Genetically modified foods

by  Ms H       Judit Hadnagy

Genetically modified (GM) foods are produced from organisms that have had changes in their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. This technique provides greater Genetic engineering techniques allow for the introduction of new traits as well as greater control over qualities than previous methods such as selective breeding and mutation breeding. Genetically modified crops have ben engineered for resistance to herbicides, pathogens and for better efficiency and nutrient profiles. Most commonly GM modified foods are soybean, corn, canola. Some genetically modified foods are designed to improve nutrition, quality and taste. For example, potatoes are modified to even out distribution of starches, enhance texture and reduce fat absorption. Genetically modified golden rice has more beta-carotene and iron that consumers in malnourished populations need. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem affecting millions of children and pregnant women globally. Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta- carotene, a source of vitamin A. Golden Rice is being developed as a potential new food-based approach to improve vitamin A status. Another type of genetically modified rice has less glutelin, a protein that compromises sake brewing.

About GM corn: With Bt protein built into the seeds of sweet corn genetically enables farmers to grow sweet corn where insect pressure and damage from those insect pests previously made growing it impractical. Further GM reduces the number of pesticide applications and thus allows farmers to take fewer trips across their fields. Corn can be found in thousands of consumer foods. Examples of foods that are likely to contain high-fructose corn syrup include soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, cereals, breads, candies, flavoured yogurts, ice cream, crackers, pastries, cough syrups, jellies, jams and granola bars.

The GM soy is used for a large number of ingredients and additives. Soy is frequently used as an emulsifier; an additive that allows ingredients to be combined together. Soy can be used for its vitamin E content, and it's sometimes used as a protein source in foods. Examples of foods that are likely to contain soy include margarines, chocolate, baked goods, vitamins, bread, pasta and other processed foods.

Sugar beets:  95% of the planted sugar beets in USA are genetically modified.  Consequently any food that lists sugar as an ingredient has a high probability of containing sugar derived from genetically modified beets.

Canola oil is the third-largest source of vegetable oil in the world after soybean oil and palm oil. Approximately 90 % of U.S. total canola oil produced from genetically modified canola seeds. The oil is probably used as an ingredient in almost any packaged food.

The majority of bananas in the USA are genetically modified. Squash was genetically modified to become more resistant against viruses and bacteria.

Most cows, pigs and chickens are feed on GM corn and soy unless they are organic and feed on grass. GM salmon as a farmed fish grows faster than wild salmon, which could have a negative effect on environment.

There are different studies on the effect of GM food on human health. There are no clear evidences against GM foods, but we can see the obvious long-term effect of them on neither environment nor human health yet.

Summarizing

Pros

Cons

•       The global population expected to reach more than nine billion by 2050, requiring rapid increase in rice and wheat yields. •       To meet the demand we need to use significantly more land, fertilizer, and water. •       Climate change makes the problem far worse, bringing higher temperatures, drought, damaging storms in many regions. •       So Genetic modification is essential to make the crop drought tolerant or to increase its yield to nourish the world. •       You must see the genetic modification is essential in effective farming.

•       The effects of genetic modification in crops have been tested on animals, but not on humans. •       The side effect is not fully known yet.

Healthy Benefits of Xylitol

By Natalie Aranda 

For more than two decades, finding a healthy alternative to sugar has not been an easy task. As soon as a new sweetener has been developed or discovered, numerous health problems and side effects have been also found in close relation to such alternatives.

However, if you love chocolate candy but sugar is in your main no-no's list, Xilitol is the preferred alternative to sugar that most physicians and other health care providers recommend, not to mention the benefits of Xylitol gum, which contribute to your oral health.

In fact, Xylitol has numerous health benefits that you should know because not all the sweeteners are harmful or cause potential side effects.

Talking about chocolate candy, it is more likely that a non-measured passion for sweet leads you to tooth decay, but if you substitute candy for Xylitol gum, or at least chew it after eating candy, your chances to prevent tooth decay are increased.

