Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food
Source: Spilling the Beans - Institute For Responsible Technology
Author: Jeffery M. Smith
On May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”
More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”
Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.
Pregnant women and babies at great risk
Among the population, biologist David Schubert of the Salk Institute warns that “children are the most likely to be adversely effected by toxins and other dietary problems” related to GM foods. He says without adequate studies, the children become “the experimental animals.”[2]
The experience of actual GM-fed experimental animals is scary. When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks—compared to a 10% death rate among the control group fed natural soy.[3] The GM-fed babies were also smaller, and later had problems getting pregnant.[4]
When male rats were fed GM soy, their testicles actually changed color—from the normal pink to dark blue.[5] Mice fed GM soy had altered young sperm.[6] Even the embryos of GM fed parent mice had significant changes in their DNA.[7] Mice fed GM corn in an Austrian government study had fewer babies, which were also smaller than normal.[8]
Reproductive problems also plague livestock. Investigations in the state of Haryana, India revealed that most buffalo that ate GM cottonseed had complications such as premature deliveries, abortions, infertility, and prolapsed uteruses. Many calves died. In the US, about two dozen farmers reported thousands of pigs became sterile after consuming certain GM corn varieties. Some had false pregnancies; others gave birth to bags of water. Cows and bulls also became infertile when fed the same corn.[9]
In the US population, the incidence of low birth weight babies, infertility, and infant mortality are all escalating.
Food designed to produce toxin
GM corn and cotton are engineered to produce their own built-in pesticide in every cell. When bugs bite the plant, the poison splits open their stomach and kills them. Biotech companies claim that the pesticide, called Bt—produced from soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis—has a history of safe use, since organic farmers and others use Bt bacteria spray for natural insect control. Genetic engineers insert Bt genes into corn and cotton, so the plants do the killing.
The Bt-toxin produced in GM plants, however, is thousands of times more concentrated than natural Bt spray, is designed to be more toxic,[10] has properties of an allergen, and unlike the spray, cannot be washed off the plant.
Moreover, studies confirm that even the less toxic natural bacterial spray is harmful. When dispersed by plane to kill gypsy moths in the Pacific Northwest, about 500 people reported allergy or flu-like symptoms. Some had to go to the emergency room.[11],[12]
The exact same symptoms are now being reported by farm workers throughout India, from handling Bt cotton.[13] In 2008, based on medical records, the Sunday India reported, “Victims of itching have increased massively this year . . . related to BT cotton farming.”[14]
GMOs provoke immune reactions
AAEM states, “Multiple animal studies show significant immune dysregulation,” including increase in cytokines, which are “associated with asthma, allergy, and inflammation”—all on the rise in the US.
According to GM food safety expert Dr. Arpad Pusztai, changes in the immune status of GM animals are “a consistent feature of all the studies.”[15] Even Monsanto’s own research showed significant immune system changes in rats fed Bt corn.[16] A November 2008 by the Italian government also found that mice have an immune reaction to Bt corn.[17]
GM soy and corn each contain two new proteins with allergenic properties,[18] GM soy has up to seven times more trypsin inhibitor—a known soy allergen,[19] and skin prick tests show some people react to GM, but not to non-GM soy.[20] Soon after GM soy was introduced to the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50%. Perhaps the US epidemic of food allergies and asthma is a casualty of genetic manipulation.
Animals dying in large numbers
In India, animals graze on cotton plants after harvest. But when shepherds let sheep graze on Bt cotton plants, thousands died. Post mortems showed severe irritation and black patches in both intestines and liver (as well as enlarged bile ducts). Investigators said preliminary evidence “strongly suggests that the sheep mortality was due to a toxin. . . . most probably Bt-toxin.”[21] In a small follow-up feeding study by the Deccan Development Society, all sheep fed Bt cotton plants died within 30 days; those that grazed on natural cotton plants remained healthy.
In a small village in Andhra Pradesh, buffalo grazed on cotton plants for eight years without incident. On January 3rd, 2008, the buffalo grazed on Bt cotton plants for the first time. All 13 were sick the next day; all died within 3 days.[22]
Bt corn was also implicated in the deaths of cows in Germany, and horses, water buffaloes, and chickens in The Philippines.[23]
In lab studies, twice the number of chickens fed Liberty Link corn died; 7 of 20 rats fed a GM tomato developed bleeding stomachs; another 7 of 40 died within two weeks.[24] Monsanto’s own study showed evidence of poisoning in major organs of rats fed Bt corn, according to top French toxicologist G. E. Seralini.[25]
Worst finding of all—GMOs remain inside of us
The only published human feeding study revealed what may be the most dangerous problem from GM foods. The gene inserted into GM soy transfers into the DNA of bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function.[26] This means that long after we stop eating GMOs, we may still have potentially harmful GM proteins produced continuously inside of us. Put more plainly, eating a corn chip produced from Bt corn might transform our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories, possibly for the rest of our lives.
When evidence of gene transfer is reported at medical conferences around the US, doctors often respond by citing the huge increase of gastrointestinal problems among their patients over the last decade. GM foods might be colonizing the gut flora of North Americans.
