Richard Smith Cedar Rapids Alternative Energy Examiner   December 30, 2013

Do you find yourself feeling off after eating what you thought was a healthy meal could the fresh veggies be GMO produced product? Our aim should be to eat real, non- altered foods, especially when on any kind of budget, reported Danielle Braff, a Chicago Tribune reporter.

Braff interviewed Mira and Jayson Calton, co-authors of “Rich Food Poor Food: The Ultimate Grocery Purchasing System (GPS),” to share their thoughts about the importance of eating real, non-altered foods. Why are genetically modified organisms (GMOs’) bad for us? Companies are taking an ordinary tomato and sticking the DNA of a fish into the tomato to make it grow better. They are turning off and on genes in a food, reported Dr. Calton. Numerous short-term studies have been done and so far, across the board, the results do not look good. Unfortunately, no long-term studies have been completed.

How do we figure out what foods have been genetically modified? Below is a list of GMO altered produce:

– Soy

– Corn

– Canola

– 55 percent of sugar

– Papaya

– Zucchini

– Tomatoes

– Squash

If you are on a budget and can’t afford to buy organic foods, you can still eat healthy by purchasing the following conventionally grown produce known as the fab 14:

– Onions

– Pineapple

– Avocado

– Cabbage

– Asparagus

– Mango

– Kiwi

– Cantaloupe

– Sweet potatoes

– Grapefruit

– Watermelon

– Eggplant

– Sweet peas – Mushrooms

 

One note of caution: Not everything at your local farmers market is organic. Mira Calton stated, “Ask the farmers if they plant genetically modified seeds…If a farmer doesn’t know what GMOs’ mean, then turn and run.” Make sure you know your PLU numbers. Conventional produce carries a 4-digit PLU label. Organic produce have a five-digit beginning with the number 9. By all means avoid five-digit PLUs starting with the number 8, which typically means the item is a GMO.

Yes, it will take some time to get use to this system, but start slow and before you know it you will be a pro at picking out healthy produce without spending a lot of money!

Article found in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, August 24th, 2013 edition, page 2C.

Please note that this article is intended as a reference article only. It is not a medical article. The information provided is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may be provided by your doctor. If you suspect you have a medical problem, I urge you to seek competent, medical help.