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• Exercises Help Avoid Erectile Dysfunction
• An Introduction To Functional Foods
• Aspartame – The Artificial Sweetener With Controversy
• Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) & Labeling - Your Health Can Be At Risk
• Gum Diseases leading to Stroke
• Health Concerns About HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) & Labeling - Your Health Can Be At Risk

'Frankenfood' is another name for GMO's. Genetically modified foods are foods that are organisms whose genetic material has been altered. Commonly we see GMO's in soybeans, corn, rapeseed/canola oil, and in sugar beets. The seeds have been genetically modified in order to not only resist certain chemicals such as Roundup, but they yield more product. There are other GMO foods on the market, however the 4 just listed are the most common, with 90% of corn and around 60% of soybeans being GMO commodities in the United States.

GMO's are found in absolutely everything that Americans consume. Corn is forced into automobiles gas tanks, as corn syrup, and is even forced down the throats of animals that would normally not consume it such as cows, pigs, and even fish. The same can be said for soybeans. The problem with GMO's is there just is not enough research to conclude if these organisms can have severe health risk, but the worse thing is under FDA, the food giants do not have to label their products as GMO. Most people are under the assumption that GMO's can be avoided by eating certified organic foods. Not so fast.

The problem with organic foods is those too are grown by seed. Everyone knows that seeds need to be pollinated in order to bear fruit, and that pollen is carried by wind and insects at distances. Once that flower is pollinated from the flower of a GMO, what happens? Easy, the seed that is saved from the resulting fruit is contaminated. Even worse, these GMO seeds are patented! That means you do not have the right to plant them without potentially being sued by the GMO seed giant Monsanto. Open pollinated farms that save seed stock have been exposed to GMO pollinating and in return preventing those farmers from selling their crops. There are many accounts where Monsanto has tested "organic" fields and sued those farmers in order to protect their patents.

Since GMO labeling is not required, the only way consumers can protect themselves is to either grow their own or buy foods from certified organic farmers. This is a very expensive way to live a healthy lifestyle, however until laws change for labeling, consumers are on their own. For more information on GMO's and how you can participate in the movement to force food makers to label their products, please contact your legislators and let them know that it is your right to know if the food your are consuming is genetically engineered.