DEAR THYROID^TM

My philosophy on food is this: where did it come from?  It’s really that simple because once you’ve got a handle on where the food came from, you’ve also got a clue as to the level of quality and care given, what was added (or taken out), and how nutritious it will be.  I eat from-the-ground food because remember: my health is that important to me, and so is the food I choose to fuel it with.   While mainstream America is focused on the all-consuming fat gram and calorie, I’m worried about how the thing was grown, what was sprayed on the crop, and if, in fact, it is even indigenous to the earth.   It’s a strange thing to have to consider, because what, you may ask, are we consuming that isn’t a naturally-occurring foodstuff to our planet?,  Well, unbeknownst to the American consumer, the answer is a whole hell of alot.

Genetically Modified Foods (also called Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs) are foods that have been altered at the genetic level, either to extend their shelf-life, or to make them resistant to bacteria and pests, or to yield bigger and better crops, among others.   In theory, GMOs present as a great idea, and indeed the most vocal proponent and supplier of genetically modified food seeds, Monsanto Corporation, claims the products to be better for the planet and a cure for world hunger.   However, in actuality, these crops do nothing more advantageous than their conventional counterparts and also have many downsides.   Aside from the many environmental problems associated with GMOs, there are a ton of major health risks that have been implicated with their consumption as well.   And because whenever we choose to eat non-organic foods, we have around a 70% chance of eating GMOs, for you and I — people with chronic illness — this is a big, huge, major fucking deal.   This mean everyday these foreign entities are assaulting our bodies and already-strained immune systems.

Because these “foods” (trust me when I say I use that term loosely) are alien objects to our body’s natural system, they cannot be processed and broken down properly.   With this comes negative (sometimes allergic) responses from our immune systems and causes these compounds to build up in the body.   Also, genetically modified foods have not been around but for the last few decades and as you know, our human systems are still strikingly similar those peoples from thousands of years ago.   If you remember my article Don’t Be Grainwashed, you’ll recall that our human digestion has remained about the same since the First Agricultural Revolution, nearly 10,000 years ago.   So, simply put: our bodies haven’t caught up with this food technology.

All genetically modified food contains bacterial DNA.   One specific element of this bacterial DNA, called “CpG motif”, is known to stimulate the immune system and thereby cause inflammation. ,  ,  This new and foreign DNA sequences in GMOs are something our gastrointestinal tracts cannot break down and they therefore end up as whole entities in our bloodstream and tissues (this phenomenon is also sometimes referred to as Leaky Gut).   What happens next, as you may have guessed, is an autoimmune (or, as aforementioned, an inflammatory) response in some people because the body perceives these to be pathogens in the blood stream.   Whether your thyroid disease be autoimmune or not, we can all benefit from less inflammation in our bodies and systems.   Inflammation is the precursor to many diseases (Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, obesity).   Prevention is key.

Because genetically-altered foods are so prevalent in our modern diets, we are inadvertently consuming high doses.   The biggest GM crops, corn and soy, are practically in every processed and premade product you could buy.   And I’m talking weird ingredient names you’d never know how to decipher, let alone look out for.   Such names of these GM corn and soy derivatives/additives include: food starch, malt, malt extract, sorbitol, dextrin, malt syrup, MSG, modified food starch, corn syrup, textured vegetable protein, lecithin and soy lecithin.   But GMOs are also being inserted as ingredients in the weirdest places, and into products you’d never even consider (which could also be due to the fact that in America, no labeling to alert the public of GMOs present in their food is required, unlike in Europe): confectioners sugar, spices and spice mixes, baking powder, corn flour and corn meal, vegetable oil, soda, vinegar, tofu and non-organic soy products like soy sauce and veggie burgers, most candies and cereals and breads because they usually contain corn syrup, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, peanut butter; and the list goes on.   There are also other foods that have been genetically modified so GMOs are not exclusive to corn and soy.

The moral of this story is to avoid foods that have been genetically modified at all costs.   Not only is there evidence that they harm the body and cause a sequence of responses that are implicated in many diseases, but also, there is so much more research that needs to be done over a longer period of time on what exactly the consequences or benefits of this food science will be.

The best ways to avoid GMOs

1. Buy organic whenever possible
2. Stay away from packaged and pre-made goods
3. Become familiar with the various aliases for GM foods
4. Eat from-the-ground foods — natural things that are in their whole form at the time of purchase
5. Avoid non-organic corn and soy especially
6. Eat out less often, as the food served in restaurants is conventional, unless otherwise noted
7. If you eat animal products, buy organic when you can because animals are fed a diet of GM grain and soy

Oh, and if you’re in the mood for a good movie on the topic, check out the free documentary The Future Of Food.

Resources:

• How Do You Know If Your Food Is Genetically Modified?
• Are You Eating GMOs, Should You Care?
• GMOs: WE Can’t Ignore The Consequences
• How Codex Alimentarius Promotes Dangerous GMOs
• Say No To GMOs

Until Next Week,

Love Always,

Liz,

Have a question, comment, story, love letter, or rant/rave to send me?: Liz@DearThyroid.com

Tags: Goitrogens and soy, How To Kick Your Thyroid's Ass, soy's affect on thyroids, thyroid food resources, thyroid nutrition column, thyroid nutrition tips, thyroid nutritional resources

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