Is your food gmo?

Natural News

October 11, 2010

We live in a world where genetic modification of the food supply is extremely prevalent. It is extremely important to be able to identify whether or not your food has been a target of genetic modification, or sprayed with pesticides. There are numerous methods of identifying the origins of your food by reading labels and looking for key indicators.

Reading the labels is the easiest way to determine if your food is safe to eat. Produce labels will contain a series of numbers. These numbers will tell you everything you need to know when it comes to identifying whether or not it is organic.

If the number on the label begins with a 4, it is conventional produce. This produce has most likely been sprayed with pesticides. Genetically modified produce will start with the number 8, and it often is identified with a string of numbers consisting of 5 digits. Organic produce will be labeled with 5 digits also but will begin with the number 9. Always check the label twice, as it is sometimes hard to tell at first glance.

As far as other food products, it is also all told in the labeling.

If a product is labeled as organic, it may not be fully organic. FDA regulations and rules allow for products that are not 100% organic to be labeled organic. Look for labels indicating that the product is 100% organic. When a product contains this label, it is truly organic. This means that it also does not contain any genetically modified ingredients.

Always read the ingredients of a product anyway to ensure there are no harmful additives, but the 100% organic label is the ideal label when it comes to searching for quality food products. So what if a product isn’t 100% organic? How do you know if it contains genetically modified ingredients? Products labeled “Non-GMO” or “GMO-free” are statements that indicate the absence of genetically modified ingredients. Keep in mind that high-fructose corn syrup is known for being genetically modified, so avoid products containing this ingredient. High-fructose corn syrup has also been found to contain mercury.

If these labels are not present, do not hesitate to call the company and ask. Sometimes all it takes is a visit to the company’s website to send in a question through their contact form. If you find that the product does indeed contain genetically modified ingredients, then voice your opposition to the use of these ingredients in the product.

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Will all seeds be owned by a few large companies?

The Ecologist 

October 7, 2010 

Graphic illustrates how just five biotech giants have increased their control of the global seed market, promoting monoculture farming and making it harder for farmers to find alternative sources of seeds 

Since the mid-1990s just five biotech giants – Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow and DuPont – have bought up more than 200 other companies between them to dominate our access to seeds. 

Philip Howard from Michigan State university, who has produced a unique visual to illustrate this growing concentration of power in the hands of a few companies, says the takeover of the seed market has been ‘dramatic’ and that it is getting harder for farmers to find alternatives. 

In the US for example, where 90 per cent of the soybeans grown are genetically-modified varieties, many conventional farmers have had difficulty obtaining non-genetically modified seeds to plant. 

Howard says the increasing power of seed companies is ‘incompatible’ with renewable agricultural practices such as saving and replanting seeds. He says one solution to restricting their control would be through banning the practice of granting patents on seeds, plants and genes. 

A patent gives a company exclusive rights to sell and develop a new invention. In the case of patents on plants and genes it grants them temporary monopolies and bans farmers from saving seeds, forcing them to buy new seeds from the company each year or pay a license to use patented seeds they have saved. 

Howard and others argue that ‘excessive seed patenting’ by the biotech giants is allowing them to control a large number of seeds and leading to an increase in seed prices and a decrease of seed choices for farmers. 

The groundbreaking IAASTD report in 2008, conducted by 400 scientists from around the world, criticised patents for driving up costs and restricting experimentation by farmers in developing countries. 

A report, ‘Future of seeds and food‘, published last year by a coalition of campaign groups, including Greenpeace, called for an end to patents on seeds to halt the domination of biotech giants like Syngenta. It says only bigger seed companies can afford to apply and enforce a patent. 

‘Patents exacerbate genetic erosion as they promote monoculture by hindering the development of new seed varieties. In sum, the possible, long term consequences of patents are control of the whole food chain by a few companies,’ said the report. 

‘What is needed most is a clear legal ruling that exempts seeds and farm animals from patent protection.’ 

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Can watermelon help lower blood pressure?

Natural News

October 18,2010

Watermelon is a classic summertime favorite packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and many other nutrients. And a new study out of Florida State University (FSU) has pinpointed a few specific amino acids present in watermelon that help improve arterial function and lower blood pressure.

According to FSU researchers, watermelon is rich in the amino acid L-citrulline, a precursor of L-arginine, that reverses the effects of prehypertension by maintaining arterial function and improving proper blood flow. Published in the journal American Journal of Hypertension, the study is the first of its kind to show this definitive benefit in humans.

“We are the first to document improved aortic hemodynamics in prehypertensive but otherwise healthy middle-aged men and women receiving therapeutic doses of watermelon,” explained Arturo Figueroa, assistant professor at FSU and co-author of the study. “These findings suggest that this ‘functional food’ has a vasodilatory effect, and one that may prevent hypertension from progressing to full-blown hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease.”

When consumed, L-citrulline is processed by the body into L-arginine, which is known to produce necessary nitric oxide in the blood. Nitric oxide maintains healthy blood pressure levels and regulates vascular tone without inducing any negative side effects. And according to Figueroa, watermelon is the richest edible source of L-citrulline.

