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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.


2009-05-06

If You Can't Eat it Or Pronounce it Then Don't Take it Home!  

When was the last time you had a look at the ingredients on your skin care, cosmetics, shampoo even tooth paste? Could you pronounce the names of the ingredients? More importantly would you eat them?

I have been a keen consumer of natural and organic products for some time like most of us, however, I can get a bit slack sometimes. Recently I gained some real insight into what is in the standard shampoo, skincare and cosmetic lines and how those ingredients impact on our health and the health of our environment. At the bottom of this article I have included a list of ingredients you will not want to be putting in or on your body. It has certainly helped me re-focus on what's in the things I buy for my family and I to eat and put on our skin.

Have you ever bought a product because it said 'Natural' or 'Organic' on the label? You could reasonably expect that Natural meant safe, edible, food grade - is this, however, the definition used by skin care and cosmetic companies? I was fascinated to find that the beauty industry definition of 'natural' means that the ingredient may have started out as a natural ingredient, like coconut oil, for example. After being processed, heated, chemically treated, it no longer resembles the natural product is started out as - it's also no longer healthy, safe or food grade and it is definitely not edible. Yet the product is labeled as natural. How horrifying to think we buy these products and think we're doing ourselves a favor.

There are also products that claim to be organic, but do they have the organic symbol on the packaging confirming that they are in fact certified as organic? Most times I have found they do not which means they are not certified organic and have not been quality controlled at all. Certified organic means that there is a minimum of 95% certified organic ingredients excluding water. Pesticides are not used in farming the ingredients and there are no genetically modified or synthetic ingredients present either. Certainly, nothing on our list below of things to be avoided - so unless a product has been certified organic you cannot be sure it is in fact safe to consume or put on your body or in your environment

The following preservatives release formaldehyde, yes that's right the stuff they use to preserve dead flesh: Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (Suttocide)‏, Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall 115), Diazolidinyl urea (Germall II)‏, Quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol)‏, DMDM Hydantoin (Glydant)‏ 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide contamination, You will also want to avoid these ingredients: 'PEG', 'polyethylene', 'polyethylene glycol', olyoxyethylene', anything that ends in '-eth-' (such as sodium laureth sulfate), 'oxynol', 'ceteareth' or 'oleth'.

These ingredients, nitrosamines, have been identified as one of the most potent classes of carcinogens, having caused cancer in more than 40 different animal species as well as in humans. NDELA is the specific nitrosamine "to which human exposure is the greatest," since it occurs "in cosmetics" and is "absorbed readily through the skin."

- Carcinogenesis 1985, National Cancer Institute

So ensure you avoid these ingredients: MEA (Monoethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)‏e.g. Cocamide MEA, Cocamide DEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, and TEA Lauryl sulphate.

These lists are not, in any way extensive, however, it's a place to start, if you are interested in more information look out for a book called 'Dangerous Beauty - Cosmetics and Personal Care' written by Peter Dingle and Toni Brown. It's a good start and not too complex to get your head around. My rule is if I don't think I can eat or and I can't pronounce it, it doesn't come home with me!

If you want to live a truly energetic and outrageously healthy, happy lives, then I suggest you ensure you are taking care of your body, fuel it effectively and minimize the amount of toxic chemicals you come into contact with both externally and internally. Your body will thank you for it.



Autor: Lenore Miller Lenore Miller
Level: Platinum
Lenore Miller is a woman with passion, she has been on a mission to find the most outrageously healthy experts on the planet and bring ... ...

Lenore Miller is the Creator and Founder of http://www.outrageouslyhealthy.com She brings together both tools of the conscious and unconscious mind to help you create the Outrageously Healthy Life you deserve. You can listen to Lenore's expert interviews by becoming a FREE member of outrageouslyhealthy.com, where you will hear authorities speak on everything from fuelling your body and exercising efficiently, to motivation and having a wardrobe that has you feeling fabulous. She also offers you the opportunity to work at an unconscious level by participating in group and individual coaching calls.

Lenore is a Keynote Speaker, Result Coach and NLP Practitioner and she holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a Diploma in Relationship counselling.


Added: May 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Value of High Metabolism Foods  

Did you know that high metabolism foods can help you undo years of harmful dietary habits? For example, if you tried a lot of fad diets, or ate a lot of junk food, your metabolism may be sluggish and out of balance. While this may not show up much in your early years, it will most certainly catch up to you as you age. As may be expected, the sooner you do something about this issue, the better off you will be.

As you search for a list of high metabolism foods, it is important to think about where you will buy each item. For example, if you read that grapefruits are high metabolism foods, it may not be of much help to buy commercially grown products. Aside from running the risk of eating genetically modified foods, the grapefruits may have been grown in soils that have been depleted of the most valuable nutrients. Therefore, you may find that these items will not contain the metabolism boosters that you are looking for. While it may take some research to find a reputable food supplier, it will be well worth the time and effort.

Chances are, you can already think of a number of high metabolism foods. Before you simply start trying to consume these items, you will need to make sure that your information is as up to date and accurate as possible. In many cases, soil depletion and other issues associated with commercial farming may leave you with foods that do not have their expected nutrient value. Unfortunately, this may even cause dietary failure when you have otherwise enjoyed a slim and beautiful body. Why spend so much time looking for foods to boost your metabolism, and then fail to make sure that you are getting foods that meet your criteria?