Warnings by government scientists ignored and denied
Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had warned about all these problems even in the early 1990s. According to documents released from a lawsuit, the scientific consensus at the agency was that GM foods were inherently dangerous, and might create hard-to-detect allergies, poisons, gene transfer to gut bacteria, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged their superiors to require rigorous long-term tests.[27] But the White House had ordered the agency to promote biotechnology and the FDA responded by recruiting Michael Taylor, Monsanto’s former attorney, to head up the formation of GMO policy. That policy, which is in effect today, denies knowledge of scientists’ concerns and declares that no safety studies on GMOs are required. It is up to Monsanto and the other biotech companies to determine if their foods are safe. Mr. Taylor later became Monsanto’s vice president.
Dangerously few studies, untraceable diseases
AAEM states, “GM foods have not been properly tested” and “pose a serious health risk.” Not a single human clinical trial on GMOs has been published. A 2007 review of published scientific literature on the “potential toxic effects/health risks of GM plants” revealed “that experimental data are very scarce.” The author concludes his review by asking, “Where is the scientific evidence showing that GM plants/food are toxicologically safe, as assumed by the biotechnology companies?”[28]
Famed Canadian geneticist David Suzuki answers, “The experiments simply haven’t been done and we now have become the guinea pigs.” He adds, “Anyone that says, ‘Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,’ I say is either unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying.”[29]
Dr. Schubert points out, “If there are problems, we will probably never know because the cause will not be traceable and many diseases take a very long time to develop.” If GMOs happen to cause immediate and acute symptoms with a unique signature, perhaps then we might have a chance to trace the cause.
This is precisely what happened during a US epidemic in the late 1980s. The disease was fast acting, deadly, and caused a unique measurable change in the blood—but it still took more than four years to identify that an epidemic was even occurring. By then it had killed about 100 Americans and caused 5,000-10,000 people to fall sick or become permanently disabled. It was caused by a genetically engineered brand of a food supplement called L-tryptophan.
If other GM foods are contributing to the rise of autism, obesity, diabetes, asthma, cancer, heart disease, allergies, reproductive problems, or any other common health problem now plaguing Americans, we may never know. In fact, since animals fed GMOs had such a wide variety of problems, susceptible people may react to GM food with multiple symptoms. It is therefore telling that in the first nine years after the large scale introduction of GM crops in 1996, the incidence of people with three or more chronic diseases nearly doubled, from 7% to 13%.[30]
To help identify if GMOs are causing harm, the AAEM asks their “members, the medical community, and the independent scientific community to gather case studies potentially related to GM food consumption and health effects, begin epidemiological research to investigate the role of GM foods on human health, and conduct safe methods of determining the effect of GM foods on human health.”
Citizens need not wait for the results before taking the doctors advice to avoid GM foods. People can stay away from anything with soy or corn derivatives, cottonseed and canola oil, and sugar from GM sugar beets—unless it says organic or “non-GMO.” There is a pocket Non-GMO Shopping Guide, co-produced by the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, which is available as a download, as well as in natural food stores and in many doctors’ offices.
If even a small percentage of people choose non-GMO brands, the food industry will likely respond as they did in Europe—by removing all GM ingredients. Thus, AAEM’s non-GMO prescription may be a watershed for the US food supply.
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International bestselling author and independent filmmaker Jeffrey M. Smith is the Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of GMOs. His first book, Seeds of Deception is the world’s bestselling book on the subject. His second, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, identifies 65 risks of GMOs and demonstrates how superficial government approvals are not competent to find most of them. He invited the biotech industry to respond in writing with evidence to counter each risk, but correctly predicted that they would refuse, since they don’t have the data to show that their products are safe.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
"Focus Is Gold"
Focus Is Gold
One of the most challenging things to do nowadays in life is to stay focused on what you are doing and what you really want. It’s difficult, I know! As there are a lot of distractions out there just waiting to jump out at you as trying to climb the ladder of success in life.
A lot of the distractions actually come from your closest friends and family members, as soon as they start to see a trickle of change producing in your life the “change alarm bells” will start ringing. You see, some people find it hard to change, so hard that they would rather marinade themselves in self-comfort and pick the easy things in life and not stretch themselves and think outside the box. Well let me tell you there is gold outside the box, you just have to break free from the box and go dip your toe in the water before you jump in!
I have seen so many examples of people holding themselves back just because they listen to what others say and let them dictate the way they live.
In life I believe we are all born here as creators, meaning we must get out there and create our own lives how we would love to live it. Not living your life for others but for yourself. So a key to staying focused is not to be influenced by others unless they have something constructive for you to add to your knowledge.
If you really want something bad enough, just like having your ideal job waking up every morning and becoming great in your specific niche you are in. You need to be the most focused and determined person you can possibly be with the tenacious mindset to be able to make you succeed in whatever you choose to do and most of all to be able to take the criticism that is thrown your way.
I have always been very focused on what I have wanted to achieve and I can tell you that as long as you get your mindset right, that is a very power tool to have. It will definitely take you to the top in your field.
