You Are What You Eat

Hello everyone, I would like to welcome you to the first blog of many. Thanksgiving week is this week, and this week’s topics will cover women’s health in regards of food and exercise.  Today’s hot topic is the issue on genetically modified foods. Are they good or bad? If so, what can we as women do about our nutritional health before stuffing ourselves on Thanksgiving Day?

                                   

Can eating genetically modified food have an impact on human health?

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods that are derived from genetically modified organisms (GMO). What is GMO? “GMO is a living organism (bacteria, plant, animal) whose genetic composition has been altered by means of gene technology” (Khan et al, 2012). Genetically engineered crops have been a major source in the boost of food production due to the increasing world population and the threat of food security. But by solving one problem has biotechnology created another? I believe that biotechnology has gone beyond creating a problem; they have created an epidemic, because in my opinion GM foods are bad and have a huge impact on human’s health.

It has been reported by the National Academy of Science that genetically modified products have introduced new allergens, toxins, disruptive chemical, soil-polluting ingredients, mutated species, and unknown protein combinations in the human body and the environment.  GM foods have been linked to death, near-deaths from allergic reactions, cancer, antibiotic threat via milk, birth defects and shorter life spans, lowered nutrition, and radical change in diet (Khan et al, 2012). What are the main ingredients in genetically modified foods that are causing so many fatal and near fatal health problems we may never know?

                                   

In my nutrition class my professor stressed the issue over and over that genetically modified foods are bad, and are not nutritional. We have to have a food log and record everything we eat; my professor also says that it is best to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. Our motto for the nutrition class is thy food is thy medicine-Hippocrates. I agree with this statement 100%, before my nutrition class I consumed fast food daily, and never met the required amounts of fruits and vegetables that need to be consumed daily for the best nutrition intake.

My professor tells my class to go to the farmer’s market to purchase fresh and natural produce. Yes, I understand that everyone’s budget is not the same, but to replace one healthy product with an unhealthy product will make a BIG difference. I am a living witness of this because now that I am in this class and watching what I eat, and eating healthier I have lost 9 pounds and I feel sexier than ever. Who has the right to produce something that our bodies are not use to consuming? Nobody!!!! It is up to us to make a change because we do have a right to NOT eat GM foods!!!                      

                                   

The human body has evolved for thousands of years learning to adapt gradually to the environment, and nature’s foods. For genetic engineers to just abruptly change the human’s diet with little or no thought at all is rather disturbing to me. Our bodies are not capable of quickly learning how to adjust to an unknown hormone or GMO; this is what leads to long-term health effects. WE ARE WHAT WE EAT and I am sure that every woman wants to look her best so why ingest horrible foods like GM products and destroy your beautiful body. Due to child bearing capabilities we have to be aware of what we consume, because food is stored in all of the wrong places, and takes time to lose. Keep in mind not only food has an effect on women’s health.  

                                               

All in all I believe that GM foods are bad and can have fatal health issues in the human body. Women already have difficulties when it comes to maintaining body weight and nutritional status. So why not start early, and eat foods that are healthy and make you feel good about yourself. Okay I must admit that I do eat fast foods on occasion, but after eating fast food I do not feel energetic I get sleepy and lazy. In contrast, to when I eat something healthy like fruit or grilled chicken I am ready to run a 10-mile marathon. My best advice for women to avoid health issues due to GM foods are to eat healthy and read every food label to see what the ingredients are in the food of your preference. I have been doing this for 6 months and have experienced a significant change in my weight, attitude, and performance in my school work.

Now that I have expressed my feelings about GM foods, what are your thoughts on this hot topic? Next time, I will be discussing women’s health and food security.