Healthy Living

Press Release Source: The Institute for Responsible Technology

Iowa, Dec. 26 -- Consumers of any age can improve their health with one New Year's resolution. "Avoid eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs)," says expert Jeffrey M. Smith, who points to evidence of mounting health risks associated with gene-spliced foods.

Smith urges consumers to cross off brands that contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients, which are in 60-70% of foods sold in the U.S. The principle offenders are non-organic soy and corn derivatives and canola and cottonseed oils. Thus, Ragu tomato sauce would be off limits, since it contains corn syrup and soybean oil, but Light Ragu or Barilla brand sauces, which contain olive oil and no corn sweetener, are non-GMO.

"Consumers in the U.S. are being used as human guinea pigs by biotech companies, which rushed their GMOs to market without adequate studies and before the science was ready," says Smith. "Once Americans learn they are feeding these high-risk foods to their children, they will demand non-GMO alternatives."

In Europe, where consumer knowledge about GMOs is considerably higher, shoppers' concerns prompted food
manufacturers there to remove all GM ingredients. Smith sees this trend building in the US, with more and more healthy brands declaring ingredients "Non-GMO" on the label.

Smith's new book, Genetic Roulette: The documented health risks of genetically engineered foods, due out in the spring, links GMOs to risks such as allergies, immune system dysfunction, potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, stunted organs and death. "Many of the beliefs about DNA that were popular when GM foods were introduced ten years ago," he says, "have been proven wrong. Swapping genes between species turns out to have far more unpredicted dangerous side effects than we thought."

Animals choose non-GMO

Smith also documents how several animals, when given the option, choose non-GM food over GMOs. These include cows, pigs, elk, deer, raccoons, squirrels, mice, rats and geese. He says a non-GMO New Year's resolution will help people elevate their choices to match the wisdom of the animals.

Cloned food may be FDA deja vu

"The FDA's recent announcement declaring milk and meat from cloned animals as safe," says Smith, "reminds us of their 1992 approval of GM crops. When the agency's internal files were made public years later, they revealed that the FDA's GMO policy was dictated by corporate manipulation, not sound science. Warnings by government scientists were ignored by political appointees from the biotech industry." Smith adds, "And like GMOs, the FDA does not want labels on cloned food, thereby forcing the entire population into their dangerous uncontrolled experiment."

Jeffrey Smith is the author of Seeds of Deception, the world's bestselling book on GMOs. He is the founder and executive director of The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) and a leading spokesperson on the risks of GM foods. His forthcoming book, Genetic Roulette, documents more than 60 health risks of GM foods in easy-to-read two-page spreads, and demonstrates how current safety assessments are not competent to protect consumers
from the dangers.

Go to www.responsibletechnology.org for eater-friendly tips for avoiding GMOs at home and in restaurants.

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January 15, 2007 00:45 - Free Classes Here in Blanco

I'm consistently amazed at what's available in our tiny town. This week, a series of classes in relaxation and pain management for people with auto-immune issues. Next week, a beginner course in Bach Flower Therapy.

Integrative Yoga Therapy

Adrienne Larson, who teaches yoga at Casa de Yoga in Blanco, will offer a free series of 8 classes at the Gem of the Hills Community Center beginning Wednesday, January 17. Classes will be held from 9 AM to 10 AM.

Integrative Yoga Therapy is specifically geared toward persons with auto-immune conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, etc. It will be a one hour, gently therapeutic movement class, teaching techniques for deep relaxation and better sleep. (Appropriate for beginners)

Gem of the Hills
2233 N US Hwy 281
Blanco

Wednesdays beginning January 17 through March 7

For more information, please call Adrienne at (830) 833-2430.

Bach Flower Therapy

On Tuesday, January 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Real Foods will be hosting a beginner's workshop on Bach Flower Essences.

This will be a small class, and we only have a couple of open slots, so if you're interested, please call Sherri or Ann at the store 830-833-2483.

It's FREE!

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January 25, 2007 19:44 - Free Eco-Tips

I found a great source of green living tips, and the price is right.

Nada. That's correct -- free.

So far, the helpful hints seem to be really simple and straight-forward, and actually helpful.

They come several times a week by email, and you can un-subscribe at any time.

To sign up, just click here www.real-foods.net/ideal-bite and fill out the form.

Enjoy.
And Oh. It's OK to share this link with someone you care about.

Thanks for helping to get the word out.

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