Article by Organic Liaison Health Director Deborah Klein, M.S., R.D., registered dietitian and program expert. Need Deborah’s professional advice? Ask her questions related to nutrition, fitness and weight loss at Phitter.com. Or visit our Health Director page.
Genetically engineered foods contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms), seeds with foreign DNA—artificially changed for the purpose of making food more resistant to highly toxic pesticides. (The most common genetically modified plants include soybean, corn, cottonseed, and canola.)
The goal of GMOs is to kill bugs and weeds rather than have them damage the crop. However, the injection of GMOs into food not only kills off pests and weeds, it can also be harmful to the consumer—namely, our bodies. Alarming research discussing the negative impact of genetically engineered foods have is extremely concerning, such as diminishing reproductivity, increasing carcinogenesis and hindering hormonal metabolism.
Thankfully, we can help avoid ingesting these GMOs by choosing USDA Certified organic foods and mandating food manufacturers to label foods containing GMO ingredients.
That way, as consumers, we can be properly informed and proactive about we put in our bodies. Eating clean is the key to keeping us healthy and lean!
For more information on the effects of GMOs on public health, please check out this video, “Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of our Lives.
References:
Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2012 Aug; 33(194):59-63
Eur J Histochem 47 (2003): 385–388.
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 42 (1998), 45–62
Organic Consumers Association: “Spilling the Beans: Unintended GMO Health Risks”