Both Figueroa and co-author Bahram Arjmandi described watermelon as a “functional” food, meaning it is “scientifically shown to have health-promoting or disease-preventing properties, above and beyond the other intrinsically healthy nutrients [it also supplies].”

“Individuals with increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness — especially those who are older and those with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes — would benefit from L-citrulline,” said Figueroa. “The optimal dose appears to be four to six grams a day.”

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Will High Fructose Corn Syrup be getting a new name?

Natural News

September 15, 2010

Consumers have largely ignored every marketing effort by the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) to “health-wash” high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as being the same as all other forms of sugar. But the group refuses to give up. According to the Associated Press, CRA is now petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow it to change the name of the highly-processed, controversial sweetener to “corn sugar” in yet another attempt to convince the public to accept it.

No matter how you look at it, HFCS is a highly-processed, unnatural form of refined sugar that inflicts a heavy burden on the liver. Besides being derived from corn, of which the vast majority is genetically-modified (GM), HFCS is linked to metabolic syndrome, heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Last year, studies also found that at least half of commercial HFCS contains high levels of toxic mercury due to the extensive chemical refining process necessary to produce the sweetener. Nearly a third of the HFCS-containing breads, cereals, sodas and other consumer foods tested as part of the study showed up positive for mercury.

Despite the overwhelming evidence showing that HFCS is harmful to health, CRA is determined to convince the public otherwise. Its new marketing slogan claims that “whether it’s corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can’t tell the difference. Sugar is sugar.”

Consumption of HFCS has reached a 20-year low, and will likely continue to fall. Several large food producers, including Hunt’s ketchup and Snapple, have already removed the sweetener from their products, and many others will likely follow suit to meet consumer demand.

But most producers are replacing HFCS with refined cane or beet sugar, which is not much better. In fact, the majority of beet sugar grown in the U.S. is GM as well, but a recent court ruling may change that.

The best forms of sugar are those in their natural, whole form. The refining process removes many necessary co-factors that help the body to process the sugar properly, which leads to disease. So stick to things like raw sugars, raw honey and whole stevia leaf extract when enjoying a sweet treat.

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Fish Oil Helps Fight Teen Boy Depression

Natural News

August 25, 2010

Japanese researchers have discovered yet another benefit to fish oil — treatment for depression. According to a study out of the University of Tokyo, teenage boys who eat a lot of oily fish have a 27 percent reduced risk of depression compared to those who eat little oily fish.

Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA offer numerous benefits to both body and brain health, and the new study indicates that these oils may also play a valuable role in preventing and treating depression.

Kentaro Murakami and his colleagues analyzed 6,500 Japanese junior high students between the ages of 12 and 15. Nearly a quarter of boys had initial symptoms of depression and about a third of girls had symptoms. After considering various life factors and dietary practices, the team discovered that the less oily fish boys ate, the more likely they were to have depression symptoms. They did not observe the same benefit in girls.

However several other studies have indicated that fish oil plays an important role in the mental health of both sexes, including a 1999 study in the Archives of General Psychiatry which found that manic-depressive patients who supplement with fish oil experience overall improvements in mental health.

“Fish oil…appears to be very good stuff for the brain and behavior, which makes sense because omega-3 fatty acids have a critical role in brain development and functioning, including promoting the growth of neurons in the frontal cortex. Fish oil has been shown in a series of studies by Andrew Stoll at Harvard to ease the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression,” explains Charles Barber in his book Comfortably Numb: How Psychiatry Is Medicating a Nation.

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Genetically Modified Foods are harmful to your health.

Excellent and informative article on genetically modified foods (GMO).  Large companies are fighting against you knowing which foods you eat are genetically modified.  GMO foods are detrimental to your health and they do not want you to know.  Advocate for your health by gaining information and using your economical vote when you purchase food.

Natural Bias

The genetic modification of food crops may sound like an advantageous use of modern technology, and the biotechnology industry assertively claims that it is, but there are a number of frightening concerns associated with it that aren’t being given the consideration they deserve.

When an organism is genetically modified, a gene from one organism is extracted, modified, and inserted into the DNA of another organism. Generally, the insertion of this gene is intended to provide the recipient organism with a trait that it doesn’t normally possess. For example, the gene in jellyfish that’s responsible for bioluminescence has been used to engineer pigs, mice, and rabbits that glow in the dark. A more relevant use of genetic engineering that’s already in use is the creation of food crops that can produce their own pesticides or be more resistant to other pesticides that are externally applied. The outcome of these genetic alterations can be very unpredictable, and as a result, they present many legitimate concerns relating to our health. They also threaten to disrupt the intricate balance of our ecosystem which can have significant implications as well.

Genetics is a very complex subject that we have yet to fully understand. Considering that it took billions of years for the current gene pool to evolve to be what it is today, is it really a good idea for us to be so casual about altering it?

Genetically Modified Foods May Contain Harmful Proteins

Genes influence an organism’s function and appearance through the production of proteins that act as hormones, enzymes, antibodies, structural support, or transportation molecules. It was originally believed that each gene produced only a single protein which would be extremely convenient for genetic engineering. However, when the Human Genome Project determined in 2003 that humans possess only 20,000 to 25,000 genes¹, it became obvious that this was untrue because this would provide for far too few proteins to support the complexity of human function. As such, it was suddenly clear that a single gene can produce multiple proteins. In fact, a particular gene in the fruit fly can produce more than 38,000 different proteins.² As such, when a gene from one organism is inserted into another, it may cause the recipient organism to produce numerous proteins in addition to the ones desired. This presents a significant concern in regard to the safety and reliability of genetic engineering.

