How many of us have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? How many of us know a child that has been diagnosed with autism? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 children suffered from the disorder in 2010. It was 1 in 88 in 2008. It is more common in boys, doesn’t reflect intelligence and is definitely on the increase. What is causing our children to be afflicted so? Could it be something new in our environment? A Senior Research Scientist at MIT believes the culprit is a by-product of GMO production.
Stephanie Seneff, PHD at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has always focused her research interests towards biology. Lately she has been concentrating her work on the relationship between nutrition and health. Since 2011, she has written over a dozen papers in various medical and health-related journals on topics such as modern day diseases and the impact of nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins on human health. There is a theme in her research and it is summed up in “Roundup and GMOs: Are We Gambling with the Future of Food?”
Speaking in a panel discussion about GMOs she warned that “At today’s rate, by 2025, one in two children will be autistic.” Her studies indicate that the side effects of autism mimic the side effects of glyphosate toxicity. Kids that have autism show bio-markers that indicate excessive glyphosate exposure. Biomarkers are characteristics that can be measured as an indicator of normal biological processes.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup® and it is the most “popular” herbicide worldwide. 25% of the glyphosate market is right here in the U.S. GMO technology allows crops to withstand heavy applications of Roundup® killing only weeds and not the crop itself. With 90% of U.S. soy, corn and cotton being GMO there us a whole lot of glyphosate spraying going on.
The emergence of super-weeds has only increased applications of this herbicide over time. Washington State University research professor Charles Benbrook has found that the use of herbicides in the production of three genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops — cotton, soybeans and corn — has increased greatly.
The foods our children want to eat are often made from corn, soy and wheat, think chips, sodas, mac and cheese. The eggs for breakfast and burgers for dinner, if not organic, originate from animals fed GMO feed, and those fries are probably fried in GMO cottonseed oil. Glyphosate residue is present in almost every aisle of the grocery store and most fast food restaurants. According to EWG a study by scientists from the Arctic University of Norway has detected “extreme levels” of Roundup, the agricultural herbicide manufactured by Monsanto, in genetically engineered soy.
Mothers of autistic or allergic children are taking matters into their own strong hands. “Moms Across America” is a national group of concerned mothers who aim to empower moms and healthy kids. They did an independent study and found glyphosate levels in breast milk up to 1600 times higher than European drinking water. U.S. urine samples testing show levels 10 times higher than in Europe!
Because moms buy most of the food and often are the caregivers for Autistic or allergic children, this group wants to raise awareness of GMO’s and offer solutions to eat GMO free through mandatory GMO labeling. They will be holding a “Moms Across America” Meet Up on Saturday May 2, 2015 to celebrate Moms and share children’s health issues and discover solutions. You can host or join this event or future events here.
The Allergy Kids Foundation founded by Robyn O’Brien provides insight and detailed analysis on the impact that the global food system is having on the health of our children. Founded in 2010 this foundation brings attention to recent changes in the food supply and the dramatic increases in the rates of allergies, asthma, autism and ADHD in the last twenty years: 400% increase in allergies, 300% increase in asthma, 400% increase in ADHD and an increase of between 1,500% and 6,000% in the number of children with AUD.
It’s not any mystery that most of Europe is GMO free and over 64 countries have some type of GMO labeling laws in effect. Isn’t it time we took a closer look here in the U.S. at the relationship the toxins we spray on our food are having on the health and well-being of future generations?
My advice to you is always choose organic food and textiles while rallying for our right to know by mandatory labeling of GMO ingredients. Let us listen to the warning signs now.
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