GMOs
Genetically Modified organisms (GMO) are foods that are altered artificially from its original form in order to express a desirable characteristic. For example, creating GM strawberries that are resistant to cold weather because strawberries don’t naturally flourish in cold temperatures.
Why should you avoid GMOs? They may be damaging to our health and our environment. Keep in mind that GMOs are a recent invention and there haven’t been studies to study their long term effects.
Top 5 GM Food to Avoid
1. Corn. Most of us consume GM corn without realising it. They can be found in your frozen vegetable pack, breakfast cereals, tortillas, breads (as corn or maize flour), fried foods (corn oil), soft drinks (corn syrup, caramel flavour, corn fructose), protein bars (maltose, dextrose, dextrin), muesli bars (corn syrup) and used as fillers in low quality food. They don't contain any of the corn's nutritional benefits as they are highly refined.
2. Canola oil is also called rapeseed oil. It's often used in chain restaurant cooking so avoid greasy foods and sauces that often contain them.
3. If your Soy foods (soy milk, soy beans, fermented soy products) are not certified organic then it's most likely GM.
4. Alfalfa sprouts that are not listed as "Certified Organic" are also likely to be GM.
5. Sugar beets. About half of our sugar consumption comes from sugar beets in the form of table sugar (sucrose).
Organic Foods
Organic foods are not genetically modified or even conventionally grown with sprayed chemicals (fungicides, pesticides, etc). Look for organic versions of the above listed foods. They will likely be safer, healthier and more nutritious. In order to be sure your food is not genetically modified, look for the "certified organic" label on food packaging.
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