If a genetically modified organism is destined to become food, some of the new proteins that are produced as a result of the genetic alteration may act as toxins or allergens when consumed. Even the nutrient content of the food can be altered. In some cases, a combination of several foreign genes are inserted into the recipient organism which increases the chances of unintended and undesirable proteins being produced. The interactions that may occur between these proteins add even more uncertainty and potential for problems. Despite the fact that the FDA has approved the use of genetically modified foods, albeit hastily, some of their own research has acknowledged the risk of these foods containing increased levels of natural toxins and having reduced nutritional value.¹⁶

Once a protein is synthesized, certain molecules such as phosphate, sulfur, sugar, or lipids may be added to alter its function.³In addition, chaperone proteins can further change the function of a protein molecule by altering how it’s folded.⁸It’s possible for the cells of a genetically modified organism to make any of these changes to proteins that are produced by foreign DNA, and when they do, the chances of these proteins being harmful can be even greater. In fact, misfolded proteins can even lead to a number of fatal brain diseases.⁹

Genetic Engineering is Imprecise and Unpredictable

To say that a foreign gene is inserted into the DNA of an organism implies precision, but to say that genetic engineering is precise is very questionable. A gene is essentially a portion of DNA that contains instructions for the synthesis of specific proteins. As previously mentioned, the production of such proteins is how the characteristics of a particular gene are expressed. Because only a small portion of a gene’s DNA contains the instructions for protein synthesis, scientists once believed that the large amount of remaining DNA was useless and was therefore referred to as “junk DNA.” Although genetic engineers hope for foreign genes to be inserted into these junk sections of DNA, they have little control of where in the recipient organism’s DNA it’s actually incorporated.

As it turns out, junk DNA isn’t the useless junk it was once thought to be and is now believed to influence which proteins a gene produces.³ As such, even if a foreign gene is successfully inserted into the junk DNA of the recipient organism, the outcome is still unpredictable and there’s still a chance for the expression of the native gene to be altered in undesirable ways. If the foreign gene misses the junk DNA and is inserted into a section of the native DNA containing sequences that direct protein synthesis, then there’s even more potential for unpredictable and undesirable effects.

The uncertainty of genetic engineering is clearly shown by a study in which a foreign gene was inserted into petunia plants to give them red flowers. Although the scientists expected all of the plants to have red flowers, the color varied based on where the foreign gene happened to be incorporated into the DNA. In addition, the color of the plant also varied depending on the time of year which indicates that environmental factors can influence the expression of foreign genes as well.⁷ Likewise, it’s been shown that the same gene inserted into a number of plants of the same species was expressed at different levels and with differing side effects.^11,12,13

Given the variety of factors that influence gene expression, the insertion of foreign genes and the alterations to native genes that can result can also influence the expression of other genes. Research relating to the treatment of cystic fibrosis has found that gene insertion can significantly alter overall gene expression by as much as 5%.⁵ This means that 1 out of every 20 genes can be effected which can mean thousands of genes in some organisms. As unsettling as this may seem, the outcome of genetic engineering can be catastrophic even if the expression of just a single gene is altered. In a study done on mice embryos, the insertion of foreign DNA caused a single native gene to be silenced and resulted in death.⁶

Many scientists believe that research on genetically modified foods has generated more questions than answers, that the undesirable effects could be immediate or take many years, and because genetically modified foods are already a common part of our food supply, that the general public is being forced to participate in a giant experiment. In fact, one team of researchers concluded that “controversies and knowledge gaps appear to be present at all levels.”²⁴ Given the volatility of genetic engineering, it’s very difficult to be certain of what you’re eating when you consume genetically modified foods and what the risks may be.

The Roundup Ready Soybean and More Uncertainty

The Roundup Ready soybean, created and patented by Monsanto, is one of the most popular genetically modified foods on the market. Monsanto, one of the largest agricultural companies in the world, also happens to be largely responsible for the existence of some of the most infamous toxins such as DDT, Agent Orange, and PCBs. They also manufacture the controversial sweetener aspartame. However, when it comes to Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soybean, which is genetically modified to resist to their own Roundup pesticide, they claim it’s for the good of humanity.

In 2001, years after the Roundup Ready soybean was introduced to the food supply, researchers found it to contain a DNA sequence of 534 base pairs that don’t naturally exist in the soybean and aren’t part of the Roundup gene intended for insertion.²² While it’s possible that this unidentified sequence of DNA could have been a rearrangement of native DNA resulting from the insertion process as opposed to it having been directly inserted, Monsanto has already admitted to unintentionally inserting two other DNA fragments into their Roundup Ready soybeans²³. Either way, it’s enough DNA to produce new and potentially harmful proteins and is a legitimate concern.

93 percent of soy in the US is grown from seeds that are genetically modified based on Monsanto’s patents.²⁵. If you eat any soy, there’s a good chance that you’re eating the mysterious DNA fragments that come along with it as well as the byproducts that these fragments may produce.

