Is Anyone Else Here Non-GMO?

Just wondering....

Assuming the current thoughts on Evolution as being correct.....
Isn't everything GMO?
I mean.... the genetics of EVERY plant/animal/organism has most certainly been modified over time, whether it be by nature or by man... and what is man if not a part of nature?

My local butcher carries free range organic chicken, at a pretty penny too, I just buy Trader Joe's organic chicken for the most part.

This is always such an interesting topic!

I'm a biology major, and this past semester I took a class called "Plant biotechnology and genetic engineering." It was really cool, and we talked about the process of making something a GMP (taking a particular gene(s) and inserting it into a single cell that can result in an entire plant) and the purposes they serve.

I personally believe in evolution, and everything technically is a GMO. There is a rice called "Golden Rice" that is trying to be created to increase the amount of beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A) that can be grown in third world countries where B-carotene is deficient. I think that in some ways, this is a really cool idea. They are also trying to come up with food-vaccines so that they can be grown by these places and there is no reason for extra needles/administrators/etc (although there is nothing that works perfectly yet, there is loads of error). I don't like GMOs that interfere with nutritional value. Just because a tomato looks redder, and bigger, it doesn't mean that it is better for you if it doesn't have the same nutritional value.

My biggest problems are with pesticides and herbicides that our plants are exposed to. It contaminates the environment and has a large effect on the local wildlife. A lot of these chemicals have estrogenic effects that can mess with hormones too. However, there are some plants that have pesticides built in that are wicked cool. Cry genes only affect insects (they work on basic stomachs, we have acidic), so it doesn't affect us. I've read a few papers in some Biotech journals about a particular herbicide that, in large quantities, are carcinogenic as well as vastly affecting the reproductive system of mice. Of course, it's mice, but we are mammals too! However, everything is toxic to us, even water, depending on the quantity. I personally wouldn't like to take my chances.

But in the end it all comes down to personal opinion. Both sides have strong arguments. I personally choose organic because I want what nature gave me. I think in the long run the effects of GMOs (like the estrogenic effects on us and on wildlife) will do more harm than good. But maybe not! The problem is that we can't predict what's going to happen in the future. But we can guess!

I have very thoughtfully read every word of this post. And yet.... I just am not convinced that foods I have been eating every day for a quarter of a century are any more harmful to me, when consumed in moderation, than the "natural", GMO free, organic stuff.

I do think it is GREAT that you have done so much research on the subject, believe so strongly about it, and MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE: actively do something about it. For that, I admire you! :flowerforyou:

for the most part its technically impossible to eat NON GMO..since pretty much everything today has been genetically modified in some way or another..whether it be through cross breeding/pollination or through genetic engineering in a lab..which are basically the same thing..weeding out undesirable genes or accentuate desirable ones.

and government studies have shown there is no difference in nutritional value in gmo or non gmo foods.

(This also means corporations can TRADEMARK food ~ like it's a chair or a TV!)

Actually, most seeds are trademarked at first. If you buy Pink Lady apples, you're paying a New Zealand company royalties for the name. Most seeds and grafts for specific breeds like that have to be bought via the company that developed them, not just the GMO ones. There are ways around that, of course. For example, a lot of American farmers will grow and marked the Pink Lady under the name Crisps Pink to avoid paying for the name.

I'm more concerned with buying more local when it comes to my produce, which in the end works out to no GMOs and a large portion of my foods being organic. I don't really think there's that much of a difference between people who actively buy organic and seek out non-GMOs and those who don't, other than attitude. Buying local, though, generally means buying in season, which means better, fresher, riper produce. I mean, eating clean is certainly different than how I used to eat, but it would still be eating clean if I wasn't buying mostly organic. I'm pretty sure most of my GMOs were before were meats and dairy, and I cut all of those (except fish) out, anyway.

I wish there was a "like" button. I want to "like" this. I love shopping locally. I don't do non-GMO, but I watched a documentary on GM foods. Interesting. I don't remember the name though. Which makes bringing it up pointless. Maybe if was on Netflix...this is the laziest comment I have ever left, anywhere.

What's even more great is that since I've just changed the foods I eat, I've dropped 12 lbs without even trying. I feel more energy, sleep better, less depressed, more motivated and my concentration is up. For me, that's evidence enough, without looking at anything else. The less carcinogens in my body, the better. The more vitamins I can consume through food without taking pills, the better.

Yeah.....still not convinced.

I've dropped 42 lbs, experienced all the effects you're talking about, never take pills other than ibuprofen and the occasional migraine pill.... and I've done it by eating GMO's, processed foods, diet soda, and even artificial junk like aspartame. I EVEN eat at McDonalds once in a while (usually by my husband's choice).

Nice try, though.

There are many studies that link diet soda to bone loss, for one...

I thought soda in general led to bone loss, as the carbonation is what causes decalcification.

I thought soda in general led to bone loss, as the carbonation is what causes decalcification.

Actually that is true. It's all soda. I don't want to get into the artificial sweetener debate which is done to death on these boards though... Of course there are a million side affects for them and other non-natural ingredients such as dyes, bulking agents, preservatives, etc...

Yeah, to each their own, but, when I gave up diet soda, I had the worse headache of my life, and for about two days straight, and I was still drinking coffee at the time, so it had nothing to do with the caffeine. It was even worse than the time I did give up caffeine. That alone has motivated me to avoid artificial sweeteners for life (that and the fact that all of them make me sick).

Do you use a cell phone? They are new. Studies have linked them to brain cancer.

Actually, recent studies have shown that they're about as high of a cancer risk as pickles.

Do you use a cell phone? They are new. Studies have linked them to brain cancer.

Actually, recent studies have shown that they're about as high of a cancer risk as pickles.

And recent studies have shown that there is no connection between cancer and artificial sweeteners. So, balls back in your court!

No one said anything about artificial sweeteners leading to cancer. Someone said diet soda leads to bone loss, and I corrected that soda in general leads to bone loss, as it's the carbonation that has decalcifying effects. I'm just saying that cell phones may or may not lead to brain cancer. All we know is that, according to the most recent studies, they have an almost insignificant risk. There are always going to be new studies saying something new, especially about things that have only been around for a couple of decades. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth the risk or not.

Well... I haven't lost my bones, yet. Maybe in 40 years.

Do you use a cell phone? They are new. Studies have linked them to brain cancer. If you stand by your argument about diet soda, it would be hypocritical of you to use a cell phone.

I don't worry about the things that MIGHT happen. Only about the things that are LIKELY to happen.

Yes I do use a cellphone. I also use a computer. I also travel by airplane and go through metal detectors. I also drink water and breathe air. They all cause exposure to radiation. You can't LIVE without getting exposed to radiation... It's all about what risks are you willing to take. I use a landline phone whenever possible, or head phones. I ask for the manual pat down at airports instead of going through the detectors. I try to limit my exposure to ALL bad things, including radiation just for one. Everyone has to make that choice for themselves... Is what I'm doing or eating worth the risk?