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Free of Diseases or Filled with Diseases

Timothy Teruo Watters' Art Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothy-teruo-watters/ By Lin Peng June 21, 2013 Did you know? In the United States, GMOs or genetically modified organisms are in as much as 80% of conventional processed foodsincluding pizza, chips, cookies, ice cream, salad dressing, corn syrup, and baking powdercontain ingredients from engineered soybeans, corn, and canola (Ackerman), and also most GM or genetically modified crops go into animal feed (Ackerman). Therefore, the best way to free yourself from GMOs is to choose alterative food choices such as buying fresh, local, organic food. What is GMO? GMO or genetically modified organisms (also known as biotechnology foods or genetically engineered foods) are crop plants or meat products that have been modified or engineered with its DNA artificially altered in a laboratory by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria. Myth: GM foods are safe to eat ("GMO myths and truths report"), and GM animal feed poses no risks to animal or human health (Antoniou, Robinson, and Fagan 37). Truth: Scientific studies show that GM foods can be toxic or allergenic ("GMO myths and truths report"), and GM feed affects the health of animals and may affect the humans who eat their products such as organ disruptions (Antoniou, Robinson, and Fagan 37

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Designed by McKenzie Long of Cardinal Innovative. Commissioned for PROBAR by the PR firm Purple Orange. Source: http://cardinalinnovative.com/?page_id=7#infographics The older we get, the more health issues we encounter. This may cause us to become more mindful about our health, especially the food we consume everyday. After graduating from college, moving out into the professional-career world, or relocating to a new city or town may cause an imbalance to our health, especially in our nutrition or diet. The busy schedule and the stressful times may cause us to lean towards diet such as easy-microwavable meals, resulting in a larger consumption of conventional processed foods. The transition of nutrition or diet from college to the professional-career world may be a challenge. The challenge arises from not knowing how to transition from the easy-microwavable meals or the easy-everyday conventional food to a heartier and healthier diet. More importantly, the challenge may also be a lack of knowledge about what exactly is in our food. By educating yourself and becoming aware of the products you are consuming will not only help you to have a healthier life, but it will also help you to have a longer life. This article will provide you the basic

$" understanding of GMOs, along with alternative food choices to help you write out your next grocery list! The main question is Are you consuming hidden toxin that may cause harm to your body and health, such as biotechnology foods, also known as GM foods? GM crop industry such as Monsanto, and its supporters claim GM crops as the following: Safe to eat and can be more nutritious than naturally bred crops Are strictly regulated for safety Reduce pesticide use Benefit the environment On the other hand, scientific and other authoritative evidences show the opposite: GM crops can be toxic, allergenic or less nutritious than their natural counterparts Are not adequately regulated to ensure safety Do not reduce pesticide use but increase it Harm soil quality, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity

Source: http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/gmosand-your-family/ Photo Credit: Lindsay Stradtner In addition, there are numerous health risks of GM foods such as recorded deaths, near-deaths and food allergy reactions, cancer and degenerative disease, infertility and high infant mortality rates in animals fed GM, viral and bacterial illness, antibiotic threats, and birth defects and shorter life spans. More health-risks can be found under the link below: http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/65-health-risks/1notes

%" Are you scared yet? According to the Non-GMO Project, GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. Nevertheless, according to Just Food, more than 80% of many major cropsincluding corn, soy, corn, canola, zucchini, yellow squash, and sugar beetsare grown from genetically engineered seed, and about 70% of processed foods contain GMOs ("GMOS in Our Food System"). Animal products including milk, meat, eggs, and honey are also considered high-risk GMO products due to contamination in animal feed ("A Collaborative Initiative Working to Ensure the Sustained Availability of Non-GMO Options). If 80% of U.S. major crops are all genetically modified, what alternative choices do you have as a consumer? Always prefer organic products over of GMO products. Organic products: Grown in safe, natural soil No modifications No synthetic pesticides No bioengineered genes or GMOs No petroleum-based fertilizes No sewage sludge-based fertilizers All organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed with no given antibiotics, growth hormones, or pesticides. Check out http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm for more information. Shop for brands that are part of the Non-GMO project with the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. The verification seal indicates that the product has been produced according to the Projects rigorous standard. Such popular brands are: 365 Amys Kitchen Annies Garden of Life Himalania Kashi Nature's Path Organic Valley Pacific Natural Foods

