Sunday, December 29, 2013

Genetic Engineering and the Search For Non-GMOs

We live in an age of advanced scientific exploration. Genetic research is at an all-time high and new discoveries in this field are cropping up every day, literally. In the field of genetic research involving the food we eat every day, there are many developments that may surprise you. When it comes to genetics, any organism, be it a plant, animal, or microorganism that is genetically engineered to overcome natural boundaries is commonly referred to as a "GMO" or Genetically Modified Organism. GMOs abound in plants. The most widely grown GMO crops include canola, corn, soybeans, and cotton.

Many believe that GMOs will create better tasting food that is more nutritious and long lasting. Others hope that they will help developing countries to become more sustainable. Although these hopes are positive, there is still very little testing to back up these claims. Many worry that the FDA, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and the Department of Agriculture hasn't done any long-term testing of GMOs in food and in the environment. The truth is, it could very well take years for unhealthy effects of GMOs to develop. Because the government did not require any pre-market research, we have been eating foods with GMOs since 1996. Without testing and long-term research, some experts believe that GMO foods could have new and different risks for you, your family, and the environment.

Most GMOs fall into two categories: those that are "insect resistant" and those that are "herbicide tolerant". In either case, problems have arisen as the regulations on herbicides and pesticides have relaxed as a result of the unique properties of these newly engineered plants. If they are naturally resistant to insects, these plants are regulated as an insecticide. Acting as an insecticide, it may turn out that these plants are in fact dangerous. If they are resistant to herbicides, farmers are now allowed to use large amounts of herbicides that are sprayed directly on the plants. This practice can lead to more chemicals in your food.

If you are aware of GMOs and would like to avoid them as much as possible there are a few solutions. One good way to both avoid GMOs and bolster your local economy is to make a point to buy your produce at the local Farmer's Market. Most cities have some form of a farmer's market that allows local growers to sell their produce directly to consumers. This is a great way to get excellent top-notch produce without spending the exorbitant prices for organic produce in a conventional store. It is always good for a community to be self-sustaining as much as possible. By shopping at the farmer's market, you will not only improve your health by choosing foods that are non-GMO, you'll also improve the overall health of the community by improving its sustainability.

A healthy non-GMO diet can be difficult to sustain. The farmer's market helps but it is also good to find healthy dietary supplements like non-GMO whey protein and multivitamins. Top Form Whey protein is an all-natural byproduct of dairy that is 90% concentrated protein and is completely non-GMO. This is an excellent way to improve your protein intake without relying on genetically engineered animal protein or soybeans. Multivitamins are also a great way to make sure you are getting necessary nutrients like vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

For more info on whey protein [http://www.mytopform.com/whey-protein-shake.html], visit MyTopForm.com [http://www.MyTopForm.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Fitz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Genetic-Engineering-and-the-Search-For-Non-GMOs&id=2709056

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