. . . and its controversy
Sometimes we wonder, ‘is organic food really that important?’ … but, if you want your immune system to function properly, the safest choice in North America is to buy organic. It’s not about the modification of food, it’s about how it’s modified and how that may affect our immune system in the long-term outcome. The healthiest choices then, are organic foods or selective shopping.
The percentage of USA crops that are genetically engineered or modified (GE or GMO) is not as high as sometimes reported if we exclude processed food which contains genetically engineered sugar, with 42% sourced from America’s GE sugar beets. While the safest option is to shop organic, the alternative is selective shopping to avoid GE crops that are accepted in the Canadian and American food markets. While 50 varieties of 12 GE crops have been approved by Health Canada according to cban.ca reports, there are currently only 4 GE crops grown in Canada. Those include canola, corn, soy and sugar beets. GE crops imported to Canada are listed as being cottonseed oil, papaya from Hawaii, squash and milk products. Resources are listed at the end for additional information or booklets on how to avoid GMO foods.
In April, 2013, the Inter Press Service News Agency reported that a decades-long push for labelling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients in the United States received a significant boost when bipartisan bills on the issue were simultaneously proposed in the House and Senate. The new bill had already received official support from nine senators and 21 representatives, including two Republicans. It further reported that according to some estimates, nearly two-thirds of processed foods sold in the USA today contain genetically modified grains, particularly corn or soybeans.
There can be little debate in the value of feeding our body clean, nutritious food when health from severe conditions has been recovered through the combination of power foods or supplements, increased awareness of healthy food choices and periodic inner cleansing. If you need research on effects of genetically modified, we finally have some clear-cut results.
We all know the concern with genetic engineering is about use of viruses or bacteria to hide foreign matter from an unlike plant or animal’s natural defense system. In validation of that concern, by mid-2011, a clinical study performed at Quebec’s University of Sherbrooke was published that contradicted the safety information reported from the supporting genetic engineers of GE crops. In the university trial, bacteria used for the gene transfer was discovered alive and well in the blood of the human volunteers – and even in the fetus of pregnant women tested, despite assurances from genetic engineers that it would be eliminated in the human intestinal tract. Can this be linked to the increase of immunodeficiency disorders, those ‘new emerging diseases’ labelled as autoimmune – that we don’t yet have an answer for?
Beyond the unknown effects of genetically engineered food, support for organic produce continues to be strengthened by discoveries of natural plant molecules unique to organic plants. These are components thought to have very potent influence on health. Resveratrol is one such component discovered in the 1940′s that came into popular use in recent decades as a nutritional supplement from red grape skins. Another potent plant component called Salvestrol is, like resveratrol, a plant response against pathogenic fungi and bacteria.
It was discovered that Salvestrols were present in small amounts or not at all in supermarket produce, while organic samples had Salvestrols in abundance. Organic plants can’t rely on applied chemicals for protection because herbicides and pesticides are not permitted on certified organic produce, so these plants produce Salvestrols. Research indicates levels typically 30 times higher in organic produce than those farmed under modern, mechanized farming methods. Plants normally rich in Salvestrols all have a bitter taste and are shunned by some in favour of sweeter choices. Research continues on consuming Salvestrol-rich plants to let Salvestrols enter our diseased cells to induce their death.
In support of food that is not genetically engineered produce in your grocery store, you may be surprised at the manager’s response if you call to advise you will not be back to buy their corn when you notice perfect rows of plump, identical kernels that broadcast the obvious – GE corn. You can extend this to any product that is stocked without its organic counterpart. Consumer demand results in supply, and you are the consumer.
Canada’s provincial ministers’ requests for labels on genetically engineered food were repeatedly denied by Ottawa since the late 1990′s, and this in itself, produces questions we could ask a representative before we vote.
For a good read from Professor John Vandermeer of the University of Michigan, see his commentary on conversion of Mark Lynas – former environmentalist now in support of GMO, at:
http://www.foodfirst.org/en/GMO+uproar+in+EU
In line with buying healthy food options, healthier meat choices are suggested in the article ‘Meat‘. Reading impact of chemicals can increase your awareness of how to avoid synthetic food chemicals, and why.
Information and Petitions against GMO acceptance are ready at the website below. Please visit these two locations:
www.cban.ca or Cban Resources at http://cban.ca/Resources
You can download a GMO Guide to avoid genetically modified foods, from Greenpeace at:
http://gmoguide.greenpeace.ca
Or, Greenpeace USA at http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/multimedia/goodies/green-guide/green-lifestyle/gmo-free/
