The Damaging Effects of GMOs Revealed

The Damaging Effects of GMOs Revealed
Posted by Dr. Mercola | June 11 2005 | 6,358 views

The plague of genetically modified (GM) foods infecting the country’s food supply continues to run rampant. In fact, an alarming 75 percent of all processed products in the United States contain some GM ingredients; but the infestation doesn’t stop there.
A report by the British-based news source The Independent revealed secret research done by GM food giant Monsanto that compared the biological effects of eating GM corn versus naturally grown corn on rats. According to the 1,139-page report:
• Rats fed GM corn had smaller kidneys and variations in the composition of their blood -- raising concerns that human health could also be adversely affected by eating such foods.
• Health problems were unseen in the rodents fed non-GM food.
Based on the findings, doctors speculate that the changes in the blood of the rodents could imply that the rats’ immune systems had been damaged, or that a disorder such as a tumor had grown and their systems were trying to fight it.
Previous Rodent Research
The results of the above study appear to support British research done seven years ago by scientist Dr. Arpad Pusztai. His controversial study suggested rats that ate GM potatoes damaged their health. However, the research was denounced by ministers and the British scientific establishment and Dr. Pusztai was forced into retirement.
Additionally, Dr. Pusztai noted a long list of significant differences between conventional corn and MON 863 -- the kind of corn modified by Monsanto to ward off corn rootworm.
The Independent May 22, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Many natural health experts have been concerned for some time about the plague of genetically modified (GM) foods infiltrating your food supply, and for good reason: Roughly 75 percent of all processed foods in this country contain some GM ingredients.
It is now clearer than ever that these altered foods are capable of producing negative changes in humans.
Further, some scientists even want to put vaccines into plants without any real knowledge of what effects this unnatural addition will have on human health, or the health of our planet.
This is SHEER LUNACY.
Americans are largely kept in the dark regarding the truth about GM products. And, because there are no labeling requirements, most people are not even aware they are putting potentially harmful ingredients into their bodies.
Move Toward Better Health -- Avoid GM Foods
Therefore, since it’s obvious there's no telling what effects GM foods will have on your body, I believe it would be wise to try and avoid them whenever possible.
To guide you in understanding the problems associated with GM foods, I strongly recommend reading the incredible series Seeds of Doubt, written by staffers at the Sacramento Bee. Additionally, the steps below will help you steer clear of GM products for good:
• Reduce or Eliminate Processed Foods. As you learned, 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients. There are many reasons why processed foods are not optimal for your health -- for instance they often contain trans fat, acrylamide and little nutritional value -- so avoiding them will not only help you to cut back on the amount of GM foods you are consuming, but will also boost your health.
• Read produce and food labels. GM soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of genetically modified crops. When looking at a product label, if any ingredients such as corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu (to name a few) are listed, there's a good chance it has come from GM corn or soy, unless it's listed as organic.
• Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been genetically modified. By definition, food that is certified organic must be free from all GM organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs.
• Look at Produce Stickers. Those little stickers on fruit and vegetables contain different PLU codes depending on whether the fruit was conventionally grown, organically grown or genetically modified. The PLU code for conventionally grown fruit consists of four numbers, organically grown fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number nine, and GM fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number eight.
Finally, if you feel you can’t afford to buy organic foods, please read Colleen Huber’s excellent piece on how you can do so on your current budget.
Related Articles:
How do You Know if Your Food is Genetically Modified?
Genetically Modified Crops Are Contaminating Your Food
Why Genetically Modified Crops Can Devastate Health
Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/06/11/gmo-effects.aspx