Altered DNA Can Become Part of Your Intestines

Hundreds of strains of bacteria amounting to as much as 5 pounds reside in the human intestines. Many of these bacteria are critical to our immunity, digestion, and are even a source of nutrients. If the balance or function of these bacteria is altered, it can have a significant impact on human health. As such, it would be of great concern if the foreign DNA in the cells of genetically modified food could be incorporated into the bacteria cells in the intestines. Although it was once believed that the DNA in food wouldn’t survive digestion, research has shown that genetically modified genes can indeed end up in human digestive bacteria which happened to be the case with a gene used in soybeans to improve herbicide resistance.¹⁰

Another significant concern regarding genetically modified foods and intestinal bacteria is antibiotic resistance. During the DNA insertion process, the foreign DNA is only incorporated into a small number of target cells. As such, scientists need a way to differentiate the cells with the foreign DNA from those without it. One of the ways this is accomplished is to add something called an Antibiotic Resistant Marker gene to the foreign gene being inserted. This has the effect of making the cell resistant to a specific antibiotic, and when the scientist applies the antibiotic to the targeted cells, it becomes easy to identify which ones the foreign gene was successfully inserted into. However, if the Antibiotic Resistant Marker gene is transferred to intestinal bacteria and eventually other types of bacteria, it can greatly reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics.

The Forced Expression of Foreign Genes

A number of factors determine if and when a gene can be expressed. Because these factors may not be satisfied when a foreign gene exists in a genetically modified organism, genetic engineers add to the gene a regulatory element called a promoter to maximize its expression. Unfortunately, this can have the undesirable effect of influencing the expression of native genes in the recipient organism, even if they’re a far distance from the foreign gene or part of a separate chromosome.¹³ The maximized expression also requires additional energy and resources from the recipient organism which could deprive other important physiological systems.

As previously mentioned, the foreign DNA in genetically modified organisms can be transferred to other organisms. This is the case with promoters as well. Research done by the Norwegian Institute for Gene Ecology found that the CaMV promoter, which is commonly used in genetically modified foods, transferred to the tissue of the rats it was fed to. They also found the promoter to be active in rat, fish, and human cells inside test tubes.³³ More recent research has confirmed this promoter to be active in human cells.³⁸ The transfer of this promoter is believed to have the ability to reactivate dormant viruses, cause new viruses, and is also believed to be a legitimate cancer risk.¹⁵

Allergic Reactions to Genetically Modified Foods

Food allergies and sensitivities typically involve adverse reactions to proteins. Because genetically modified foods can contain new varieties of proteins, the risk of adverse reactions is increased. Not only is it possible for new and unpredictable allergies to develop, but also for known allergens to appear in unsuspecting foods. This is exactly what happened when a seed company now owned by DuPont used a gene from the Brazil nut to improve the protein quality of soybeans. Fortunately, these genetically modified soybeans were tested before being introduced to the market, which hasn’t always been the case, and were found to contain what the researchers considered very likely to be a major allergen from the Brazil nut.¹⁷

Another alarming case of a genetically modified food being allergenic is StarLink corn. This corn was genetically modified with a gene from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, often abbreviated Bt, to produce its own pesticide. Because the approval of pesticides is handled by the EPA, they oversaw the approval of StarLink corn instead of the FDA and decided to not approve it because of its potential to be allergenic. However, the EPA did approve StarLink corn as feed for pigs, cows, and other livestock, but relied on the farmers who grew the corn to keep it segregated from any corn grown for human consumption. Unfortunately, StarLink corn eventually made its way into the food supply and caused a massive recall which is estimated to have involved tens of millions of products.¹⁸StarLink corn ended up in tacos, tortillas, and other corn products and caused reactions in some people that ranged from abdominal pain, diarrhea, and skin rashes to life threatening anaphylactic shock. Even inhaling the pollen of StarLink and other Bt crops has been shown to be a likely cause of allergic reaction.¹⁹

Aventis, the maker of StarLink, was faced with numerous lawsuits and the difficult task of preventing any further contamination of the human food supply. However, after admitting that it would be impossible to completely irradiate StarLink and that it would be part of the food supply forever, Aventis petitioned the EPA to deem the existing level of contamination as acceptable.²⁰Although the allergenic response to StarLink has been downplayed by the FDA, Keith Finger, an optometrist from Florida who suffered anaphylactic shock after eating tortillas containing StarLink corn, was able to reproduce his severe reaction by consuming a verified sample of StarLink.²¹This is despite the FDA testing that concluded Finger isn’t allergic to StarLink.

Animals Avoid Genetically Modified Feed

According to a report written by the Soil Association on genetically modified crops, a number of farmers have noticed their livestock having an aversion towards eating them.²⁶ There have been numerous instances of cattle, pigs, elk, and rodents being able to naturally identify genetically modified crops and choosing to avoid them. One farmer even reported on his cattle breaking through a fence to eat regular corn crops despite genetically modified corn crops being readily accessible to them. We seem to have lost this innate ability of animals to choose healthful food, probably as a result of our intelligence. However, in the case of genetically modified food, perhaps we’re too smart for our own good.

