Disturbing Facts About Genetically Modified Food and Now Our Herbal Medicine

« « Do Prescription Medicine Discount Programs Assist People Save Money | The Details Concerning HGH Side Effects Examined » »

November 28th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Although this seems unnecessary, the expression is an endeavor to grasp the real meaning of what herb medicine is all about – uncontaminated natural plant biotics without corruption and reorganization. With all the genetic manipulation by corporate food giants, no current pure botanic material exists, anymore. But, as much as possible, it is to everyone’s benefit that we protect our interests before we reap the unknown consequences of changing the genetic structure of what we put in our bodies. Before it’s too late, we must commit to this quest. Unadulterated herbs and herbal formula extracts do still exist in protected environments. Agricultural scientists are discovering everywhere that hybrid contamination is growing. It has been assessed that all, so called, 100% organic farms in the U.S. have no less than 2%+ corruption from altered foodstuffs hence disturbing the unique effect of herbal medicine. It is extremely important to source traditional herbs and traditional Chinese herbs from protected pollinated farms, free from genetically modified organism (GMO) seed.

Currently, experiments in India and Japan are being conducted with the emphasis on increasing the medicinal properties of the herbs. The key to herb medicine potency is in wide dispute. The GMO group deems extraction of particular alkaloids in the overall herbal composite. The anti-GMO herb camp holds that when you change the property ratio then you, in effect, change the medicinal value which stems from the original structure. The dispute that a particular alkaloid is the chief cause for the remedial effect as opposed to the entire or combined outcome of the herb is a continuing argument that deserves scrutiny.

Besides the changes to the original plant structure, GM herbs are philosophically opposed to the premises of natural, alternative medicine. These moral issues warrant respect and watchful consideration prior to admit these foods into the gene pool. Input from the herb medicine & research community needs to be acquired before making these changes. Decisions by large corporate ventures are lacking, by nature, conscience in this regard. Though many execs may intend well, it would be to their benefit to attract unbiased feedback as to whether to choose GM procedures in their development. What are the consequences versus the profit?

Most Master Herbalists, specializing in Chinese Medicine, focus on food as a therapy. Here are a few tips to think about the food nutrient (incl. herbal herbs) industry:

In the U.S. alone, between 1997 and 1999, gene-modified (GM) ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all processed foods.”
Be sure to choose organic soy milk. Most soybeans in America are genetically modified. Unrefined (organic) soybeans are not genetically modified.
If the supporters of GMO are so clever then why do we still have nutrient deficiency in our food products?
That carrot has about 57% less magnesium and 16% less calcium in it than the ones our parents ate, a banana 87% less folic acid, and spinach 59% less vitamin C!
Whereas there is an increase in vitamin and mineral supplement sales to cover the our food nutrient deficiency, more city/county public works departments are transporting by the multiple truck loads, the remaining tablets to sanitation dumps. The only real working source of nutrition comes from food that our body absorbs or supplements based on whole food sources.

Genetically modified foods can have decidedly unhealthy effects. One solid conclusion found that:

More than half of the offspring of rats fed on transgenically modified soya died in the first three weeks of life, six times as many as those born to mothers with normal diets. Six times as many were also severely underweight.
Mothers who include GM foods in their diet during pregnancy may unwittingly endanger their unborn babies. A statement by the corporate GM giant, Monsanto, exposed that rats fed a diet containing GM corn had reduced sized kidneys and increased blood cell counts compared to those that ingested a natural strain, signifying likely damage to their immunity systems.

The nutrient value of food has fallen drastically while the price is skyrocketing:

Minerals & Vitamins in mg/100g		1985	1996	Reduced value expressed in %
Broccoli	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium	103 47 26	33 23 22	- 68 % – 51 % – 15 %
Beans	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium Vitamin B6	56 39 26 140	34 34 22 55	- 39 % – 13 % – 15 % – 61 %
Potatoes	Calcium Magnesium	14 27	4 18	- 71 % – 33 %
Carrots	Calcium Magnesium	37 21	31 9	- 16 % – 57 %
Spinach	Calcium Vitamin C	62 51	19 21	- 69 % – 59 %
Apples	Vitamin C	5	1	- 80 %
Bananas	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium VitaminB6 Potassium	8 23 31 330 420	7 3 27 27 327	- 13 % – 87 % – 13 % – 92 % – 22%
Strawberries	Calcium Vitamin C	21 60	18 13	- 14 % – 78 %

Source: 1996 Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Foodstuffs laboratory, Karlsruhe / Obertal Sanatorium.

Boosting our immune systems, metabolic and vascular efficiency with suitable mineral and vitamin supplements compensates for some of these effects, acts preventatively, and assists us in countering deficiencies. But have you ever seen how emaciated our elderly become when maintained on ENSURE in nursing homes? The short thinking should only be rationalized and acknowledged to what extent? Reliance on healthy, nutrient rich foods and herbs are the essential foundation for sustaining life.

The bottom-line is this. Greed has, unconsciously and consciously, crept into the way we develop our food supply. Whenever the food supply is managed in an impersonal basis there is high risk for exploitation. Though this development is not everywhere, it is extensive enough now that balance in the industry is fargone. This condition, may be, beyond the ability of mankind to retrieve it unless radical changes are implemented.

Mark Hammer, C.M.H., Master Herbalist, Longevity Mountain

India working on GM herbs, says Greenpeace, Joe C Mathew / Business Standard New Delhi (November 05, 2008)
“50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods” By Nathan Batalion

Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog