GMO - Don't eat that....But, do please read this

Have you ever seen the term "non GMO" on something you have purchased at the grocery store? I never really knew what that meant - whether it was a good thing or not. Now I know. It is a good thing - buy items that are "non GMO" - that means they are not genetically modified. Tonight I finished showing my class the movie "The Corporation," which has some interesting, or shall I say disturbing things to say about the food industry. This made me think about something that I have heard before - is our food making us sick. After watching this movie - I am sure that our food is making us sick! Unless you buy organic and even then some organic manufacturers are questionable in my mind - you are consuming numerous toxic chemicals, not to mention genetically modified foods, known to cause cancer and other health problems. I looked up what GMO means and this is what I found. "A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have naturally." Some of the reasons companies genetically modify crops (food):
• By manipulating the genetic code of a crop in the lab, it is possible to create a strain of corn, for example, that is hardier and will survive a wider range of climates than ordinary corn.
• Some GMO foods are designed to produce chemicals that will repel insects and other pests, making hazardous pesticides unnecessary.
• Others are modified to boost their nutritional value or to appeal to shoppers by changing the color or size of fruits or veggies.
Changing the DNA of our food - that can NOT be good. Argh!! Do I really want to eat a vegetable that can survive weeks in a truck in the heat, or that has chemicals in it combat pests, or that is bigger and more colorful than nature intended it to be? For me the answer is a resounding NO!!!!! It is a freakin genetically modified food product, and not just processed food products. This is the actual vegetable or fruit. To find out if a fruit or vegetable is genetically modified read the PLU labels - the little stickers or tags on the produce. If the five digit PLU number starts with "8," the food is either genetically modified or genetically engineered. Don't buy it. Please note that all fruit has a four digit PLU code. This number tells you what kind of fruit it is. If the PLU code has five numbers, the first number represents either organic (8) or genetically modified (9). Here is a list of some of the genetically modified food crops that are grown in the US today:
* Sugar cane
* Sweet peppers
* Tomatoes
* Bananas
* Strawberries
* Soy bean
* Corn
* Potatoes
* Pineapples
* Cocoa beans
* Yellow squash
* Zucchini

Following is a list of some of the processed foods made with genetically modified organisms.

* Popcorn
* Canola & Cottonseed Oil
* Soy Sauce
* Frozen Pizza
* Canned Soups
* Baby Formula
* Dry Cereal
* Cookies
* Frozen Dinners
* Aspartame Sweetener

After investigating this, I am certain that this cannot be good for our health and I'm sure interferes with weight loss. But, do your own research. I know from now on I am going to try to eat only foods that have not been genetically modified. Here is a list of companies that produce non-GMO foods. And, of course the best thing to do is to grow your own vegetables and fruits. You could get an organic garden installed by my friend Karen's company gro-Organic (link to the website is in my links.)
* Arrowhead Mills: GMO-free providers of baking mixes and flours found in both natural health food stores and regular supermarkets.
* Eden Foods: GMO-free providers of canned goods, noodles, tamari, miso, vinegar and Asian foodstuffs.
* Natural Choice Foods: GMO-free providers of frozen dessert products.
* Purity Foods: GMO-free makers of spelt-based noodles, snacks and other goodies.
They also sell specialty oils.
* Spectrum Oils: GMO-free manufacturer of specialty oils, cooking oils, salad oils and natural shortening.
* Genisoy: Uses only certified GMO-free soybeans for their many soy products.
* Earth’s Best: Baby food manufacturer uses non-GMO ingredients.
* Healthy Times: Baby food manufacturer uses non-gmo ingredients.
* Bob’s Red Mill: GMO-free provider of baking mixes and specialty flours.
* Pamela’s Products: Provider of luscious gluten-free baking mixes sources non-GMO ingredients.
* Whole Foods Store Brands: Whole foods has made the commitment to sourcing its ingredients from GMO-free sources.
* Cascadian Farms: Provider of frozen entrees, juices, frozen vegetables and fruit, yogurt and other foods.
* Imagine Foods: GMO-free provider of soy and rice milk as well as broth and other foods.
* Muir Glen: Source of canned goods and vegetable juice uses gmo-free foods.
* Thai Kitchen: Source for coconut milks and Asian ingredients sources gmo-free ingredients.
* Amy’s Kitchen: GMO-free source of canned soups, chilies, boxed and frozen meals.
* Nature’s Path: Manufacturer of cereals and snack bars made with ingredients sourced gmo-free.
* Annie’s Naturals: Manufacturer of BBQ sauce, salad dressings and other condiments sourced from gmo-free ingredients.
* San J: GMO-free manufacturer of soy sauce, shoyu and tamari.
* Tradition Miso: Manufacturer of miso pastes that are made from GMO-free ingredients.
* Barbara’s Bakery: Manufacturer of cookies sources from gmo-free ingredients.
* Lundberg Family Farms: GMO-free provider of rice and wild rice foods including raw rice, soups and convenience foods.
* Walkers: Provider of the best shortbread cookies ever as well as other sweet treats.
* Fantastic Foods: Provider of hummus, falafel, risotto couscous, soup and other mixes with gmo-free ingredients.
* Vitasoy: Manufacturer of soy-based foods sourced from gmo-free ingredients.
* Clif: Manufacturer of energy bars sourced from gmo-free foods.
* Kettle Chips: GMO-free manufacturer of potato and tortilla chips.
* Que Pasa: Manufacturer of tortilla chips and other Mexican foods sourced from non-gmo ingredients.
* Garden of Eatin: Manufacturer of chips, salsas and other snack foods.
* French Meadow Bakery: Manufacturer of bread and baked goods using non-gmo ingredients.
* White Wave: Manufacturer of soy products including tofu and tempeh using gmo-free soy.
* Bearitos: Manufacturer of snack foods and dips using gmo-free foods.
* Chaffin Family Orchards: Is committed to GMO-free foods and sells an assortment of goods including olive oil.
* Cultures for Health: All starters and products sold at Cultures for Health are GMO-free.
* Grindstone Bakery: GMO-free provider of wheat- and gluten-free bread.
* Pure Indian Foods: GMO-free provider of grass-fed ghee.
* To Your Health: Provider of gmo-free sprouted breads and sprouted flours.
* US Wellness Meats: Provider of pasture- and grass-fed meats free of GMO supplemental feed.
* Zukay: Provider of live cultured condiments and salsa free from GMO.

Really makes you think, huh? Don't just listen to me - do your own research.

Tomorrow is another weigh in. I am not so sure I will do that great after all the eating and drinking I did in Las Vegas. I wonder is that food was genetically modified???