According to one of the scientists involved in testing the Flavr Savr tomato, one of the first genetically modified foods to be tested, they had difficulty getting the rats used in the research to eat them.²⁷ A Dutch undergraduate student found similar results after giving mice a choice between regular food and its genetically modified equivalent. The mice ate 61% regular food and 39% genetically modified food.²⁸. A report published by Acres U.S.A. includes additional accounts of animals avoiding genetically modified foods. This includes deer devouring regular soy crops and raccoons eating regular corn crops with both animals completely avoiding adjacent genetically modified crops of the same foods .²⁹ Although this doesn’t prove anything about the safety of genetically modified foods, it’s certainly raises some questions.

A Dangerous Genetically Modified Supplement

A number of supplements are produced by various strains of bacteria, some of which are genetically modified to yield greater quantities of the desired substance. This was the case for a tryptophan supplement produced by a Japanese company named Showa Denko. Tryptophanis an amino acid required for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, and in turn, the production of the hormone melatonin. Based on the actions of serotonin and melatonin, tryptophan is often used as a natural method of alleviating depression and improving sleep. However, in 1990, it was estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 people had contracted a debilitating neurological disorder called eosinophillia-myalgia syndrome from the use of a tainted tryptophan supplement which was later isolated to Showa Denko³⁰ and confirmed to be genetically engineered.³¹

As previously stated, it’s difficult to predict what type of proteins a genetically modified organism will produce, and in some cases, this may lead to the direct or indirect production of toxic substances. Although the impurities that caused the eosinophillia-myalgia outbreak aren’t proven to be the result of genetic engineering, the indications are pretty strong. As such, it would be in your best interest to verify that any supplements you use are not manufactured with genetically modified bacteria.

The Politics of Genetically Modified Foods

As with most health related controversies, there’s plenty of political and corporate influence behind the approval genetically modified foods, their introduction into the food supply, and the claim that they’re just as safe as their natural counterparts. Much of this has been driven by Monsanto, the producer of the Roundup Ready Soybean discussed earlier. The U.S. government’s support of the biotechnology industry, mostly based on its potential for economical growth, has been a significant factor as well. Monsanto has been accused on numerous occasions of influencing the FDA to gain approval of their genetically modified products and bullying the media to gain public acceptance of the supposed safety of genetically modified foods. The extent of this warrants a separate article which will be coming soon.

The misfortune of Arpad Pusztai, a very highly regarded researcher and one of the first to truly assess the safety of genetically modified foods, shows how destructive the political influence of a major industry can be. Pusztai and his colleagues conducted a study on potatoes that were genetically modified to produce their own pesticide.³²Despite being an advocate of genetically engineered foods and expecting not to find any issues, Pusztai was alarmed to discover that the rats fed the genetically modified potatoes suffered from impaired immunity, damage to the thymus and spleen, underdevelopment of the brain, liver, and testicles, and enlargement of the pancreas and intestines. When he realized that similar foods were already approved and introduced into the food supply, he was disgusted and felt obligated to make the general public aware of his findings. In exchange for his honest intentions, he was suspended from his job, put under a gag order, and harshly criticized by the biotechnology industry and its supporters.³³

The Supposed Benefits of Genetically Modified Foods

Many proponents of genetically modified foods, particularly the biotechnology companies that produce them, claim that they deliver higher crop yields, require less use of pesticides, and increase profit for farmers. However, the opposite has proven to be true in many cases. After switching to genetically modified seeds, many farmers observed a decrease in crop yield, became more reliant on pesticides, and made less money. It has also been claimed that genetically modified crops would improve the nation’s economy, but because other nations have refused to import them, it’s estimated that the transition to these crops has caused a loss of more than $12 billion between 1999 and 2001.²⁶

Biotechnology proponents even go as far as saying that genetically modified foods are the answer to alleviating world hunger, and this was even a major objective for President Bush in 2003. However, considering that genetically modified foods have been shown to incur added costs and potentially decrease crop yield, this seems like more of a marketing ploy than anything else. This especially seems to be the case with “golden rice” which was genetically modified to produce vitamin A. The supposed motivation behind this rice was to reduce the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in African and Asian children which often results in blindness. However, according to Greenpeace, an adult would need to consume nearly 20 pounds of cooked golden rice to obtain their daily vitamin A requirement. Despite this obvious obstacle, one of the companies owning patents on golden rice claimed that delaying its approval by just a month would cause 50,000 children to go blind.³⁴ At the time, more than $100 million had been invested in the development of golden rice with another $50 million slated for advertising.³⁵ In contrast, UNICEF has found that two annual doses of a high potency vitamin A supplement, at the cost of just 4 cents per child, can cure and prevent vitamin A deficiency.³⁶

Most of the supposed benefits of genetically engineered foods have been proven on multiple occasions to not be true, but even if this weren’t the case, would the benefits be worth the potential health risks? Or how about the irreversible and unpredictable alterations to our food supply? Once a genetically modified crop is introduced to the food supply, it can cross pollinate with other crops and become a permanent fixture in the gene pool. This has already happened on a number of occasions. In 2002, Mexico admitted to a major contamination of their corn crops with 95% of the sites analyzed having contaminated seeds.³⁷ How far will we go in allowing the biotechnology industry to endanger our health, our environment, and our future?

