By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

May 10, 2013

• This government scandal has my blood boiling
• Why the USDA says we’re eating “pests” instead of food
• Just say no to GMO

I very rarely introduce politics into my newsletter articles. I’d much rather leave political discussions to big media experts like Forbes, USA Today and the Washington Times.

But every now and then government officials make outlandish decisions that can have an enormous impact on the health of an entire nation. When that happens, my number one priority is to ensure the long-term health of my patients and readers.

You see, just a few weeks ago the U.S. passed a bill that may force Americans to spoon more and more genetically altered foods onto their plates – and into their mouths.

This little piece of legislature has all the components of a horror novel. But it’s occurring in real life.

And nobody – not the government; not the scientific community; not even the folks engineering these Franken foods – has any idea what the final health outcome will be.

Let me tell you about it…

On March 28, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a massive government funding bill. That in itself isn’t the problem.

The real trouble lies in a rider hidden deep inside the bill. The official name is “section 735 of HR 933.” But most people are calling it the “Monsanto Protection Act.” (If you aren’t familiar with Monsanto, they are the world’s largest producer of genetically engineered seeds.)

This rider contains only about 198 words. But those few words have the power to alter our food supply in terrifying ways.

In a nutshell, the bill turns the tables on the USDA – the government agency that regulates altered seeds. With the passing of the bill, the USDA no longer has the power to halt the growth and harvesting of a genetically modified crop once it’s planted.

But that’s not all. It also stripped away judicial oversight. The Federal Courts can no longer rule against the growing, harvesting and selling of these experimental crops, even if they are believed to be dangerous.

Essentially, this gives Monsanto the power to use unsuspecting U.S. citizens as guinea pigs for their experimental crops. And nobody can stop them!

If you’re not worried about this turn of events, there are plenty of reasons you should be…

During all of this brouhaha, I found it odd that there was no mention of the Food and Drug Administration – the FDA. After all, we’re eating these crops. So you’d think the FDA would be involved.

Apparently not.

It turns out the government doesn’t view genetically modified crops as food. Oddly enough, they are viewed as “pests.” That’s why they fall under the jurisdiction of the USDA.

Hmmmm…

But that’s not the scariest part.

Many of these genetically modified crops have been altered so the popular weed-killer, Roundup, won’t harm them. This means farmers can spray as much Roundup on these crops as necessary to get rid of weeds.

According to a report from the Organic Center, genetically modified (GM) crops increased the use of herbicides by 383 MILLION pounds in the U.S. from 1996 to 2008. That’s a lot of chemicals being added to our food supply. And they do horrible things to your body.

With this in mind, there are some things you should know about genetically modified and Roundup ready crops. And I think some of them will surprise you.

• Research shows glyphosate, the main chemical in Roundup, damages DNA, causes cancer and acts as an endocrine (hormone) disruptor in human cells. In one study out of France, the authors note Roundup “could cause cell damage and even death [at the] residual levels” found in Roundup ready crops.
• Signs of genetic material and pesticides from genetically modified foods have been found in the bodies of pregnant women and their developing fetuses. A study out of Canada found 93% of blood samples taken from pregnant women and 80% from umbilical cords tested positive for traces of the chemicals.
• The American Academy of Environmental Medicine states “there is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects.” In their opinion, genetically modified foods “pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health.”

You should also know that much of the meat and dairy products you eat may contain chemical residue and DNA fragments from altered foods. That’s because more and more Roundup ready corn, alfalfa and soy are being used for livestock feed.

Clearly it’s time to say “no to GMO.” And the sooner you do it, the better off you will be.

Sadly enough, there are no labeling requirements for genetically altered foods. And you are likely eating them without even knowing it.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Watch out for the Big 3 GMO foods. Here in the U.S. a surprising 95% of sugar beets, 93% of soybeans and 86% of corn grown are genetically modified. So make an effort to avoid foods containing processed sugars, corn syrup, corn oil, corn starch and soy.
• Stick with grass-fed beef. Naturally raised grass-fed cattle aren’t eating feed that has been man-made or altered in any way.
• Buy locally-grown produce. Stop by your neighborhood produce stand and talk to them about their farming methods. If they’re not using GMO seed, support them by becoming a regular customer.
• Look for the 100% Certified Organic label on the products you buy. This includes your fruits, vegetables and dairy products. You can also use this Non-GMO Shopping Guide when you go to the grocery store. If you have an iPhone, you can download it as a free app as well.

And don’t forget that you always have the choice of growing your own produce. All it takes is a few feet of land to grow your own greens, onions, peppers, herbs, squash, green beans and tomatoes.

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Resources:
Koller VJ, Fürhacker M, Nersesyan A, Mišík M, Eisenbauer M, Knasmueller S. Cytotoxic and DNA-damaging properties of glyphosate and Roundup in human-derived buccal epithelial cells. Arch Toxicol. 2012 May;86(5):805-13.

Gasnier C., Dumont C., Benachour N., Clair E., Chagnon M.C., Seralini G.E. (2009) Glyphosate-based herbicides are toxic and endocrine disruptors in human cell lines. Toxicology. 262: 184–191.

Benachour N, Séralini GE. Glyphosate formulations induce apoptosis and necrosis in human umbilical, embryonic, and placental cells. Chem Res Toxicol. 2009 Jan;22(1):97-105.

Aris A, Leblanc S. Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to genetically modified foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Reprod Toxicol. 2011 May;31(4):528-33.

The American Academy Of Environmental Medicine Calls For Immediate Moratorium On Genetically Modified Foods. Press Advisory. American Academy of Environmental Medicine. May, 2009.