&" Sambazon Simply Soy Yogurt Silk So Delicious Dairy Free Vega As a college student or even a recent graduate of University of Central Florida, it seems as though fresh, organic products and produce can be out of ones budget. But no worries, there are plenty of places in Orlando, Fla. to buy cheap, fresh, organic products and producefrom honey, cheeses, pastas, breads, and even plants. The best place to buy inexpensive fresh, organic products and produce is at a farmers market. Yet, there are a dozen of farmers markets located in Orlando. Here are some farmers markets near UCF: Audubon Park Community Market Monday nights from 6pm-10pm 1842 E Winter Park Rd Orlando, FL 32803 407-623-3393 Avalon Park Farmers Market Sundays 11am-3pm Founders Square in downtown Avalon Park in Orlando, Florida 13001 Founders Square Drive Orlando, FL 32828 College Park Farmers Market Thursdays from 5-9pm 1600 Edgewater Drive Orlando, FL 32804 Orlando Farmers Market at Lake Eola Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Corner of East Central Blvd. and N. Eola Drive in Lake Eola Park 195 North Rosalind Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 Winter Park Farmers Market Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 200 West New England Ave., Winter Park, FL In addition, you can also visit: http://homegrown.locallygrown.net/welcome to order fresh, organic products and produces for home delivery or in-store pick up on Saturday from 12 p.m. 7 p.m.

'" Dont be fooled! Not only does health food stores such as Whole Foods carry brands with Non-GMO project verified seals, but stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Publix, and ALDI also carry such brands as well. What about students or recent graduates outside of Orlando, Fla.? The same steps and options also apply to students outside of Orlando. Read the labels Check for the Non-GMO Project seals Always buy organic when possible Seek out local farmers markets Grow your own garden

You can find farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of organic, fresh homegrown food in your desired area from the LocalHarvest: http://www.localharvest.org/ or the Eatlocalgrown: http://eatlocalgrown.com/. Remember, you have the power not only to change the way you eat but also the way we eat! The demand of better, healthier food is in your hands.

Source: Eatlocalgrown.com; https://twitter.com/eatLocalGrown/status/323483196710871040

(" Works Cited Ackerman, Jennifer. "Food: How Altered?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 10 June 2013. "A Collaborative Initiative Working to Ensure the Sustained Availability of Non-GMO Options." The NonGMO Project RSS. NON-GMO PROJECT, n.d. Web. 14 June 2013. Antoniou, Michael, Claire Robinson, and John Fagan.GMO Myths and Truths. London: Earth Open Source, 2012. 37. Print. eatLocalGrown. Keep Calm and Eat Local Grown. 14 April 2013, 10:09 a.m. Tweet. "GMO? Genetically Modified Organism." Infographics & Data Visualization. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2013. "GMOS in Our Food System." Just Food. Just Food, n.d. Web. 13 June 2013. "GMO MYTHS AND TRUTHS REPORT." 3.8. MYTH: GM Animal Feed Poses No Risks to Animal or Human Health. Earth Open Source, n.d. Web. 10 June 2013. Long , McKenzie . GMO Infographic. N.d. Infographic. Cardinal InnovativeWeb. 21 Jun 2013. <cardinalinnovative.com/?page_id=7 "Organic Foods." : Understanding Organic Food Labels, Benefits, and Claims. Helpguide, n.d. Web. 13 June 2013. Stradtner, Lindsay. GMOS AND YOUR FAMILY. N.d. Photograph. Non GMO ProjectWeb. 21 Jun 2013. <http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/gmos-and-your-family/>. Teruo, Timothy. Inorganica. 2013. Photograph. FlickrWeb. 21 Jun 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothy-teruo-watters/with/8437323048/>.