by
Dr. Anthony Moscar, ND
Genetically Modified (GM) foods are often considered the most under-rated and least publicized health-care crisis in North America. There is a mistaken belief that it is not a big deal and that foods that are genetically modified are not very prevalent. Or maybe it is just that many people are so overwhelmed with environmental concerns and economic or world crises that they just don't want to face the reality of the problem. Genetically modified foods are not going away anytime soon and it is important that people understand the impact that they have on health.
The way that the government has handled genetically modified foods can be compared to the tobacco industry. The health risks of smoking where known in the 1950's yet it took over thirty years before government agencies started to make labeling cautions mandatory and until programs were put in place to decrease the percentage of smokers and the exposure to second-hand smoke. Even with that, it took another twenty to thirty years to see any significant changes, such as a decline in teen
smoking rates from 34% to 19%.
History has a way of repeating itself. Many scientists are speaking
up loudly about the health risks of GM foods. The North American food
industry is using the same approach as the tobacco industry and implying that GM foods are safe. To add to the problem, the North American food industry is also making it difficult to know which
foods are genetically modified by fighting food labeling laws. European
countries have had extensive labeling laws since 2004 and many products grown
in North America are denied import into Europe due to genetic modification as
well as the lack of labeling.
What does Genetically Modified mean?
In the past, farmers would use a process called hybridization
which took 2 compatible plant species and crossed them to create a
desirable plant. This is a natural
process that occurs in the wild, and human involvement was only used to guide the process to
control the outcome. Genetic
modification is completely different as it is not naturally occurring and
involves mixing genes from completely different kingdoms. For example, taking a gene from a bacteria,
such as the Bt toxin, and putting it in corn so it can kill pests.
The impact GM foods have on the body is two-fold. Gene fragments from food are circulated and sometimes integrated into chromosomes of humans, potentially causing a number of issues. Secondly, our body is able to recognize invading bacteria based on their markers that are encoded by genes. Since all GM food have some form of bacterial genetic information, the potential of our body to react to the bacterial component is very high, causing a cross-reaction to food that previously would not cause an allergic response.
Who should be most
concerned?
The first group that should be most concerned with eating
GM foods are those planning to have children.
Animal studies continue to show that GM foods are linked to
birth defects, smaller babies and infertility.
In a study conducted with GM soy, the testicular cells of mice and rats
changed significantly over the course of the study. The second group of individuals that should be concerned is
everyone else! Aside from reproductive health, GM foods are linked to
accelerated aging, dysfunctional immune regulation, organ damage,
gastrointestinal distress and immune system damage.
GM foods have been linked to
·
Abnormal organ growth and impaired
liver function
What are the main GM food sources?
With a little knowledge it is possible to avoid many GM
foods. The main sources of GM foods in
Canada include corn, canola, soy and sugar beet found in a range of processed
foods.
1) Corn: Corn flakes, corn chips, cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, sweeteners like glucose
and fructose, eggs, milk and meat
2) Canola-
Canola oil, eggs, milk and meat
3) Soy-
Soy oil, soy protein, soy lecithin, tofu, soy beverages, soy pudding, eggs,
milk and meat
4) Sugar
beet- Sugar
The following are other foods that are grown in the United States that are genetically modified. The number in brackets represents the percentage of the total crop that is GM: cotton (93%), papaya-Hawaiian (80%), squash /courgette (13%), wheat (unknown since genetically modifying wheat it not legal but GM wheat has shown up on some farms). Other crops such as potatoes, wheat or rice are commonly thought to be genetically modified, and indeed were at one point, but due to overwhelming crop issues they are not commercially produced.
How do you avoid Genetically Modified Foods
- Although labeling guidelines for genetically modified foods are not mandatory in Canada, those companies that make the effort to select non-GM foods will generally include a non-GMO symbol on the label.
- Avoid foods in the main GM food category (corn, soy and sugar beet) unless the label says non-GMO or organic.
- Consume foods that are non GM.
- Stay informed. Request automatic updates from websites such as www.responsibletechnology.org and Canadian Biotechnology Action Network. They will answer most of your questions about GMOs.
Steps for living
in a world with GM foods
There is little research about how to detoxify your body
from the toxins that GM foods produce or from the altered genetic material
itself. The most commonly agreed upon
approach is similar to how people would detoxify their body from any other
toxins that shouldn't be in the body.
1) Stop
introducing new GM foods. Fresh produce (except corn) is mostly GM free. Look
for “non-GMO”, “100% organic”, or “organic” packed foods, and shop at farmers
markets making sure to ask farmers about their seeds.
2) Increase fiber consumption to help with eliminating toxic substances your body doesn't
need
3) Stay hydrated so you continually urinate out water soluble toxic components
4) Consume
probiotics and fermented foods to ensure a healthy bacterial population in your
digestive tract.
5) Increase
routes of excretion by sweating through sauna, exercise or alkaline
hydrotherapy
6) There
are a variety of herbs and supplements that increase detoxification processes
of the liver and improve energy production and cellular oxygenation.
Speak with your
Naturopathic Doctor to learn more and see
what treatments are best indicated for your health concern.
Links for further information on Genetically
Modified foods
