One day while checking out at the grocers the cashier asked me if the bag of potatoes in the newly installed green produce bag were organic or regular. She needed to know because the price is different.
"Organic," I replied. She nodded and entered in the proper code.
The teenager bagging my groceries took them and dropped them into my green reusable bag saying, "Everything grown in the ground is organic."
I was rather surprised at this teenager's misunderstanding of what organic means in this day and age of GMO’s; genetically manufactured organisms.
Technically fruits and vegetables growing out of the ground are from the 'organic' plant kingdom and not from the mineral or animal kingdoms. However, in today's world of GMO fruits and vegetables, non-organic conventionally grown produce is anything but - organic.
Organic means fruits and vegetables remain as close as possible to their original makeup and can be found growing in nature as they were intended.
GMO seeds are manufactured by scientists who select genetic elements of one organism and add them to another organism to make something that does not exist in nature and cannot be re-created outside of a laboratory.
GMO manufacturers claim their seeds are the best thing there is for stopping world hunger. However, GMO seeds are produced in secret laboratories of patent protected companies and these seeds DO NOT REPRODUCE. Farmers need to purchase GMO seeds every year from the labs that make them.
How is this sustainable for anything other than the sustained profits of multi-billion dollar chemical conglomerates?
Conventionally grown produce - at best - is filled with toxic pesticides that cannot be washed off. And at worse, it has been manufactured AS A PESTICIDE by the creators of GMO seeds.
Monsanto's GMO "Roundup Ready" Bt corn - itself - is a pesticide.
GMO Roundup-ready crops have been manufactured to withstand COPIOUS amounts of the poison glyphosate during the growing process and not die. Bt-corn kernels are genetically manufactured to become poison so when insects eat the corn growing on the stocks their stomachs explode.
Think about this a moment – if GMO corn causes the stomachs of insects to explode… what do you think it causes our stomachs to do? We are larger than insects so this damage takes place over time, but do not be fooled for a moment – severe damage is being done in the stomachs and digestive systems of everyone who eats GMO products.
Glyphosate is the patented herbicide in Roundup. This herbicide destroys the body’s natural gut microbiome; particularly the beneficial enzyme, transglutaminase. This enzyme performs many roles in the body including fertilization, reproduction, and blood clotting.
Glyphosate is carcinogenic and is currently embroiled in lawsuits over the incidents of cancer and death of the farmers and families who use it.
Glyphosate found in Packaged-Processed GMO Food Products
GMO corn and soy are used in hundreds of processed food products. General Mills Cheerios, one of America’s most beloved cereals was found to contain a whopping 1.125.3 ppb (parts per billion) of glyphosate residue. Ritz crackers contained just over 270 ppb of the herbicide. And most shocking to discover – Kashi, a product line claiming to be a “health food” was found to contain just over 275 ppb in their oatmeal dark chocolate cookies.
How do we avoid poisonous cancer-causing GMO’s?
100% Organic Certified and NON GMO Project Verified labels mean food growers and manufacturers have complied with rigorous guidelines and inspections. There are legal ramifications if these labels are used deceptively and the company has not adhered to the rules or undergone the inspections.
Always look for these labels when buying fruits and vegetables and packaged food products.
The “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen" - EWG
It is not necessary to buy all fruits and vegetables organic; some are fine to buy conventionally, while others should ALWAYS be organic.
Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a study disclosing the level of pesticides found in produce.
They have created a list called the “Dirty Dozen” which are the twelve most highly polluted produce items you really need to by organic. And the “Clean Fifteen” which is a list of produce that are not quite as bad to buy conventionally grown.
Here is a list of fruits & vegetables to ALWAYS buy organic - There are more than 12 items here.
ALWAYS BUY ORGANIC:
- Apples
- Beets
- Celery
- Cherries
- Chili peppers
- Grapes
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Sweet bell peppers
Okay to Buy Conventionally Grown:
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Onions
- Lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruit
- Mangoes
- Pineapples
- Sweet peas frozen
- Watermelon
As a rule thick skinned fruits and vegetables such as melons and citrus do not absorb the level of pesticides that thin skinned fleshy fruit such as strawberries, grapes and root vegetables do.
28 Conditions Reversed or Improved with Non-GMO Diet
According to Jeffrey M. Smith, MBA, Director of the Institute of Responsible Technology; https://responsibletechnology.org, people are experiencing wonderful health results after eliminating GMO’s from their diet:
“An astonishing 85% of respondents reported improvements in their ‘digestive problems,’ the ailment most commonly cited. Of these respondents, 80% said their digestive issues were ‘significantly improved,’ ‘nearly gone,’ or ‘completely recovered.’” – Jeffrey M. Smith
Survey Reports Improved Health After Avoiding Genetically Modified Foods:
– Digestive (85.2%)
– Fatigue, low energy (60.4%)
– Overweight or obesity (54.6%)
– Clouding of consciousness, “brain fog” (51.7%)
– Food allergies or sensitivities (50.2%)
– Mood problems, such as anxiety or depression (51.1%)
– Memory, concentration (48.1%)
– Joint pain (47.5%)
– Seasonal allergies (46.6%)
– Gluten sensitivities (42.2%)
– Insomnia (33.2%)
– Other skin conditions, not eczema (30.9%)
– Hormonal problems (30.4%)
– Musculoskeletal pain (25.2%)
– Autoimmune disease (21.4%)
– Eczema (20.8%)
– Cardiovascular problems and high blood pressure (19.8%)
– Asthma (14.8%)
– Menstrual problems (13.1%)
– Diabetes (10.6%)
– Other mental disorders (7.9%)
– Underweight (6.5%)
– Cancer (4.8%)
– Kidney disease (4.5%)
– Infertility (3.8%)
– Autism spectrum (2.6%)
– Alzheimer’s disease (2.4%)
– Parkinson’s disease (1.4%)
These numbers reveal vast improvement in health after removing GMO's from the diet.
If you are suffering from any of these disorders - try removing GMO products from your diet and see how you do.
We live in a toxic world that we can do little about. But - we can choose to eat clean foods whenever possible and do what we can to be strong, healthy and full of life!
To your health!
Michele M. Rizzo
Certified Nutritional Health Coach