Genetically Modified Food: “Pave paradise and put up a parking lot”
by Dr. Harlan Sparer, Tempe Chiropractor
The big question everyone asks about GMOs (Genetically Modified Food) is, “How does this affect me?” Let’s begin with Roundup, one of the most popular herbicides available. By genetically modifying cash crops such as soy, canola, wheat, cotton, and corn to resist being killed by this herbicide, spraying Roundup supposedly kills all the weeds and leaves the cash crop. This all appears to be high tech and cool at first glance. In fact, this substance may not swiftly kill us like the weed in the garden, but slowly degrades us in several ways. Glyphosate (Roundup) works by hugging or clinging onto important nutrients and enzymes, making them unavailable and unusable. This kills weeds rather quickly and us rather slowly. When eating GMO foods of this nature, there are literally less nutrients in the food due to the partial effect of the chemical on the GMO resistant plant. When eating an animal product fed by a GMO diet, the same thing occurs. Some of the Roundup itself may contaminate the GMO food, subjecting us to this herbicide directly, which clearly is not good. This herbicide directly and indirectly affects enzyme and hormone formulation, causing suffering and misery.
BT, an extremely popular variety of GMO, is an abbreviation for Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxin. The bacteria produces a toxin that is activated by alkaline pH, present in insects’ digestive tracts. When an insect pest ingests it, its digestive system dissolves as a result of the BT Toxin’s activation. This also occurs with beneficial insects such as bees. BT was originally sprayed as a nonchemical, “ecofriendly” insecticide until a scientist at Monsanto thought it would be great to genetically modify food to produce it, removing the cost and inconvenience of spraying. The problem is, part of our colon is alkaline enough to activate the BT toxin. This causes microscopic holes in the Small Intestine (Duodenum), allowing partially digested food into the bloodstream. This “Leaky Gut Syndrome” can cause many health problems due to autoimmune problems as the body’s protective agents begin attacking the partially digested food in the blood.
How did we get started on this highway to hell? In the struggle to master the environment, there have been many attempts to manipulate and control genetics. Historically, we see man’s attempt to manipulate genetics date back to the discovery of genetics by Mendel. Hybridization became popular after it was first used in 1875. Genetic modification was first successfully experimented on a little over 100 years later in 1982. The first market ready GMO food was a genetically altered tomato in 1994. By 1996, with Michael Taylor’s (Barack Obama’s Food Czar and a frequent VP at Monsanto) influence at the FDA, 35 Genetically Modified Agricultural Products were approved, including “Roundup (glyphosate)” resistant soybeans and BT Corn. Currently, Corn, Wheat, and Soy are both BT and “Roundup ready.”
A number of whistleblowing scientists have lost positions and grants over their findings, but we are aware now that GMO in varying forms cause Cancer, Diabetes, Gout, Autism, Glandular Imbalances, Asthma, Heart Disease, Obesity, Autoimmune Diseases, and a peculiar skin condition known as Morgellon’s Disease.
The unhealthiness of these substances has become accepted in the last few years. The first and most obvious goal is to stop buying and using them. An attempt to label GMO foods recently was stopped successfully by a major expensive GMO Industry effort. It stands to reason that it is a matter of time until the market dictates that they stop doing this. The solution is simple. We all need to stop consuming and purchasing this as much as possible. Certified organic foods are never GMO.
If you want to avoid some of the sneakier additives, here are some of them: soy lecithin, vegetable oil, high fructose corn Syrup, corn syrup, canola oil, cottonseed oil, corn or soy derived Vitamin C and E, sugar beets, corn, soy, wheat, milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, zucchini, yellow squash, papaya, soy protein isolates, texturized soy protein, soy cheese, animal protein from animals fed GMO feed (meat, poultry, pork, lamb, etc.), infant formula, breakfast cereals, and candy. If you buy these foods as certified organic, they are not GMO.
In milder cases of GMO poisoning, simple avoidance for several weeks or months is enough to reverse the effects. The Duodenal (Small Intestine) lining repairs itself quickly. Fresh Organic vegetable juice, nutrient rich algae, and raw sprouted foods help to rebuild and replenish the body. More severe cases require the guidance of a Holistic Nutrition regimen under the guidance of a licensed professional who understands the inherent biochemistry of the problem. Fasting, detoxing, and cleansing are probably not a good plan initially in these conditions, due to depletion.
The bottom line is simple. It’s all about money to Big Agribusiness. If we don’t buy it, they will stop making it.