Bacteria is responsible for cavities on your teeth, but Xylitol has been found effective for fighting bacteria, including that causing oral, nasal, or ear infections, and this sweetener is also available in other products, not just Xylitol gum.

Research conducted in more than 40 countries around the world has shown that Xylitol contributes to weight loss, increased bone density, hormonal imbalance restoring, and blood sugar stabilization for diabetic patients, lowering their insulin levels.

There are also chocolate candy products sweetened with Xylitol, and the intake of these products lower the risk of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in women, as well as fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, depression, hot flashes, PMS, and weight gain at different stages of their reproductive life.

Chewing Xylitol gum on a regular basis, not only prevents tooth decay as it was told, but also reduces the growth of dental plaque and mutans streptococci, which are associated with dental caries.

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine considers Xylitol as the safer sweetener after more than 1,500 scientific studies in individuals, which stopped their sugar cravings after substituting sugar with this sweetener. Participants also reduced their insulin levels, and alkalinized their bodies.

If you want to keep enjoy tasty Chocolate Candy, try Xylitol substitutes and chew Xylitol gum at least once a day, preferably before going to sleep to reduce the incidence of bacteria and other micro-organisms that may cause oral and throat infections while you sleep.

Because your mouth is home to over 400 strains of bacteria, the American Dental Association recommends Xylitol to reduce the statistics, actually with about 75% of adults in the United States that being over the age of 35 are suffering from one or more forms of periodontal disease.

Natalie Aranda writes on health and nutrition. For more than two decades, finding a healthy alternative to sugar has not been an easy task. As soon as a new sweetener has been developed or discovered, numerous health problems and side effects have been also found in close relation to such alternatives. Talking about chocolate candy [http://www.sugarstand.com], it is more likely that a non-measured passion for sweet leads you to tooth decay, but if you substitute candy for Xylitol gum [http://www.worldhealthdepot.com], or at least chew it after eating candy, your chances to prevent tooth decay are increased.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Natalie_Aranda/44417

http://ezinearticles.com/?Healthy-Benefits-of-Xylitol&id=358103 

The Truth Behind Genetically Modified Fruits and Vegetables

By Jerry Greenfield

Genetically modified foods, or GM foods, are any kind of food that has purposely had specific changes made to its DNA. These changes have been made by humans and are not brought about by natural mutations over time.

Organisms, including the fruits and vegetables that we eat everyday, change over time, naturally, through mutations caused by new chemicals, radiation, and other factors introduced to their environments. Typically, these natural changes are beneficial to the organism and make them more likely to survive and thrive in their environment.

GM foods, however, have been forced to change, unnaturally, by factors introduced to them through human interaction. With GM foods, certain genes in the organisms make-up are purposely removed or introduced to the organism's DNA. This is certainly not natural selection, and it is most certainly a questionable practice.

The theory and reasoning behind GM foods is such: If humans can manipulate nature, and produce foods that are "better" for us, then the end result will surpass the questionable means and we (humans) can benefit from these "better" foods.

The major problem is, these foods are not better for us. In fact, many studies have shown that GM foods are less nutritious and can actually be harmful to humans and other animals. Lab rats, fed GM foods, were shown to develop lesions in their stomachs and other intestinal problems. GM foods have also been shown to cause liver, kidney, and heart damage in mammals.

In addition to the physical side effects caused by GM foods, the fruits and vegetables themselves lack the nutrients you find in naturally grown foods. Some of these include calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin C. Studies have shown a steady decrease in these nutrients, along with many others, over the last 2 decades. What is the point of eating fruits and vegetables if you're not getting any of the nutrients normally derived from these plants?!

Now, I understand that test results can be skewed, there can by ulterior motives by scientists, people see the results they want to see, and so on, but here's a good question: When is the last time you heard of natural, organic foods causing issues like this in humans and other animals? How about never?

