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Maybe you've heard of GMO, or maybe you have not.

It's a very controversial and complex issue.  Just think about the term "Genetically Modified" for a sec...It definitely does not sound like something I would like to eat, let alone let my kid's eat it!

Using genetic engineering techniques scientists alter organisms to give it a new DNA.  This new genetically modified seed now will produce a plant that will not die even when sprayed with the potent Round Up pesticides.  Not only does it encourage the use of pesticides but farmers tend to use MORE pesticides than before which is sort of a double whammy because you get the health risks of the genetically modified seed itself PLUS all the pesticides.

There is absolutely no benefits to GMO seeds, other than it being a huge money maker for Monsanto.  Even half of the European Union finds no benefit to genetically modified food and in fact some countries are banning the use and sale of GM food altogether. 

Which may raise the question, why is GM food good enough for the U.S.?  It all boils down to politics. Monsanto is a company that dominates the American food chain.  They developed a seed that would resist Monsanto's own herbicide, Roundup, allowing farmers to spray their fields with the weed killers without killing the crops.  Commercialized GMO crops in the U.S. include soy (91%), cotton (88%), canola (88%), corn (85%), Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%), and some zucchini and yellow squash.  Other sources of GMO are products derived from the above, including oils, soy protein, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn syrup & high fructose corn syrup.

Other sources are meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed (and the majority of the GM corn and soy is used for feed); dairy products from cows injected with rbGH (a GM hormone);food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses; and honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen.

GMO foods are NOT safe.  The only feeding study done with humans showed that GMOs survived inside the stomach of the people eating GMO food. No follow-up studies were done.

Various feeding studies in animals have resulted in potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy or increased density of the liver, odd shaped cell nuclei and other unexplained anomalies, false pregnancies and higher death rates. Studies have found the pesticide producing genes (BT Toxins) in the intestinal flora of mothers and unborn fetuses. Source 

GM foods are not labeled, so it's a little tough to know exactly what to look for.  The easiest way to avoid GM foods is to look for is the certified organic seal.  If the product has this seal it cannot be GMO.

I prefer to take the guess work out of it and buy our groceries here because they pledge not to sell any products containing GMO giving me piece of mind.  ANYTHING I buy from here is non-GMO which means I can feel confident knowing I'm giving my girls foods that will actually nourish their bodies not cause harm.

There is a huge push in Congress to get food companies to label GM foods but Monsanto, the maker of GM seeds, is incredibly powerful and is said to be "in bed" with Congress. For more information on GMO and how you can help get them labeled visit The Institute For Responsible Technology.

 
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You know the saying “You are what you eat.” well in the case of consuming animal products “You are what they ate!”  

So if the recent news of “Pink Slime” has you squirming and feeling nauseous keep reading because there are other more dangerous things lurking in your burger or glass of milk.

Commercialized meat is serious business.  Ranchers are under intense pressure from Wall Street to produce meat and milk the fastest way possible turning their cattle into drug addicts.  The alarming amount of antibiotics and hormones given to livestock should cause anyone to pause and really think about what is really in their food.

Seventy percent of the antibiotics produced in the United States are given to Livestock.  The Union of Concerned Scientists say about 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics are fed to livestock for non-therapeutic reasons.  In other words they are used to speed growth and to prevent disease in the animals due to their confined and unsanitary living conditions.  If you add in the amount of antibiotics used to treat sick animals that number increases significantly.  Overusing antibiotics in the raising of Livestock means we consume more antibiotics and the more we consume the more susceptible we are to drug-resistant bacteria and superbugs like the staph infection MRSA.

Hormones are other drugs given to cattle on a regular basis.  According to Science News, 80 percent of all U.S. feedlot cattle are injected with hormones.  In  2005,  of the 32.5 million cattle used for meat products about two-thirds of them were injected with hormones solely to make them grow faster.   

Conventional dairy cows in the United States are given a genetically engineered hormone called rBGH, or recombinant bovine growth hormone, to increase milk production.   Consider back in the 1950’s the average dairy cow produced almost 5,300 pounds of milk a year. Compare that to today’s typical dairy cow which produces more than 18,000 pounds!  This means bigger dollars for the dairy industry…but it comes at a cost.
  
rBGH was approved by the FDA in 1993 after barely any testing.  In fact, the only testing conducted was a 90 day study by Monsanto using 30 rats as subjects, the results were never published.  After farmers began using rBGH in their cows they reported a significant increase in Mastitis a painful inflammatory infection, deformed calves being born, open sores, and death from internal bleeding.

The use of hormones disrupts the human hormonal balance which can cause developmental problems, interfere with the reproductive system and even lead to the development of unhealthy cell growth in reproductive areas. Hormone residues are also suspected in the early onset of puberty in girls, which can put them at greater risk of developing unhealthy cell proliferation in reproductive areas.

What can you do?  Choose wisely.  I only recommend organic, green-fed, free-range meats.  Where the use of antibiotics and hormones are never used.  It’s also a ton healthier too!  Grass-fed beef is lower in fat than commercialized beef and, more importantly, contains three to five times more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid, than grain-fed animals.  CLA’s have amazing health benefits like fighting cancer and diabetes, enhancing your immune system, increasing your metabolism, and aiding in weight loss.

If I can give you one piece of advice it would be to avoid all commercialized meats.  They are contaminated with drugs, pesticides, fungicides, hormones, and dioxins.  All of these toxins are poisonous to your body causing disease and illness.  Try to find organic green-fed products at your local farmers market, or use a trusted resource like this one.