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A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are generally known as recombinant DNA technology. With recombinant DNA technology, DNA molecules from different sources are combined in vitro into one molecule to create a new gene. This DNA is then transferred into an organism and causes the expression of modified or novel traits.

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods produced from GMO that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. The most common modified foods are derived from plants: soybean, corn, canola cotton seed oil and wheat.


2008-03-13

Organic Versus Natural, How to Tell the Difference!  

With our increasingly toxic environment, more and more people who are for organic foods. But, if you really understand the labels on foods are not the real deal!

First all people can be with the All Natural and Organic. The USDA National Organic standards do not regulate the term natural when it comes to fruit and vegetables, but the Food Safety and Inspection Services regulate the expression of nature when it comes to meat. If a cut of meat is labelled All Natural, it simply means that they are not injected to make it juicier, or plumpest and color and preservatives have not been added and has been minimally processed. It may not be organic.

The problem here is that there are different types of businesses. There are farms where cattle feed kept inside and unnatural grain fed. These holdings have their cattle antibiotics because of the high disease. Growth hormones are often used to it thicker. You can eat organic grains, but that does not mean that you always have the best meat.

The healthiest meat is where livestock roaming free on farms, in which the court itself was certified organic and the cows eat a true and natural diet . The environment is for them rest and nature takes its course with them. Livestock, in a closed court, or can feed a lot more stressed.

The problem with the consumption of meat that has been injected with hormones is that they can make you fat. It makes the cattle fat and may even you! The same goes for the dairy industry. You may have noticed in the last ten years that girls in the developing world are younger age groups. There were some that research has been done suggests that hormones from meat and dairy industries, which for this, although more tests must done.

Now for fruit and vegetables, it is a different matter. A number system was developed to identify organic products, as well as the commercial production has grown with pesticides and chemicals. In most stores, there is a section for organic foods, but in the manufacture of course you will also find organically. You just have to know what to look for. It is an oval sticker on the produce and it is either 4 or 5 places on it.

Example: A tangerine 4053 can read. Everything begins with a 3 or 4 means that it was grown with pesticides and chemicals.

A 5-digit number, it means organically grown. For example, an organic tangerine would read 94053. If you have a 5-digit number, which begins with a 9, you have organic produce.

There is a series of numbers that scared me personally, and this is a 5-digit number that begins with 8. For example, a tangerine 84053 labelled. That would be a mandarin, the genetically modified. There is a growing wave of concern over genetically modified food. Further studies must be this.

There on standards for organic as well. The best is when you read the term "100% organic"! This means that every aspect of growing and the products are used, in fact, 100% certified organic. Then there is only the word "organic". This can be 95 to 97% organic.

Now we know that the difference between natural and organic, and what the sticker on the grocery store means we as a people are better educated about our food and healthier decisions can be made organic made.

Certified foods have a higher nutrient content and a higher antioxidant capacity. That alone is a good reason to go organic. It costs more but would be worth it.

Want healthier? Eat Organic and see if you notice the difference!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Willie_Jones

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