I also understand the argument that GM foods grow quicker, are hardier, produce more crop, and can be controlled more easily by humans. The draw to this is that more people can be fed, quicker, and world hunger can be dealt with more efficiently. However, these foods being produced are not healthy. We are feeding 3rd World Country populations with foods that have terrible long-term effects. A full belly today can result in health issues down the line--shortly down the line.

Yes, having foods that grower faster, produce a larger yield, and can be grown less expensively (less fertilizer, water, pesticides, etc.) is a tempting thought, but there are better, healthier ways to produce good foods. It may take longer, it may involve more money and energy in the beginning, but we owe it to ourselves and our fellow humans to find means to produce good, healthy foods. There is no benefit in producing faster, larger crops of fruits and vegetables if the produce has half the nutritional value and can cause unhealthy side effects.

I am a huge proponent of growing your own fruits and vegetables at home. I completely understand though that not all of us are fortunate enough to have the time, space, or energy to do this. If you're not able to grow your own foods, please, I beg you, buy organic when you go to the grocery store. It may be a little more expensive, but the extra money you are spending is paying for all the vitamins and minerals that you would be missing-out on if you buy GM foods.

Take the time to do some research and read-up on genetically modified foods, including livestock, not just produce. Make it a well-rounded study--don't just look at facts that support one side. An intelligent debater knows and understands both sides of an argument. I encourage you to educate yourself on the subject. I think you'll find, if you do, that it will be apparent to you that GM foods are NOT the way to go!

http://www.growlikecrazy.com/

My number one focus is growing my own food. I don't think that really counts as a hobby. For some people it is, but for me, growing my own fruits and vegetables and saving my own seed is the key to survival. The only person you can count on is yourself, if you ask me. The government is trying to "help" us all with GMOs and welfare, but it's all a crock. We need to know how to survive on our own.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jerry_Greenfield/523054

 http://ezinearticles.com/expert/Jerry_Greenfield/523054

Organic farming

By  Ms H      Judit Hadnagy

Pesticides are not used in organic foods; natural compounds are used instead. Many health risks, such as cancer, are associated with pesticide use.

The “organic animals” means that they are not fed antibiotics or growth hormones. It is commonly believed that organic foods are safer to consumers and their nutritional values are greater than conveniently farmed fruits and vegetables.

Farmers have pest, fungus, or weed problems and the pesticides, fungicides are designed to kill them. The condition for organic pesticides is that they must originally come from a natural source, but this does not suggest that natural chemicals are any less poisonous than their synthetic equivalents.

We know great deal about the level of hazard eating conventionally grown food but nothing about the risks from organically grown food. The synthetic pesticide residues are well and regularly tested.  Volumes of data support their safety.  We have nothing about the safety of pesticides used on organic foods additionally consumers believe that there are no toxic residues on organic products. Many pesticides; acetic acid, copper sulphate, pyrethrin, nicotine sulphate and lime sulphur used in organic farming are highly toxic to the wildlife and hazardous for human health. The organic pesticide residues are not regularly tested and the consumers are not informed clearly.

Organic farmers use animal manure as the major source of fertilizer for their food crops.  Animal manure is the biggest reservoir of these nasty bacteria that are afflicting and killing so many people.

Consumers of organic food are also more likely to be attacked by a relatively new, more virulent strain of the salmonella bacteria and the new E. coli O157.

No pesticides used, the crop fields suffer more damage from insects and rodents through the damaged areas fungi can enter the fruits and seeds. The organic crops have higher rates of invasion by aflatoxin, one of the most virulent carcinogens know to man.

Summarising the difference between the conventional synthetic fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides and organic farming approved counterparts is that with the synthetic plant protection products you get mountains of safety data and regular pesticides residue monitoring while with organic –approved pesticides have no clear regulation, no regular residue monitoring, lack of data about their safety but plenty of well-fabricated lies that they are harmless for human consumption, bees and the environment. Further you pay a lot more money to get nice, healthier feel- good organic products than conventionally grown foods.