GMO's

I was having a conversation about GMO's with my husband, sharing some of the information that I have learnt through my IIN Health Coaching Course whose statistics and information are based in America.  My husband's reply was "Lucky that doesn't happen here in Australia", I laughed and he looked at me with surprise.  He seriously had no idea that there are GMO crops growing in Australia, and nearly didn't believe me when I told him he was wrong, so off to Google I went to show him.

While the vast majority of GMO ingredients in our food come from the US with nearly all of their Soy and Corn crops being GMO, Australia grows GM Canola and Cotton, which are largely used as oils.  Its happening here with out a doubt, and while the jury seems to be out on whether or not they are dangerous, in my heart of hearts I believe messing with the genetics of our food to withstand being laden heavily with a cocktail of dangerous chemicals is not a good thing for our health and wellbeing.  The other problem is our lax labelling laws, without knowing whats inside we really don't know what we are eating, robbing us of having the chance to make a choice.

So what can we do about it? Heres an easy step, start by looking closely at labels and avoid the following:

• Canola Oil also labelled as Vegetable Oil
• Corn products also labelled as glucose syrup, glucose, fructose and maltodextrin and thickener/modified starches (1410, 1412).
• Soy products also labelled as soy lecithin (additive/emulsifier 322), soy oil, soy protein and vegetable protein.
• Cottonseed oil also labelled as “vegetable oil”, used for deep-frying and popular with takeaway food shops and restaurants.

Check out your pantry and become acquainted with what is already there, and make a list of what you don't want to buy again so you have it handy. That way you can look for an alternative if its something you use all the time.

A couple of easy examples: 

Instead of Cornflour you could use organic arrowroot or tapioca starch as a thickener.
Instead of Vegetable Oil use Coconut Oil.
Instead of Soy Sauce use Tamari Sauce.
Or at the very least just buy the organic brand of what you are used to as GMO's are banned under the organic system.

So while I am no scientific guru, and I'm not writing this to debate the place of GMO's, I know how things make me feel, so I have just made the commitment to eating more fresh produce. I make my own treats, dips and sauces from whole organic foods and source the best produce I can where I live. I think my butcher might even do a little eye roll when he sees me coming with my 20 questions.  I always make sure I know what I am getting, where its coming from, how its grown and what it is being fed.

Here's to your Health xo