How to Minimize Your Risk

As previously stated, at least 93% of soy and 80% of corn in the United States is genetically modified.²⁵ To make matters worse, soy and corn exist in most processed foods which is something that many people don’t realize. As such, many people are unknowingly eating foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. A large majority of canola is also frequently genetically modified as is about half of the papaya that comes from Hawaii. Because the derivatives of these genetically modified crops can sometimes be very difficult to identify in ingredients lists, the best way to avoid them is to choose products that are certified organic, or even better, to follow a diet based mostly on natural whole foods obtained from reputable farms.

For more information on the risks and politics associated with genetically modified foods, I highly recommend reading Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey M. Smith

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No to GMO

Natural Health News

August 24, 2010

Biotechnology giants like Monsanto continue to push their genetically-modified (GM) crop seeds on the nations of the world, in most cases bypassing the clear will of the people in the process. But some people have decided that enough is enough. For the second time in two years, a group of protestors has destroyed GM grapevines at a French vineyard, uprooting all 70 of the experimental plants before being arrested.

Besides causing damage to the intestines, immune system and organs, GMs require heavy applications of pesticides to even grow at all. They typically only last for one planting due to their altered genetic programming. And they cross-pollinate with non-GM crops and cause “superweeds” to form.

But public opposition through legislation and loud voices has done little to curb the expanding implementation of GM crops around the world. Even the Obama Administration has done nothing but kowtow to biotechnology interests. So concerned citizens from various nations have decided to simply destroy the crops..

The vineyard isn’t the only place that has experienced the wrath of an upset public, either. Back in July, protestors ravished the fields of two experimental corn crops in Spain. And back in the early 1990s, when the U.S. was first transitioning many of its staple crops to GM varieties, cotton farmers in India burned hordes of GM cotton in protest of the toxic crops.

According to reports, Monsanto recently tried to offer 475 tons of hybrid corn to Haitian earthquake victims, but the nation rejected the offer as nothing more than a ploy to further impose GM crops around the world.

All in all, GM crops are a failure. They threaten the world’s food supply, they are toxic to the environment and to humans and they serve no legitimate purpose in agriculture other than to give complete control of food to a few multinational corporations.

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Essential Oils 101

Preparedness Pro

So, what is all of this stuff  and hooey about essential oils? Are they just another quack medicine? Do they really serve any real purpose? How in the world do you decide which fluffy named oil to purchase? Do I choose the one named “My Life” or “Love Life”? How do you use it?  What are the side effects?  Can you overdose on it? Will it stain my clothes? Can I use them on my cat named Fluffy who’s stresses out every time I leave the house? Is it addictive?

If you’ve ever wondered any one of these questions before, then you’ll love the articles I’ll be throwing at you over the next couple of weeks.  Not wanting to bore anyone and in the interest of keeping things fun and exciting—yes, we are allowed to use those words on a preparedness site—I’m not going to do a series all in order on a set number of days on this subject, but have decided that my goal this year has paid off well and I’m comfortable with my resources and personal experiences to help anyone else who’s interested understand this great, invaluable resource.  I have to tell you, the more I learn about essential oils, the more amazed I am at just one more miracle that’s available to us.  It’s also been kind of fun this year as I’ve studied, because so many times I’ll have an “ah ha” moment in which I suddenly understand the history behind certain actions that we still perform today (I personally love those kinds of moments when for just a second things make sense and are reconciled). So, let’s get going and growing.

Every year I set a goal to study in one particular field of expertise that I want to really master and learn. This year it was essential oils. After using them successfully for about 10 years, I still felt like such a newbie and that there was so much that I was missing. I’m so glad to tell you that my hard work and time has paid off so far. When it comes to essential oils I feel as excited as I did when I first learned about scrapbooking. That’s pretty excited if you consider the fact that my husband had to build me two closets to keep all of my scrapbooking supplies.

As you know, I’ve written numerous times about using essential oils here and there, but today I thought that I would establish a foundation of some general information on essential oils so that you can determine whether or not they should be a part of your preparedness efforts. Today I’m just going to address in what ways essential oils are beneficial to us. Then in the next piece—say, “Essential Oils 201”, I’ll address the fundamentals of selection and storage of essential oils, how to determine which one to use, etc.  I may even get into some of the combinations and uses of oils for specific issues. (According to the FDA I can do that as long as such anecdotal information doesn’t come from a company which actually manufactures and/or sells essential oils.  Gotta love freedom of speech, eh?)

As some of you may already know, every living thing has an electronic frequency—that includes us humans. Each of us has a electronic current pulsing through us at varying frequencies. That’s right. Each of us has a vibrational frequency, otherwise known as megahertz (aka MHZ)  (In fact it was a science geek who originated the term “sparkling or electric personality—who knew they had a sense of humor? *grin*). Most people’s normal level of brain frequency during normal waking hours of the day is 70-78 megahertz. The healthier and happier you are, the higher the frequency.