Autor: Shana Trevor

Shana Trevor believes in your right to be fit and beautiful at any age. She writes for popular website HealthyLivingTipsForYou.Com and her articles provide honest information and advice on topics like metabolism foods. Get free tips when you check out the site today!


Added: May 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

2009-03-01

South Africa Should License Research Lab on Genetically Modified Sorghum  

Prof. Florence Wambugu, a renowned agricultural biotechnologists and the founder of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International, which is currently in a row with the South African government over its plan to set up a multimillion dollar research laboratory and greenhouses to the development of genetically modified sorghum.

Prof. Wambugu has a huge grant - U.S. $ 415 million - from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the development of genetically modified crops, which have proved essential in alleviating food insecurity. Your choice of South Africa derives from the fact that it? P is the only African country with biological laws.

South Africa? S early adoption of organic laws has been the preferred destination for biotechnology investors. Now a country that is? S gained an international reputation for its policy towards biotechnology is an attempt to block an African scientists from the promotion of a biotechnology cause is appalling.

In the grounds of its decision to suspend Prof. Wambugu? Project, South Africa? S agricultural regulatory agencies have argued that the genetically modified varieties of sorghum may contaminate native to Africa. This looks like a pedestrian and argument, it is synonymous with the introduction of the wagon before the horse.

For the record, Prof. Wambugu has not yet sent GM sorghum to Africa. All she wants to do is to establish a laboratory for conducting research on the same. Everything Prof. Wambugu wants now is to build the infrastructure for genetically modified sorghum research. This can not in any way with the so-called African indigenous sorghum varieties.

Prof. Wambugu is at a certain time, perform field trials of its genetically modified sorghum. Then is the right time for the South African government to worry about? Contamination.

It should not be lost on anyone that South Africa has well established genetically modified organisms (GMO) regulations. So, it is unlikely that the new genetically modified sorghum will be outside of these laws.

Genetically modified plants are not alien to South Africa. It is not the first time a new genetically modified crops in South Africa. The law stipulates that the introduction of genetically modified maize and cotton, which are currently commercially grown in South Africa needs to Prof. Wambugu? S genetically modified sorghum.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, through investment in agricultural biotechnology research, is sending a strong message to African countries that it's for finding a lasting solution to Africa? S chronic food problems. The best way to repay this generous gesture is for African governments to ensure that scientists, like Prof. Wambugu to do their work unhindered.

 

James uses his communication expertise to create awareness about GM food. To read more about him, go to http://www.gmoafrica.org

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

2009-02-22

The Incredible Health Benefits of the Amalaki Fruit  

It seems as if there is a new super-food with wonderful health benefits Treff moment supermarket shelves every week. While some are simply genetically modified foods or plants or herbal extracts, others are in fact all natural foods, the health benefits promised. Known as AMLA, Emblica officinalis or Indian gooseberry, the Amalaki fruit is the youngest participant in this market. However, until the popularity of Zrii nutritious beverages, and several other products, this food was hardly anything from outside of India. This article gives an overview of these powerful foods, including the history and present uses.

Fruits

This is a pale green fruit, about the size of a ping-pong ball from the Amalaki tree. The densest growth of these trees in the whole world is in India, on the basis of the Himalayan Mountains. The active ingredients are chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, and quercetin. These ingredients, revered for their health, these foods a part of holistic medicine for thousands of years, the wide dissemination of Tibetan and Indian healers Kräuterkundige.

discovery

Its use in Ayurvedic medicine led to his discovery of the western world. While traditional medicine in India, this form of holistic medicine as a form of alternative healing methods in the western cultures. The process concludes with massage, yoga, healing and herbs into the body, mind and spirit. The growing popularity of Ayurvedic medicine has meant that the Indian delicacies receive testing and research by traditional medicine, the benefits for others, thousands of years.

Harvest

To ensure the effectiveness and integrity of Amalaki for its medical and preventive purposes, such as in the food Zrii drink, it is "wild crafted", ie It is, of course, organically grown and harvested. This keeps the benefits of the fruit intact, as there is no use of pesticides.

the health benefits

as one of the most important and most potent ingredients in Ayurvedic Pharmacopia, the food, also known as "The Great Rejuvenator," is used to strengthen the immune system and support for many common diseases. Rich in vitamin C, the Indian meal benefits many organs of the body and supports them, how they fight disease, free radicals. In addition, these specially trained healers believe that it works as adaptogene, helps the body is positive, his reaction to stress, allowing diseases and illnesses at work, to health and longevity.

its use in Zrii, and other products

Its use today reflects the way it was traditionally in the past. The concept of Ayurvedic medicine in terms of synergy with herbs to improve the effectiveness of other herbs, which the permeation of the body, is the reason that Amalaki fruit is often mixed with other herbs and plants. The Zrii nutritious beverage, for example, combines them with six powerful Ayurvedic herbal food which Schizandra, Tulsi, Tumeric, Ginger, Haritaki, and jujube.

 

Christine O'Kelly is a writer for Amalaki Fruit -- an independent Zrii representative. Zrii delivers the powerful health benefits of this fruit in a multi-botanical beverage formula.

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