to their stories, you'll find GMO basics to help you better understand what can otherwise be an overwhelming topic. Plus, you'll find lots of tips and expert advice for living GMO-light. As with all of Natural Vitality's eBooks, Calmfully Non-GMO comes from a calmful perspective; so relax and enjoy. 
Inside the latest Organic Connections FREE eBook you will find:

  • GMO basics;
  • Non-GMO farmers and chefs;
  • GMO-free gardening;
  • Ditching GMOs at the grocery store;
  • GMO-free recipes;
  • Non-GMO dining out.

http://www.paradisehealthdirect.com/

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