Just say NO to GMO!

There are about a million and one different things you could talk about when it comes to health and eating better.  When it comes to narrowing down what I should write about next its just a bit overwhelming at times.  I have been researching food and nutrition for just over 2 years now, and I still learn staggering amounts of information all the time.  I do not know everything that there is to know about food, but I don't mind doing my research and sharing what I learn.  One common trend that I've found while doing research is that eating REAL food is healthiest for you! 

When my husband and I were searching for answers of what to do to make me healthier we literally stumbled upon answers from day one.  Some of these answers came in the form of someone sharing a post on FB or scrolling over a movie on Netflix that caught my eye.  Each of these small things lead me to researching the small tidbits of information learned so that I could understand it better.  One of the small tidbits I ran across said how GMO's have been tied to the rise in Crohn's Disease, IBS, leaky gut syndrome and many more digestive problems.  Having had Crohn's for close to 5 years at that point, I was intrigued.  

https://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeUSA

What are GMOs?

"GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights."   ~http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/

"Although there are attempts to increase nutritional benefits or productivity, the two main traits that have been added to date are herbicide tolerance and the ability of the plant to produce its own pesticide.  These results have no health benefit, only economic benefit. Herbicide tolerance lets the farmer spray weed-killer directly on the crop without killing it." ~http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html

Some ask, well hasn't science proven this process to be safe?  Well, no, not really.  
"The only feeding study done with humans showed that GMOs survived inside the stomach of the people eating GMO food.  No follow-up studies were done."  In fact any research that has been done to show any dangers in GMOs has been either hushed up, stripped of funds or stopped.  In my opinion that alone is a little suspicious.

There have been a few studies done with animals. "Various feeding studies in animals have resulted in potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy or increased density of the liver, odd shaped cell nuclei and other unexplained anomalies, false pregnancies and higher death rates" ~http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html

Not only that, but GMOs are also tied to the rise in gluten intolerance and Celiacs Disease, and many other digestive problems.  Interesting that these genetically modified organisms are made to make insects guts explode when eaten, and more digestive problems in humans are coming up.  And yet we are told that GMOs will have no ill effect on humans.

GMO's were introduced into the market beginning in 1994, but the majority of them were introduced in 1996. Since then, digestive and allergy problems have increased substantially. The sad thing is is that there is tons and tons of money tied into this industry, so trying to find hard core facts and studies is pretty much impossible.  Monsanto alone has spent millions of dollars against bills to label GMOs.  Up here in Washington state we voted on Prop 522, which was all about the peoples rights to know what is in our food.  Monsanto and many other GM riddled companies threw all they had at making Prop 522 fail.  The same thing happened in California.  These are two big states when it comes to the eating healthy lifestyle.

My husband and I were talking the other day, and before I had Crohn's and even a little after, we had no idea that our food was fighting against us.  We thought that if it was sold in stores it should be safe to eat. That if it wasn't safe, our government wouldn't allow it on shelves. Inside I'd still like to think that, but with how much I have dove into the food industry, the more I see that it's the farthest thing from the truth.  There is too much money to be made with an unhealthy people.  Healthcare and pharmaceuticals make an obscene amount of money, and if we were all eating like we should these money makers would be hurting.  The additives and chemicals that the FDA allows into our foods are terrifying and disgusting, so when it comes to GMOs I have no doubt that they are wreaking havoc on our bodies.

I can't remember that defining moment for us that we decided we were going to do our best to stop eating GMOs, but I can tell you that I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  There is a reason that so many are fighting GMOs and wanting a healthier tomorrow.  You wont find hard core evidence online other than peoples testimonies of it working for them, so that's what I leave you.  Since my family has changed over to non GMO foods we have felt better. I feel better than I did. Switching to non GMO food has allowed me to manage my Crohn's disease without medication. And I feel better now than I ever did while on medication. Now, learning what I have, I want all of my family and friends to know of the dangers that GMOs possess.  I know that some people think we are a little extreme, but to that I just say don't knock it until you've tried it.  See the change in your bodies for yourselves and then see why its so important to just say No to GMO!

I've linked a few other sites below with some information if you would like to read a little more in-depth. The nongmoshoppingguide.com one has a lot of great information!