Essential oils are living things as well derived by plants (Note: All plants do not create essential oils). As such essential oils are made up of frequencies ranging in number from 52 MHZ to as high as 320 MHZ. Blossom essential oils, such as rose oil, always have the highest frequencies—which is why the tradition of bringing flowers to someone who was ill has been practiced for literally thousands of years.  So, when your frequencies are low due to disease, fatigue, depression, or stress, you can improve the health of your body simply by improving the megahertz level by introducing the frequency of an essential oil.  Essential oils add to and supplement your own frequency. So even if you introduced a low frequency essential oil into your body, you would still have an improvement. What this means is regardless of what essential oil you introduce to your body, you will be improving your frequency level which will assist you in combating what ails you. So while yes, some essential oils are even more effective for what’s compromising your health than others, no essential oil will be bad for you.  It also should be mentioned that essential oils actually have several times greater frequency levels than herbs and food—so if you are into homeopathic remedies and quality foods for the purpose of better health, I think any repertoire would be incomplete without the benefit of essential oils.

When using essential oils, it’s important to understand that true essential oils do not have side effects when used with common sense.  A person can overdose on carrots and cause some great discomfort and even turn orange.  Likewise, a person can use too much of an otherwise harmless but helpful substance in the form of essential oils. But as a general rule of thumb, it is highly unlikely that you are ever really allergic to an essential oil. While you may have heard stories of folks breaking out in a rash or getting stuffed up because of an essential oil, such an occurrence is not a side effect of the oil. It’s actually a healing or cleansing crisis. Chances are that if the person were to continue using an essential oil they would no longer have such a reaction after a couple of weeks. Think about it this way; pimples, for example, are the result of toxins leaving your body. Sometimes such toxins do not leave gracefully. Sometimes there is such a surge of toxins in our body that they all try to leave the same pore at the same time, thus causing an inflammation (kind of like what happens at Wal-Mart on Black Friday when the doors finally get opened)  That doesn’t mean that what you just ate was a toxin, per se, it simply means that your body is getting rid of toxins in your body. Toxins come from what we eat, what we breathe, what we bathe in, etc. and our body miraculously knows to get rid of such toxins as best as we allow it to do so. So, when someone believes they are allergic to a particular essential oil (which is rare, but still possible) the options are to either continue on with that particular oil but at a lower usage amount, e.g. 1 drop instead of 3; try an alternative essential oil instead; or take a break from using that particular oil and then try it again in about 72 hours.

So, why does one to three drops of this stuff have any affect our on physical bodies? Because it has a unique attribute that very few nutritional or medicinal products do—it actually goes right to the cellular level!

As you know, you’ve got a whole bunch of living cells in your body. Each of the cells has a membrane to protect it. In some instances that membrane gets beat up and damaged due to free radicals, disease, and abuses we may inflict on our body. Essential oils have the unique ability to actually penetrate even damaged cell walls because the molecules are so small.  When you consume a medicine or vitamins, they have to be broken down to small enough molecules so that they can benefit your body. However, there are very few medicinal and nutritional treatments that get broken down and used right to the cellular level. The molecules of essential oils are so small that they get through easily to the cells without having to ask permission from other components of the body (such as the liver, kidney, pancreas, etc.) and they can immediately go to work on the scrubbing and cleaning of the membranes and the cells.

Essential oils bring oxygen to the cells, which trigger great healing effects. They are also all anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic to some degree or another—with some being more so than others. Even more amazing is that the litany of clinical studies that have been conducted to this extent have all shown that they are able to perform such valuable “anti-functions” without any side effects that are so notorious with pharmaceuticals. Essential oils also activate capillary circulation, so they are a great asset to have post-surgery, etc. Essential oils, particularly lavender and coriander, are effective in helping cell renewal, which makes them great to prevent scarring and for skin care.

Understand that one drop of an essential oil is powerful stuff! (Yes, “stuff” is a new medical term I’ve picked up with all of my studying.) It takes one pound of botanical material in order to create one single drop of pure essential oil. So, due to the nature of essential oils and how they can penetrate the cell walls within minutes, it means that in a very short period of time the benefits of this powerful single drop of essential oil can be realized.

On the hand though, chemicals, as we get with every single pharmaceutical drug out there, have a hard time making their way to the cellular level.  In fact, one of the greatest challenges of chemical research in the medical industry is being able to create a compound that will cross over the blood/brain barrier, thus having an affect on the nervous system. This barrier is the membrane between the circulating blood and the brain that protects the brain from damaging substances affecting the brain tissue and the cerebrospinal fluid. This has been quite the dilemma for the medical industry and more particularly the pharmaceutical industry. Billions of dollars are lying on the table waiting to be claimed by the first drug that can be manufactured to successfully cross over this barrier (Hmmm. I guess God created our bodies to be a bit smarter than the FDA and drug company warlord’s eh? Guess that should tell us something).  The American Medical Association determined that if they could create a product that could cross over the blood /brain barrier then there would quickly follow cures for Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, Down Syndrome, Parkinson’s and other nervous system ailments. Interesting to note though is that sesquiterpenes (pronounced sess-quǐ-tur-peens– it’s fun to say and you sound so smart when you say it) ARE able to cross over this barrier. Oh, and guess what?  Yup, several essential oils are a significant source of sesquiterpenes and do have an amazing affect on the nervous system! (See Reference Guide for Essential Oils—Connie and Alan Higley, and June, 1994 University of Berlin study)  This means that essential oils can actually have an impact that no pharmaceutical compounds could ever hope to!  Some good sources of essential oils that are rich is sesquiterpenes are sandalwood, myrrh, and cedarwood. Frankincense also contains sesquiterpenes (yes, I love using this word and saying it out loud while I type) although less than most of the other oils I’ve already mentioned. However, frankincense has a wonderful synergistic effect because of all of its other attributes that makes it a favorite oil to use for sesquiterpene therapy. But we’ll get into the synergistic effect of essential oils in the upcoming articles. I think I’ve given you enough four and five syllable words for one day.

