Sticking with the "health" theme for just a little longer, today's topic is GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms. They're in foods we eat every day and, from what I've read about them, they are not a good thing for our bodies. However, they seem to be the latest buzz among scientists. Basically, the concept is that we take DNA from one species and inject it into another species; thereby creating these hybrid combinations of plants, animals, bacteria and viral genes that would not otherwise be in existence naturally. Sounds a bit like a science fiction film to me, but it is in fact real. Unfortunately, they have not been proven entirely safe; unless of course you get the research results directly from those companies who are creating GMOs and, thus, profiting from them. What's scary is that estimates show that GMOs are present in more than 80% of packaged products found in an average U.S. grocery store. From my research, corn, soy, canola and cotton are the ingredients that most commonly come from genetically-engineered crops; and, specifically, you should be weary of the following:
Corn: corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, corn meal
Soy: soy protein, soy lecithin, soy oil, soy sauce, soy isolates
Canola: canola oil
Cotton: cottonseed oil
There are a ton of sites out there with "information" about GMOs. I found a few that have some simple basics about GMOs, including this one and another good read here, as well. I was also able to find this shopper's guide on the Center for Food Safety web site. And, here are some recommended steps to avoiding GMOs in food. Like anything else, it comes down to individual opinion and what you believe. But, someone once said "Understanding is the first step to acceptance." I don't know who that someone was, but they sure sound wise to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment