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The fruits (and veg) of summer!

 The fruits (and veg) of summer!

Summer is now in full swing. Bountiful gardens and orchards full of fresh fruit and produce

await to fill our plates. I’m personally very excited about my tomatoes and spinach which have been growing so well in my modest garden!

But not all produce is created equal. The hot topic at the moment is GMO food and the possible ill effects it may have on our health.

Not all crops are grown organically. Some are treated with pesticides and others are grown using genetically modified seeds.

There are 5 major crops that are commonly grown using GMO seeds within the U.S. They include soy, corn, cotton, yellow squash and Hawaiian papaya. There are more details below. The ones which affect us mostly are soy, corn and cotton.

Due to the uncertainty of GMO foods on our health as well as their association with gastrointestinal disturbance, its best to choose organic. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. The AAEM cites there is research where ‘organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility’ were found in animal studies involving GMO foods.

GMO foods also effect other food sources as they are fed to livestock, including beef, pork, chickens and dairy cattle. So even if we avoid the 5 major GMO crops, we can still ingest GMO animal products. Also, GMO crops tend to contaminate non GMO crops due to cross pollination so even organic farmers are struggling to keep their crops ‘pure’.

I recommend visiting this website for more information www.responsibletechnology.org

Here is an excerpt from the website.

”Currently Commercialized GM Crops in the U.S.:

Currently commercialized GM crops in the U.S. include soy (94%), cotton (90%), canola (90%), sugar beets (95%), corn (88%), Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%), zucchini and yellow squash (over 24,000 acres).

Some Ingredients That May Be Genetically Modified: Vegetable oil, vegetable fat and margarines (made with soy, corn, cottonseed, and/or canola).

Ingredients derived from soybeans: Soy flour, soy protein, soy isolates, soy isoflavones, soy lecithin, vegetable proteins, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tofu, tamari, tempeh, and soy protein supplements.

Ingredients derived from corn: Corn flour, corn gluten, corn masa, corn starch, corn syrup, cornmeal, and High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).

Stay healthy this summer by supporting local organic farmers. Visit and support the many farmer’s markets which abound the Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania areas. Also, choose seek out non GMO foods and organic restaurants that aim to nourish our bodies with foods that are pure, natural and beneficial to our health.

 ‘Whatever one sows, that will he also reap’.

Chiropractor Frederick, MD