Thank you to Kelley Johnsen for her contribution to Happy Mothering this month! GMOs are an important topic that everyone should inform themselves about. I was sad to see Prop 37 fail in California, but the movement to label GMOs is spreading across the country. If you’re new to the subject of GMOs, Kelley’s post is a good primer for you.
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I was really excited about this month’s topic because I am sure some of you have heard and know about GMOs. This was a huge political vote on the CA ballots this year. Some of you might think that since you are not in California that it really doesn’t pertain to you, but that is far from the truth.
GMOs are affecting everything, and this information has been swept under the carpets, but we are saying, “No more!” While Prop 37 did not pass, we have 19 states that are working on getting the labeling law passed. We have a right to know what we are eating and I am going to give you some information, videos and links to help you make the best decisions for your family.
What Are GMOs?
First, let’s start with what GMO stands for – Genetically Modified Organism. A GMO is an alteration of food from its original natural state, no longer in a natural form. They take genes from one species and force them into the DNA of another species that were never meant to be crossed together.
They have used animal, plant and human genes to engineer new things. They have put spider genes into goats to make Bullet Proof Vests. The spider genes where used in the hopes of milking the goats and getting a stronger web protein for the Vest making (Source: Seeds of Deception by Jeffery Smith).
Human infertility DNA has been engineered into corn, used for consumption, to make a spermicide. Why would they do that, you might be wondering? Well, Science knows no bounds. They crossed antibodies from humans with infertility illnesses with regular corn meant for human consumption to make a “Concealed Contraceptive.” Hein suggests it is a possible solution to world overpopulation in this article.
It makes me sick to think that my children can be possibly consuming this! How would you know unless you read the label, although GMO is not required to be on the label? In the meantime look for USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified labels!
This is being done to our food in the name of “feeding the world.” They have added chemicals to our food to kill weeds and pests. These chemicals are still in the food when we eat it, or our livestock eat it.
You might be wondering, “Does this really affect me?” Well, if you consider the amount of illnesses, deaths and allergies that humans and livestock are experiencing, it is a topic you should look into.
How Did GMOs Get Started?
Monsanto found bacteria growing in a chemical waste dump near their factory. They found that these bacteria could survive their Roundup pesticide, and they added it to food. In 1964, they used the gene to engineer a super crop, and the GMO world started. Glyphosate was patented in 1964, and they are now showing that this chemical is destroying micronutrients in the soil. In the end, Monsanto GMO Roundup ready seeds are making weaker plants and stronger diseases.
GMO crops are largely being used for livestock feed such as corn, soy, cottonseeds, sugar beets and alfalfa. We feed this nutrient-deficient food to animals, and then we eat the livestock in the forms of meat, dairy and eggs. Studies and reports are beginning to come out about the toxins and dangers shown in both humans and livestock.
Are GMOs Causing Harm?
The GMO crops are designed to allow stronger chemicals to be sprayed on them, killing the weeds and other unwanted plants without killing the crops. This has ramifications!
Insects are eating the crops and dying, yes, but through time we are seeing the genes of the GMO changing the make-up of the insects and livestock, and now the gene is even changing humans. By consuming crops that are GMO we are allowing ourselves to become a scientific experiment.
Through the last 30 years, employees and scientists have been fired and pressured to not show the results and negative findings from the GMO foods.
In India, buffalo, sheep and goats whose herds have grazed on their natural food sources for years were fed the new GMO crops – and they died. The Indian farm workers experienced severe allergic reactions and skin illnesses once they started to work the new GMO crops.
Now we have many digestive issues and gluten intolerance is very common. Let me break down what happens when we ingest GMO foods. Remember, you are eating pesticides! Dr. Leonard Coldwell talks about how GMO foods are toxic. One point he speaks on is that during digestion, if our bodies cannot digest the food, it’s because we don’t have the fitting enzymes to do so.
When we eat a GMO food, our body sees it as a mutation and tries to get rid of it. We will keep attacking it with enzymes and energy to rid our bodies of it, and sometimes this goes on for hours, days or even weeks. While the food is in our digestive track it creates toxic gasses, rotting away. Dr. Leonard Coldwell explains more, but for me this is more reasoning for me to stay away from GMO foods.
What Can We Do About GMOs?
I could talk all day about GMOs as this is a huge reason why our foods lack nutrition. We need to talk more openly about it so we can bring this issue to the frontlines of awareness. We have a right to know what is in our food and what we are feeding our children.
The US is the only country that has no label laws for GMOs. Here is a question for you: if there is nothing wrong with GMOs, then why not proudly label it on the products? I am seeing GMO crops being used in chips, soups, canned goods, produce, toothpaste, baby foods, diapers, pill capsules and so much more. It is everywhere and the toxins are making us sick and obese.
I invite you to come visit my GMO News section on my blog to see more information on this topic. There are links, videos, non-GMO companies you can trust and much more. You want the best for your family and, as the primary shopper, those decisions fall on you.
Take the steps needed to “Say No to GMO.”
More GMO Resources
- Non-GMO Shopping Guide and Shopping Tips for Download, and with some apps.
- Seeds of Deception, a book by Jeffery Smith that really explains how this started, the cover-ups and studies. Here is a 10-page summary of the book.
