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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Another Reason to Eat Organic — GMOs and Weedkiller Found in Conventional Cereal

If anyone you know is still feeding their children conventional cereal, maybe this piece of news will get them to change their habits.

GMO Free USA, a non-profit that educates consumers and other stakeholders about the potential hazards of GMOs, just published its results of independent lab tests (verified by DNA analysis) done on Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal.

Here’s what they found:

1) 100% of the corn in the Froot Loops was genetically-modified, containing DNA sequences known to be present in insecticide-producing Bt and Roundup Ready corn. This corn produces insecticides inside of the plant’s cells and cannot be washed off.

An in-vitro study found that the insecticides in this corn may be toxic to human cells, and feeding studies conducted on mammals found adverse effects, including immune system disturbances, male reproductive organ damage, disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, and signs of organ toxicity.

While the industry claims that these insecticidal proteins are broken down in the digestive tract, a study found the proteins circulating in the blood of pregnant and non-pregnant women and the blood supply to fetuses.

2)  The soy contained DNA sequences known to be present in Roundup Ready genetically-modified soy.

As I have written about before, genetically-modified soy represents tremendous health risks, including serious reproductive and other issues.

3) Significant levels of glyphosate, the main chemical ingredient in the super-toxic Roundup weedkiller, were found.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that links glyphosate to health and environmental harm.

– A 2013 study found that glyphosate, at minute real-world environmental levels of exposure, was able to effectively substitute for estrogen in stimulating growth of hormone-dependent human breast cancer cells.

– A 2014 study found that glyphosate was frequently present in peoples’ urine, with the levels being higher in individuals with chronic diseases.

– Another 2014 study found glyphosate in the organs of piglets born with birth defects. The higher the levels detected, the higher the incidence of defects.

– 3 recent studies linked glyphosate to male infertility, and 2 studies linked glyphosate to chronic fatal kidney disease.

FURTHERMORE…..

1) Kellogg’s does not have to label any ingredients that are genetically-modified, despite the fact that GMOs carry such tremendous health risks.

Why?

Because the food and ag-biotech industry has spent $572 million from 1999 to 2010 to make sure that certain food policies, such as GMO-labeling, are not adopted. Kellogg’s alone has spent $2 million on anti-GMO-labeling initiatives over the last few years.

See my TV interview where I explain this ridiculous injustice and talk about how 64 countries around the world require GMOs to be labeled. But the U.S. still does not.

2) Aside from the risk of ingesting GMOs and toxic-pesticides, Froot Loops also contain a slew of other very questionable ingredients, including artificial colors such as red 40, blue 2, yellow 6, and blue 1.

Europe requires a warning label “consumption may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” on products that contain most artificial dyes as an ingredient.

– In 1938, there were 15 artificial dyes approved for use in the U.S. Many of those have since been banned but 7 remain, including the ones listed above.

– In 2007, a University of Southampton double-blind, placebo-controlled study found a link between hyperactivity in children who consumed some food dyes along with the preservative sodium benzoate.

– In 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA to ban artificial food dyes.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If this has you outraged, there are several things that you can do.

1) While non-GMO is great, non-GMO only means no GMOs. Super-toxic pesticides can still be used.

That is why you should switch to as much organic food as possible, particularly conventional cereals made by major food corporations. Organic doesn’t allow GMOs or super-toxic pesticides to be used.

Click HERE to read my post on which foods should be the priority when deciding to eat organic.

2) In terms of picking a high-quality organic cereal and to see how your cereal rates, take a look at the Cereal Scorecard by the Cornucopia Institute.

3) Read my 5 Essential Ways to Avoid GMOs.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

RE Botanicals Becomes the First National, Certified Organic CBD Brand for US-Grown Hemp

As you may have already realized, CBD (short for cannabidiol — a cannabis compound) is exploding in popularity and is showing up in an increasing number of food, beverage and personal care products.

Despite the explosion of CBD oils and CBD-infused drinks, almost all of these products do not contain the USDA organic seal.

Boulder-based RE Botanicals has bucked this trend and has become the first national CBD brand to receive USDA organic certification for U.S.-grown hemp. Given who is behind RE Botanicals, the fact that it has achieved this milestone should not come as a surprise at all.

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A message from Tradin Organic

Why Tradin Organic is Prioritizing Regenerative Organic Farming

At Tradin Organic, we believe that regenerative organic farming is key to growing healthy and nutritious food ingredients — for now and for future generations.

And in Sierra Leone, we have grown the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified cacao.

Learn more.

Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Another Reason to Support Organic — Organic “Hotspots” Significantly Boost Local Economies

While there are many reasons why we should support organic food, we now have yet another one: organic boosts local economies.

In a new study by the Organic Trade Association called U.S Organic Hotspots and their Benefit to Local Economies, it has been found that organic food and crop production – and the business activities accompanying organic agriculture – creates real and long-lasting regional economic opportunities.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

New to Organic? – Start with This Inexpensive Breakfast

One question that I get a lot is “How should a person get started with organic food?” One complaint I hear a lot is that organic food costs too much.

Let me both answer this question and address this complaint with a story.

Last week, Brian, a new friend of mine, came to me for some food-related advice. He wanted to know what he could be doing to eat healthier, as he was “crashing” in the middle of the afternoon. Brian was very concerned that his eating habits were negatively impacting his ability to perform at work, which would impact his ability to make money.

He did not know much about organic and was very concerned about the price. When I started talking about organic food, the first words out of his mouth were “Hey, I don’t make $20,000 per month.”

Brian went on to tell me about the fast-food breakfasts that he had been eating and he didn’t think it was the cause of his problem.

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livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink