Okay, let’s be real – most of us don’t think about what’s actually on our dinner plates.
We may check out the labels, read up on the ingredients, and many of us even take special care to ensure that we eat natural fruits and veggies and goods made with all-natural ingredients.
Animals really don’t think much about what they eat. It just has to look food, smell good, and taste good.
So when animals are refusing to eat something, isn’t it worth taking a second look to see whether that product is really something you want to put into your body?
That’s exactly what happened when researchers tested a group of animals, including pigs and squirrels – animals known for eating pretty much anything – with a batch of genetically modified corn. And yet, people continue to eat genetically modified corn, even as they eliminate other harmful products and chemicals from their diets.
What’s concerning is that many people don’t even realize they’re including this product in their diets. Genetically modified corn is estimated to make up about forty percent of the sweet corn market. With the average person consuming about 50 pounds of corn per year, not including corn meal and corn syrup in addition to the vegetable – there’s a lot here to be concerned about.
There are a number of dangers related to the use of genetically modified, or GMO, corn and other food crops. In addition to the fact that the corn itself has been significantly altered to change its structure and the way that it reacts to the natural environment, one of the big reasons that GMO corn even exists is so that farmers can use greater amounts of herbicides and pesticides during their growth – chemicals that stay in the corn and could potentially make their way right onto your plate.
Numerous studies have been conducted on GMO corn and other food crops, and many more are ongoing. The biggest of these studies, which claimed that a link had been found between genetically modified crops and tumor growth in rats, has since been retracted, which has left the GMO question open to further study at this time for many.
However, while proponents of GMO crops celebrate this apparent “victory” it’s important to keep in mind that the many other effects of GMO crop consumption cannot be invalidated, and continue to paint a harrowing portrait of the dangers these crops pose. GMO crops have been shown to have negative effects including:
- Significant organ damage
- Increased allergies and decreased immune system function
- Reproductive health
- The body’s metabolism and overall physiology
The initial statement from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine dates back to 2009 – and yet the debate rages on. Smart consumers need to realize that there is absolutely no reason to buy into the GMO crop guessing game, especially when there’s already ample proof that these products are helpful.
Fortunately, there are ways for people to get the foods that they need and to continue eating safely and eat only certified organic crops if there is a possibility that what you find on store shelves may be genetically modified. In addition to corn, watch out for soy, beets, zucchini, and yellow squash – all products that may be genetically modified unless purchased organic.
As for other sources of GMO corn, it’s simple – cut out any and all products that contain corn syrup as a sweetener, if possible, and raise your awareness of the ingredients that you could be exposed to with every food that you and your family eat. Animals may have the instinct needed to avoid these harmful products, but people have the upper hand when it comes to intelligence. So why not use it?