The Naughty 9 GMOs to Avoid - Copy
The Naughty 9 GMOs to Avoid
You may have heard of the Dirty Dozen, which is the annual list compiled by the Environmental Working Group of produce that should always, when possible, be purchased organic.
Have you heard, however, of the Naughty Nine? Well, let me tell you about the Naughty Nine, which is what I choose to call the 9 Foods that are almost always genetically modified. These are Soy, Corn, Cotton, Canola, Sugar Beets (used for most sugar in the US), Alfalfa, Zucchini, Yellow Squash and Papaya (from Hawaii and China).
I first learned about this topic while listening to the Underground Wellness podcast where Sean Croxton interviewed Jeffrey Smith, author of Seeds of Deception. [1.] These dastardly Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are part of our lives, whether we like it or not. While I do my best to avoid processed foods (that are oftentimes laden with GMOs), my kids and I do have them from time to time and this is one area where I can make a better choice.
What are GMOs?
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. This is where scientists take a gene from one species and insert it into the DNA of another species. As Jeffrey Smith explains in his interview with Sean, “you can actually mix and match traits.” The GMOs that are currently in our diet are bacterial genes injected into the genes of Soy, Corn, Cotton, Canola, Sugar Beets (used for most sugar in the US), Alfalfa, Zucchini, Yellow Squash and Papaya (from Hawaii and China). Not only do we consume these foods through processed foods, but also through the animals we eat that are fed diets laden with GMOs.
Monsanto is on a mission to genetically modify ALL of our plant seeds in order to “advance sustainable agriculture” and indeed they and researchers associated with them have won major awards based on their work. GMOs are used to extend the shelf life of foods (such as tomatoes), ward off insects that feed on the plant (such as corn insecticide), and help certain plants resist cold and drought. While these are ostensibly helpful solutions, is jeopardizing our health and causing irreparable damage to our earth’s microbiome the only way to solve the problem of world hunger?
Luckily, many Doctors now prescribe GMO-free diets to help turn their patients’ health in a better direction. The #1 area that improves when removing GMOs from the diet is in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. According to Jeffrey Smith, when following a GMO-free diet, patients report greater energy, weight loss, better immunity, improved liver function, and reproductive health, as well as a reduction in brain fog and diabetes complications.
This is a complex matter and I encourage you to dig deeper into the debate.
However, I do not see the benefit of GMOs in my diet or in anyone else’s diet for that matter. There has to be a better way to solve the problem of feeding the world’s population.
Whatever side you come down on related to GMOs in our food, consider that one of the main issues at hand is: Should the food that has GMOs (in other words, Genetically Modified food) be labeled?
GOOD NEWS. Prior to about 2022, there were 50 countries, including all of those in the European Union, that required GMO labeling. The United States and Canada, on the other hand, did not require labeling food that contained GMOs.
However, because of the research led by Jeffrey & others & THANKS to consumer advocacy, as of January 1, 2022, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, passed by Congress in 2016 in the United States requires labeling for genetically modified organisms and foods that contain GMO ingredients. The law requires food manufacturers, importers, and retailers to disclose whether their products are bioengineered or contain bioengineered ingredients. However, restaurants and other food service establishments are not required to comply.
I am concerned about GMOs unknown and possibly irreversible consequences to human health and to the soil and the microbiome where many of our foods are harvested.
What More Can We Do Right Now?
1. Be Especially Mindful when purchasing the Naughty 9. These are the High-Risk Crops that very likely have GMOs (unless they are certified organic). Alfalfa, Canola, Corn, Papaya, Cotton, Soy, Sugar Beets, Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash.
Common offshoots of these GMO products are found in processed and packaged foods with names including Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Monosodium Glutamate, and even certain vitamins.
2. Research this topic further at places including:
http://nongmoshoppingguide.com/
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/
3. Look for the “NON-GMO Project Verified seal” on foods that are packaged. In North America, certain food producers have opted into the conviction that consumers need to know if their food has been genetically modified or engineered. This seal ensures independent verification that the food product was made according to best practices of GMO avoidance.
4. Choose Organic (when possible) or Seek out Food Co-ops and Farmer’s Markets
5. Grow Your Own Food - start small.
6. Remember, restaurants don’t have to disclose GMOs, so be mindful of this when dining out. Lots of seed oils used in cooking food are genetically modified.
This said, be sure to take a few deep breaths before eating, in any case, and enjoy your food. Enjoying your food, no matter what, is another key to healthy digestion!
