by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

When it comes to avoiding GMOs at the grocery store, Americans and Canadians are pretty much in the same boat. However, there are a few differences.

A shortened version of the information I gathered on this topic appeared in “How to Avoid GMOs at the Grocery Store” by Gail Johnson on Yahoo Canada.

Genetically modified foods entered the Canadian food system 20 years ago, yet most people don’t know they’ve been eating them because those foods aren’t labeled. That’s because mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods isn’t required in Canada (or in the United States) like it is in 64 other countries around the world. But even without mandatory labeling, there’s a growing movement of people who are concerned about genetically modified foods and want to avoid them.

Here I answer questions of interest to Canadians about the controversial issues surrounding GMOs, why there’s a movement of people who want to avoid them, and how people can learn to avoid GMOs when they shop.

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by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

Word is getting around that the United States has once again shortchanged its people of the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food that nine out of ten Americans want and the main recourse we have now is to take back our purchasing power by learning how to say no to GMOs, even without labeling. Check out coverage of this story featuring author Melissa Diane Smith and her book Going Against GMOs book in these recent publications:

Amaze magazine

TreeHugger

Natural Solutions magazine

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by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

(Opinion) – Are you appalled, outraged, or incensed that less than a week after mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) went into effect in Vermont, our country’s senators acted to preempt that law and prevent future state GMO labeling laws? Virtually everyone who knows even a few facts about the situation is.

Under the first-in-the-nation GMO labeling law to be enacted, consumers could easily determine whether the products they were considering buying were real foods or pseudo-foods, most of which are doused with probable cancer-causing pesticides. The Vermont law was working—many national companies had already clearly labeled their foods to comply with the law, and CocaCola products were being pulled off store shelves because they didn’t want to label them as containing GMOs.

But instead of letting the law in Vermont stand (or, better yet, make the Vermont law the standard for a national law, as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders proposed in an amendment), 68 senators prostituted themselves, sold our country out to Big Money, and passed a nonsensical Senate bill that makes it impossible for the masses to look at a package and instantly determine whether GMOs are in the foods they’re buying. People are supposed to have a smart phone and take the time to scan a QR code on each product to get the information they want.

“The idea that people would need to walk around the grocery store scanning product codes just to find out what’s in the food they’re buying is ridiculous and unfair,” said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, who opposed the measure.

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Looking for a pre-made, ready-to-use, grain-free wrap or bread? These items don’t have the same taste or texture as flour-based tortillas, so you may have to try a few to find one you like. But each of the following products can add convenience and variety to a grain- or gluten-free diet.

COCONUT WRAPS.

Both Pure Wraps Paleo Coconut Wraps and Julian Bakery Paleo Wraps offer flexible, low-carb wraps made of coconut meat and water. The Pure Wraps are seasoned with Himalayan pink salt, while the Julian Wraps are salt-free. That makes Pure Wraps great for savory fillings such as grilled chicken and spinach, or eggs and avocado; and the Julian Wraps ideal for desserts, such as berries and whipped coconut cream.

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by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against the Grain

Is wheat really bad for us, and why does it cause so many different health problems? I first answered those questions in Going Against the Grain in 2002 and have written about those topics many times since then. But soon you can learn by watching the film documentary, What’s With Wheat? Mark your calendar and watch it for free by registering for the free 7-day global online screening available between June 24-30^th.

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Avoid the carbs with these ready-to-eat, GMO-free, stabilizing snack options

Ask The Nutritionist

by Melissa Diane Smith

Q: I’m a recovering carb addict who does well if I eat a low-carb diet and if I eat adequate, good-quality animal protein throughout the day. Because of my work schedule, I often don’t have time to cook, which means I don’t have enough ready-made meat that’s handy to eat. Unfortunately, most easy-to-grab natural protein snacks, such as beef jerky, are sweetened with sweeteners or dried fruits (which can prompt cravings and bingeing!) or they have ingredients such as soy sauce that I can’t tolerate. Do you have any suggestions of no-fuss, unsweetened, “clean” sources of animal protein that can help me?

—Victoria M., Hartford, Conn.

A: I sure do, and many of them happen to be products that are either new to the market or that will be introduced in the next few months. So eating quality protein on the run is about to get a whole lot easier than it used to be. Here are a few to be on the lookout for:

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Some people who have trouble digesting milk have lactose intolerance, a condition in which the body is deficient in lactase, the enzyme necessary to digest lactose milk sugar. When lactose isn’t broken down, it passes into the large intestine, causing gas, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms. These issues can often be avoided by consuming lactose-free dairy products, or by taking a Lactaid digestive enzyme.

Dairy allergies, on the other hand, are an immune response to a protein found in dairy products, rather than an enzyme deficiency, and they are much more common. If you have an allergy to cow’s milk, eating dairy products—even if they’re lactose-free—will continue to cause health problems, including diarrhea and abdominal cramping. But symptoms aren’t limited to digestive distress. Dairy allergies can also cause skin rashes, nasal congestion, joint aches, asthma, and earaches.

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