Healthy Morsels II-Welcome Summer!

Healthy Morsels, II

Welcome Summer!

by Lynn O’Hara

Now is the time to kick back and relax, a time to recharge our batteries that have run low over the long, gray winter. I hope many of you have planted gardens and will soon be able to enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables. If a garden isn’t your thing, check out any of the farmers markets held throughout the shore area. For a complete list of area markets check out www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov. It is a great resource for finding local, fresh foods.

Eating fresh, local food is becoming more and more important to people. Eating organic is becoming more important as well. There is growing concern that the food we eat on a daily basis is causing us harm. Between the processing that food goes through to the added sugar, people are finding it important to reduce the amount of processed food they eat in favor of whole foods. But what do we do if the whole foods we eat aren’t healthy for us? I am referring to non-organic and/or genetically modified (GMO) foods. We all know that pesticides are used copiously on fruit and vegetables leading many people to choose organic or locally grown foods. While locally grown foods are not necessarily organic, being able to talk to the farmer about his or her methods of farming let’s us choose wisely. Local farmers may grow as organic as possible but not be able to afford the stringent requirements needed for the organic label on their foods. Knowing how the farmers raise their crops is not something we get to ask at Costco. In bigger stores your best bet is to look for the organic label on fruits, vegetables and other foods. Another reason looking for the organic label or talking to the farmers is important is to avoid GMO’s. We do not know how much GMO food we are eating because it isn’t required to be labeled. Why is this a problem? Oh boy. You aren’t going to like this.

Genetically modified organisms or GMO’s are organisms not found in nature. Scientists create them when they genetically modify or engineer food plants. This is a recently new development in the world of agriculture. In 1994 there were no genetically engineered foods planted. The Center for Food Safety estimates that today 70 to 75% of all grocery store products contain at east one genetically modified ingredient. Because of GMO’s quick rise within our food supply, little

research has been done to determine their potential health risks. Many would like you to believe that GMO’s do not present any health risks but that alternate fact isn’t playing out too well. Let’s understand how we might come across a GMO in the grocery store. Monsanto is the maker of Round-Up, which is a

Lynn O’Hara, MS, RD, LPC Licensed Psychotherapist Registered Dietitian (732) 899-9312 www.lynnoharalpc.com

weed killer. Scientists have genetically engineered certain vegetable plants to be able to survive a dousing with Round-Up. These plants take the Round-Up in but do not die. The vegetables are harvested and sent to stores. We purchase these vegetables and when we sit down to eat our nice dinner we are getting a dose of Round-Up. Round-Up is nearly non-toxic to humans but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. What happens to us on a micro nutrient level? For one thing, Round-Up kills bacteria in our guts. That may make it harder for us to digest and metabolize certain key nutrients. Perhaps we cannot tolerate the active ingredient in Round-Up, Glyphosate. Perhaps that gives us digestive issues. Maybe these digestive issues are diagnosed as gluten sensitivity. See where I’m going with this? In addition, wheat is harvested using Round-Up. That means eating bread gives us a good dose of Round-Up. Glyphosate is in many other vegetables and foods we eat, too, and is thought to create the inability to tolerate gluten. This would explain, in part, the rapid rise of gluten allergies and sensitivities.

Bottom line is this: We do not know what the GMO’s in our diets are doing to us. I am not taking the word of the people who are doing the engineering. Call it lack of trust but money makes people do things that aren’t right. Remember the sugar scandal from all those years ago that I wrote about? Greed is a powerful motivator. I am buying organic as often as I can and I will certainly be going to farmers markets and talking to the people doing the selling to find out the farmers practices. Now is a great time to shift to healthier non-GMO and organic foods. Your body will thank you! Until next time, eat healthy, be happy!

July 2018 25 Check us out online at www.typhoonmedianj.com