Say NO to GMOs

GMO, which stands for genetically modified organisms, are being found in food we eat more so now than in the past. What exactly is GMOs? GMOs are genetically engineered organisms that have been changed and manipulated in laboratories. The reason why GMOs are so harmful to the human body and more people are starting to become GMO free is because these labs are directly spraying chemicals onto the food while it is being processed. GMOs have been added into food without being identified. What this means is, food that we have been eating has been processed with these chemicals and we have been ingesting them every time we eat. Just because a package of food says “organic” does not mean that it is GMO free, either. If something is organic, either no chemicals were used, or the chemicals that were used were “natural.” There is a website called the “non-GMO project” that gives complete lists of GMO free, and verified, foods and different ways to avoid GMOs. This website gives good insight to those who are wanting to learn more about GMOs and what they really are.

              I have recently started to eat GMO free foods. In all honesty, I feel so much better and I do not get as tired as easily as I did before. There are many documentaries on Netflix about food and GMOs which are extremely interesting. One show that I have watched is called, “Food Inc.,” and they talk heavily about food in grocery stores. Most of the foods, especially tomatoes, when they are sold out of season, they are genetically engineered, all the way down to the color. Knowing this about the foods that are being sold, and being allowed to be sold, is a little frightening to me. According to the non-GMO project website, in The United States alone, over 80% of our food is processed with GMOs.

              Since science is always changing, and will continue to always change, all we can do, as consumers, is make sure we are putting the best foods into our bodies. One way I am starting to do this is by composting my own food waste. In the city that I live in, we actually have compost bins for everyone to use. This is helping to grow organic foods, with no chemicals. The gardens where these foods are being grown are available for anyone to come and pick from the harvest. I think this is a very important step in the right direction. The next important step is to continue to spread the word about the compost bins, and teaching kids and families about eating organically. According to another article, listed below, Holland has been testing GMOs on mice. When they studied these mice, they noticed drastic behavior changes between the mice who have been given the GMOs and the mice who have not. Even though this has only been tested on mice, I hope more tests are done to see if GMOs have this type of effect on students and people with behavior and social issues.

Also attached is a video on GMOs from Bill Nye.

Non-GMO Project

Mice on GMOs Article