4 Simple Steps to Avoid GMOs

To kick off the Avoiding Toxins section of our Simple Steps to Perfect Health and Wellness Series, let’s take a closer look at GMOs.

What the Heck Are GMOs – Goofy & Mickey On Steroids?

According to the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, GMOs, or “Genetically Modified Organisms,” are made by forcing genes from one species, such as bacteria, viruses, or animals, into the DNA of a food crop or animal in order to introduce a new trait. In plain English, what this means is, scientists essentially blast the DNA of one plant, i.e. corn, with the DNA of another organism, for example, an insecticide. This is highly unusual and questionable food science. In the case of the insecticide-corn GMO, bugs eat this newly created GMO-corn and die from their stomachs exploding. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to eat corn whose DNA has been altered with insecticide. The documentary Genetic Roulette discusses the insecticide-corn, and many other interesting GMO facts. Learn more about renting or buying Genetic Roulette.

Why Should We Avoid GMOs?

Genetically modified foods cause harm to people, animals, and the environment. I think the above example of corn that makes bugs’ stomachs explode is reason enough to avoid GMOs, but other research has been done as well. You can check out this study in which rats were fed GMOs and developed tumors. Or how about the study in which pigs were fed a GMO diet and they developed deadly inflammation in their stomachs? Although GMO products look like their non-GMO counterparts, animals, such as pigs and chickens, can tell the difference, and when given a choice, will avoid GM feed. Forty-nine countries require labeling of GM ingredients. Visit the non-GMO Shopping Guide for details about 65 health risks associated with GMOs.

Four Simple Steps to Avoid GMOs

1. The easiest way to reduce your consumption of GMOs is to avoid the relatively short list of eight food crops that have been genetically modified. Here is the list:

Corn, Soybeans, Sugar (from GMO beets), Papaya (Hawaii or China), Canola, Cottonseed, Zucchini (small amounts), Yellow Squash (small amounts)

Most processed foods contain one or more of these ingredients, particularly as oils, such as soybean, canola, and cottonseed oil. If a processed food lists sugar (not cane sugar), most likely it contains sugar from GM sugar beets.

Industrial meat and dairy livestock are usually fed GM grains, including GM alfalfa. Many dairy cows are injected with GM artificial bovine growth hormone (rbGH and rbST); check your labels for farms that do not use artificial growth hormones.

While not a food crop, Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) is also derived from GMOs. You can read more about the health risks associated with Aspartame on our blog. If you choose to eat any of the foods found on the list…

2. Buy USDA Certified Organic products (GMOs are not allowed certification)

3. Buy Non-GMO Project Verified products

4. Download the free non-GMO Pocket Shopping Guide, or the free ShopNoGMO iPhone App

How do you and your family avoid GMOs? Leave us a comment to let us know! If you’d like to read more about GMOs and how to avoid them, check out some of our related articles in the ‘GMO Awareness’ section of Perfect Supplements’ Health Blog.