Until next time, you may want to do some researching for yourself. If you’re anything like me, you might just get a bit excited at all of the natural, accessible, affordable, and effective options there are for your health in the world of essential oils. I sure am. I recommend “The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple” by David Stewart, Ph.D., D.N.M. and also check out your local health food store and see if they are offering any essential oils classes.

Now, where did I put my favorite sesquiterpene oil? I’m feeling a little discombobulated.  Oh, and yes, essential oils are addictive, but in a really, really great way.

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Pomegranate extract is a powerful anti-fungal.

I love Pomegrante Extract.  It is a powerful antioxidant and is showing great promise in the area of cancer and heart disease.  Research is now also revealing Pomegranate Extract as an excellent anti-fungal.

June 23, 2010

Wellness Resources

Pomegranate extracts standardized for their primary active component, punicalagin, have received considerable attention for their role cardiovascular protection, weight management, and cancer prevention. Punicalagins are the most important active component found in the fresh pomegranate fruit; these are typically lost or in very low amounts when pomegrante juice is made. A new study shows that punicalagins have potent anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans.

A detailed electron microscopic examination of yeast cells exposed to punicalagins showed that their cell membranes had been drastically disrupted.  This is incredibly important, since Candidasurvives by erecting a powerful “force field” around its cell membranes.  The researchers also combined punicalagins with the anti-fungal drug Diflucan (fluconazole) and found that Diflucan was now twice as effective.  Candidadrug resistance to Diflucan is a major concern worldwide and the use of Diflucan has adverse side effects to a person’s adrenal glands as the drug is not specific for yeast cells and can disturb normal steroid stability of adrenal hormones. 

Many Americans live with chronic Candida albicans problems as a result of a history of overuse of antibiotics, steroidal medications, alcohol, and/or high sugar diets.  While these problems ebb and flow in intensity, many people struggle with the poor digestive health and sinus issues that often results.  Candida albicans overgrowth is a primary cause of asthma, which is now an epidemic in antibiotic over-exposed children.  The toxins of Candida cause mental decline (brain fog, memory loss, and depression) while increasing the risk for heart disease, cancer, and obesity.  In other words, the Candida issue is highly relevant to many Americans. 

It is nice to have one more documented nutrient option in the battle against excessive Candida albicans.

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Niacinamide shown to be a powerful Candida killer.

Please take note Niacinamide is a different form than Niacin.  I personally supplement with both because they each offer unique benefits.

August 12, 2010

Wellness Resources

Niacinamide (also called nicotinamide) is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that drastically disrupts the reproduction of Candida albicans — offering a new approach to dealing with a nagging health problem.

The medical profession is well aware of severe Candida infections in immune compromised individuals.  However, the medical profession has been the major cause of an epidemic of Candida overgrowth in otherwise healthy people due to their overuse of antibiotics.  Complicating matters is the excessive intake of French fries, potato chips, corn chips, sugar, and alcohol — all of which fuel Candida reproduction, or act as a metabolic fuel to increase Candida severity.

It is my estimate that over half the U.S. population struggles with some degree of Candida imbalance that is stressful to health, while up to 20% have had long-term issues with the problem that have significantly influenced quality of health. 

In the current study, researchers found that niacinamide directly disrupted key Candida reproductive enzymes leading to weaker strains of Candida, an inability to form infectious biofilms, and gross aberrations in the DNA of Candida.  This is all good news for humans and bad news for Candida. Niacinamide is virtually free of side effects as long as a total dose does not pass 3,000 mgs per day.  Niacinamide is similar to niacin, but does not have any flushing or any ability to lower cholesterol.

The study is very interesting to me because I have used a product high in niacinamide to help people overcome stubborn nail fungus problems.  The product was originally designed to help strengthen all forms of body tissue (bone, collagen, connective tissue, and cartilage).  I put a fairly large dose of niacinamide in it (350 mgs per daily dose) because niacinamide, unlike niacin, is known to stimulate the cartilage-building chondrocytes.  Over the past 15 years people using the product have reported that their nail issues had improved.  No other structural support product I have designed works as well for this purpose. I assumed it was effective because it was making the nail bed stronger and Candidacannot live in healthy body tissue — I did not suspect that niacinamide may also be acting as an antifungal.

Candida albicansis a normal inhabitant of your digestive tract and sinuses.  It needs to be kept in a friendly condition so it can perform its needed recycling functions that are important to your health.  Imbalance is often addressed with acidophilus or other natural nutrients.  Niacinamide is another tool in the tool box and likely to be highly synergistic with other Candida-balancing strategies.

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