A great saying my dad always use to say to me when I was chasing after to many things at once in life was “A hunter that chases two rabbits will never catch either” Meaning focus and complete on one thing at a time. You will be more productive and get more things done, rather than always chasing your tail!
So let’s stay focused and live life the way you want to live it. That’s what life is all about isn’t it? We must enjoy our experience while we are on this wonderful planet.
To your success
Richard Huntley
http://www.rhmartialfitness.com/blog/
Do You Ever Procrastinate?
Feature Article: 20 Minutes is Your Friend
Do you ever procrastinate?
Procrastination is the habit of not getting started, putting things off till the last minute. It results in missed opportunities. stress, and a head and life full of clutter.
Here are 7 tips for dealing with procrastination that will help you take charge of your life. As you read these, think of something you are procrastinating about right now and see how these tips relate - I know there IS something you're procrastinating about.
1. First, ask yourself: Is this project or action in alignment with my vision or purpose? Is it something really important to you? If not, why are you even thinking about doing it?
2. Are you telling yourself you 'have to' do it? If so, that puts a heavy energy onto it and who wants to do something they're being told they have to do? Either find a way for it to be something you choose to do, or don't do it. Words have energy behind them, they shape your outcomes.
Remember, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You are always free to choose. There may be consequences for not doing it, but you DO have a choice.
3. Let go of perfectionism. For anyone with a writing project that's the biggest energy killer. Just start. Getting those words down on paper will get the energy flowing and when you come to edit you'll have something to work with. Same applies to anything else.
4. Break projects down into tasks. A project is to do your taxes or declutter the garage. A task might be to collect your Credit Card receipts or declutter one box in the corner of your garage. See the difference?
A task is something you can do in 20-30 minutes. Make a list of tasks associated with a project you've been putting off. Then schedule them - perhaps 20 minutes a day.
Remember this: '20 minutes is your friend'. The hardest part is starting but anyone can do something for 20 minutes. Set a timer - likely once you start you'll do more, but even if it's just 20 minutes a day, that's 140 minutes a week and over 9 hours in a month. That's some serious momentum you will have created.
5. Schedule fun times: Schedule self care, meditation, time for you, time with your family - those things that give you the energy and resources to handle the more challenging things - so you don’t feel deprived. I recommend scheduling your ME time for first thing in the morning. Then schedule your 20-30 minute spots that will lead to completion of your project. Everything else will fit in.
6. Reward yourself: Spend 20 minutes - and then reward yourself. For me writing this article - the task right now is fleshing out the outline I wrote - then I get to take a break and phone a friend. And yes, I've already been going for more than 20 minutes. Funny that!
7. Staying motivated. Find an accountability buddy. The more people you tell, the more likely it is you'll do it. It's a bit like the Integrity Days I offer in my programs. Having told us what you're going to do in the coming hour, you're unlikely to call back and say you just sat around eating bon-bons!
Procrastination is caused by turning a project into something unpleasant. The way to reduce procrastination is reframe your experience. These tips will help you - if you use them.
Remember 20 minutes is your friend.
Now, what will you do today?
Come on over to my blog and let me know.
©2009 Vicky White - All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
3 Big Ways To Monitize Social Media
Subj: 3 Big Ways To Monetize Social Media
You can start making money starting today
with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc?without
ever being spammy, tricky or salesy
But you have to pay attention right NOW!
Grab this free 17 page PDF now and prepare
to be shocked by what's is revealed in the
short 15 minute read. It will ROCK you!
Claim your FREE copy here
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
My good friend, Perry Belcher really spilled
his guts in this one.
He has single handedly built one of the
largest Twitter followings in the marketing
industry of over 101,000 followers
Not only is he amassing an army of followers
Perry is the only guy I know that's consistently
making THOUSANDS of dollars each month
JUST from his social media fans and friends.
Go get his report no that explains STEP-BY-STEP
How he does it.
Click on your personal link is below
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
Talk Soon,
Sarah Buchanan
P.S. This is a great FAST no-fluff read that could have
easily been $97 but Perry is letting me give it to you
for FREE!
You better grab it now while he's in a giving mood:
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
You can start making money starting today
with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc?without
ever being spammy, tricky or salesy
But you have to pay attention right NOW!
Grab this free 17 page PDF now and prepare
to be shocked by what's is revealed in the
short 15 minute read. It will ROCK you!
Claim your FREE copy here
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
My good friend, Perry Belcher really spilled
his guts in this one.
He has single handedly built one of the
largest Twitter followings in the marketing
industry of over 101,000 followers
Not only is he amassing an army of followers
Perry is the only guy I know that's consistently
making THOUSANDS of dollars each month
JUST from his social media fans and friends.
Go get his report no that explains STEP-BY-STEP
How he does it.
Click on your personal link is below
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
Talk Soon,
Sarah Buchanan
P.S. This is a great FAST no-fluff read that could have
easily been $97 but Perry is letting me give it to you
for FREE!
You better grab it now while he's in a giving mood:
https://touchstone.infusionsoft.com/go/3ways/Macrogal
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Social Media Marketing on 2 Sheets of Paper
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