More helpful links:
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education

http://www.organicauthority.com/health/do-gmos-cause-gluten-intolerance.html

http://organic.lovetoknow.com/History_of_GMOs

http://www.realfarmacy.com/report-gmo-linked-to-gluten-disorders-plaguing-18-million-americans/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2013/07/02/gmo-crops-mean-more-herbicide-not-

less/http://www.minyanville.com/trading-and-investing/stocks/articles/PepsiCo-Monsanto-Others-Spend-Big-Money/10/30/2013/id/52475

Yummy Risotto

I can't tell you how many times I go looking through my fridge trying to find something that sounds good to eat.  My stomach is really sensitive to what I eat, so some weeks I can eat a certain food and other weeks it's a no go.  This makes making things up on the spot happen more often than I'd like, but it's also taught me to listen to what my body needs.  Oh, there are times I want my body to need pizza or frozen yogurt, but that's not usually (or ever) the case.  So needless to say I indulge sometimes just to keep myself sane.  But back to the point... food, sensitive tummy and making it up on the spot!  This was one of those such occasions. 

Today was a semi stressful day, two little girls and a fabric store do that to you.  So for dinner all I wanted was some comfort food.  I remembered a pumpkin risotto recipe that a friend of mine shared with me, and I decided to tweak it and make it differently since you can't find pumpkins in April.  I'm so glad I did too, it was delicious and just what I needed!  

Avocado and sweet pea risotto

Ingredients:

1 avocado diced
¾ cup chopped crimini mushrooms
1 Tbs avocado oil
½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup Arborio Rice

1/2 cups vegetable broth

4 cups chicken broth that is very hot

1 cup frozen peas

1/3 cup shaved Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbs dried sage

Preparation:

 Preheat a large pan over medium heat; once hot, add 2 tablespoons of butter and the avocado oil to the hot pan to melt together. Add the chopped onion to the butter and oil then sweat until translucent, about 2 min. Once your onions are ready, stir in your Arborio rice until all of the grains are nicely coated in butter and oil, add the dried sage and seasonings; stir to combine. Add the vegetable broth to your rice and onions, and give a gentle stir; allow the broth to reduce until it’s almost absorbed, but not quite completely.  Next, begin adding the hot chicken stock to your rice mixture, about ½ cup to ¾ cup at a time. Stirring it gently to incorporate the broth and allowing the rice to slowly absorb the stock. You want the rice at a gentle simmer, not bubbling too harshly which will evaporate the broth too quickly. Repeat this process once the first portion of broth is mostly absorbed until the rice is soft and creamy, but not mushy—roughly 20-25 minutes or so.

To finish the risotto, add the chopped mushrooms before you add the last cup or so of broth.  Once that is absorbed, stir in your peas and cover for a few minutes until the peas are warmed through.  Now stir in your chopped up avocado and parmesan and serve!

Tuna fish (I use Trader Joes) would be a great addition if you wanted a meat in there.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

As a parent or a person, one of the last things that you want to hear is that the food you are eating and feeding your family is diminishing your health and theirs, and may even cause lasting effects throughout our lives. A lot of us even come to the point of being complacent and not wanting to change our eating habits.  I've heard everything from "It's to hard" to "It's all complete rubbish." I guess that's part of why I started this blog.  Far too many people I know don't know or care about why proper nutrition is important, or are in complete denial. Nor do they know or see that since things changed so drastically in our countries food production the rates of chronic illnesses, behavioral issues and food allergy's has skyrocketed.

As a mom researching and finding out that what we were eating on a regular basis was full of harmful chemicals and dyes was just heartbreaking. I wanted to fight saying that all of this was ridiculous and not true.  When you are faced with the facts and you start implementing those necessary changes, and you start seeing the truth in those before thought ludicrous statements your heart stops. Your world as you know it seems blurred and unsure.  What is truth, and what isn't?  So we start small and make changes as we can.  Please don't be fooled when people tell you that GMOs and MSG and all of those hard to pronounce chemicals aren't bad for you.  Take the time to see for yourself.  Stop eating them, and then see if you feel a difference.  That is how we started, and we will never go back.  

We used to be told that smoking cigarettes was of no hazard and even doctors smoked them.  Why and how is that any different from what we are being told about our food? Monsanto is big in the food world right now, and not for their concerns of being ethical.  The more that I read and see of this company the more I don't want anything to do with them.

In a lot of ways eating healthy is hard! It's never "easy", in fact sometimes it downright sucks and can be depressing.  There has been many nights of frustration and complete breakdowns since my family and I started our nutrition makeover, but since we made those changes I have also never felt better!  In life you can never have one extreme or emotion without the other.  Would we understand what true happiness was unless we knew or experienced true sadness?  That is the same with food, you tend to not know how much you feel like crap eating something until you start cutting things out of your diet and eating healthier.

Don't allow yourself to be in denial any longer.

 I highly recommend looking up Robyn O'Brien. The photos above are from her research and study.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-OBrien/93865123205