How & Why to Keep GMOs Off Your Plate
life is hard, food doesn't have to be #41 [vol2, 2.1]
Some baby steps toward greater health begin with choices in the grocery store. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are ones I try to avoid.
What makes a GMO?
A genetically modified organism has been changed in a laboratory using genetic engineering. GMOs would not exist by traditional cross breeding methods and just created in the 1970s. These organisms work sort of like a lock (GMO) and key (chemicals), specifically a chemical called glyphosate, also known as Round-Up.
When glyphosate is sprayed on a field everything dies except the genetically modified organisms.
Some beekeepers go to great lengths to move hives when they know glyphosate is being sprayed nearby (which often happens near power lines in summer for weed control.)
In the natural health world, glyphosate is targeted as very damaging to the gut. Gut health is something you’ll hear me talk about frequently; it controls so much of our overall health. Most holistic doctors recommend staying away from genetically modified foods, and buying organic where your budget allows.
If it is labeled organic, can it be GMO?
No. By definition, if you’re buying organic, it cannot be genetically modified. However, if something is labeled non-GMO, it does not have to be organic. If it’s labeled non-GMO it doesn’t even have to be a GMO, as you’ll see pictured below. Sometimes buying organic is hitting the easy button; we don’t have to think about whether it is sprayed or given antibiotics.
What are common GMOs?
Corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets are the ones I try hardest to avoid. However, when researching for this newsletter, I discovered white potatoes are now a common GMO. I knew white potatoes were on the Dirty Dozen list but didn’t realize they were GMOs. I don’t buy 100% organic produce but if I buy something on the Dirty Dozen that’s what I try to buy organic.
Corn - 92% of corn grown in America is a GMO. Corn is in almost everything in a package (corn syrup, corn starch, cellulose, citric acid, etc). My family can eat their weight in corn chips, so this is one packaged food that I try to buy organic. Trader Joe’s has a great organic tortilla chip that doesn’t break the bank.
Canola - Not only is it inflammatory but like corn and soy it is in most packaged foods (chips, crackers, bars, etc). It’s a common oil used for frying, especially when eating out. Man, this one is hard to avoid!
Soy - My family doesn’t consume much soy because of the phytoestrogens as well as the anti-nutrients and other soy dangers. But we do like traditionally brewed soy sauce. I look for the non-GMO label or get organic. San-J is the brand we like and it sometimes can be found at Wal-Mart and Kroger.
Corn and soy -- are mainstays for animal food. If you’re buying grocery store meat, that meat is being fed GMO grain (unless you’re paying more for organic). This is another reason to pay more for grass-finished beef and ask your farmers how much and what kind of grain they give their animals. Grass Roots Co-op, based in Arkansas but ships all over, has a policy of GMO-free grain for their animals. If budget allows, starting at the top of the food chain and buying the highest quality meat is a very easy step for greater health.
<<side note: A friend of mine has such terrible gut health that she can tell when she consumes meat that has been given GMO grain. She works hard to source very clean meat or faces consequences.>>
Sugar beets - When buying white sugar (like the kind you put in tea or cookies), look for the words “cane sugar” on the package and you will avoid GMO sugar beets. Those who are serious about baking cakes will swear to the difference in sugars and claim cane sugar as the better performer. I can’t tell a bit of difference except the words on the package. Cane sugar is made from cane grown in tropical climates and will cost a few pennies more per pound. Domino Sugar in yellow and blue packaging is made from cane. Sugar beets are grown underground in cooler climates, 95% of sugar beets grown in America are done with the assistance of glyphosate. Look for the words “cane sugar” when buying white, brown or powdered sugar.
This is an excellent, short article if wanting to learn more about common GMOs.
Did you know?
Wheat and oatmeal are non-GMO but are often sprayed with glyphosate at the end of the growing season to encourage the head of grain to open for a greater harvest yield. For this reason consider buying organic bread, oatmeal, and cereals.
Valentine’s Day
There are many thoughts on the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some say he was a Christian martyr, beheaded in Rome for encouraging Christian marriages. Another account says he wrote love letters to his fiancé from prison. Regardless of who he was or how the holiday started, today we celebrate the ones we love.
For several years my husband and I have added hearts to our kids’ doors each day in February until Valentine’s Day. Each heart displays a positive character trait in our children. On Valentine’s Day we take the hearts down and talk about each other, how we are different, the same, and above all, valued. Today is the 4th of February and I’ve not yet started. So it’s not too late for you, too. Cut out simple hearts or use post-its and encourage your children or spouse!
To get started, here are some words to consider:
honest, optimistic, determined, leader, generous, bold, tenacious, responsible, artistic, hard worker, helpful, fun, witty, enjoys order, affectionate, easy going, loves to read, extrovert, introvert, ambivert, laconic, cute, inquisitive, big dreams, cheerful, peaceful, kind, caring...
Welcome if you’re a new Food Majors! You might enjoy reading previous newsletters:
Fever as a child’s best friend + remedies - we used the fever bath recently with great success.
All Things Broth -- it’s soup season!
If you’ve learned something in this letter, please forward it to the friend or family member who is wanting to do better with health. Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be.
Cheering you on,
Julie