All posts by HealthyLife

HealthyLife is a part of www.WeRIndia.com, an all India – centric website (https://healthylife.werindia.com) and is solely owned and operated by WeRIndia.com. It is a Indian nutritional portal providing educational articles.This nutritional port was launched on February 5th, 2015.
Baby Corn Manchurian

Baby Corn Manchurian

Recipe by: Mamatha Anil ( http://bhakshyabhojana.blogspot.in)

Baby corn is young corn, mini corn, cornlettes, or candle corn is a cereal grain taken from corn harvested early while the stalks are still small and immature. It typically is eaten whole – cob included – in contrast to mature corn. It is eaten both raw and cooked (Wikipedia.com).

Here is baby corn manchurian easy recipe.

Ingredients:

  1. Baby corn 20
  2. Maida 1 Cup
  3. Rice Flour 1/2 Cup
  4. Pepper powder 1/2 tsp
  5. Salt to taste
  6. Corn flour 1 tsp
  7. Green chillies chopped 5
  8. Garlic cloves chopped 4
  9. Onion chopped 1
  10. Coriander leaves chopped ¼ cup
  11. Soya Sauce 2 tsp
  12. Chilli sauce 2 tsp
  13. Tomato Ketchup/tomato sauce 4 tsp
  14. Lemon juice 1 tsp
  15. Paprika 1/2 tsp
  16. Oil

Method: 

  1. Mix maida, rice flour, pepper powder, salt and water in a bowl and make pakoda/bonda consistency batter.
  1. Dip the baby corn in batter and deep fry till golden brown.
  1. Put it on a tissue paper. Keep aside.
  1. Heat oil in another pan and add onion, green chilli and garlic, saute them till light reddish brown.
  1. Add soya sauce, chilli sauce, tomato sauce or tomato ketchup, lemon juice, paprika, little salt and finally addcorn flour. Mix well.
  1. Add fried baby corn and mix well.
  1. Let it cook for 5 minutes and garnish it with coriander leaves.
  1. Baby corn manchurian is ready to eat.
Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: April 7, 2016
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“As I Lay Dying…” Last Words From L.A. Times Writer

“As I Lay Dying…” Last Words From L.A. Times Writer

“As I Lay Dying…” Last Words From L.A. Times Writer Question Entire Breast Cancer Industry

Laurie Becklund, former writer for the Los Angeles Times, recently died from the only deadly form of breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and published an opinion piece in the L.A. Times titled “As I lay dying.” The piece told the story of her battle with breast cancer and called into question many of the processes of the breast cancer industry and even attacked well-known breast cancer mogul Susan G. Komen.

One important point she had was that early detection does not cure cancer. Becklund stated that although she had 20 mammograms before she was first diagnosed in 1996, none of these caught her breast cancer early. It wasn’t until she did a self-exam that she found a lump and brought herself to the doctor to confirm that she had breast cancer. She goes on to say that, “we now have significant studies showing that routine mammogram screening, which may result in misdiagnoses, unnecessary treatment and radiation exposure, can harm more people than it helps.”

To be considered early detection, the cancer must be caught before the symptoms start to take effect, which can become an issue because not every precancerous condition that is caught will become cancer, but each case is treated the same. The routine mammogram screenings result in 25% overdiagnosis, according to an article published in the Oxford Journals, which may cause harm to patients from an “overuse of anticancer therapies.” A different article published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that 31% of women in 2008, that’s about 70,000 women, were overdiagnosed with breast cancer.

When Becklund was first diagnosed, she was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation even though she had the most “curable” type of breast cancer. People who go five years without the return of cancer cells are told that they will likely not have cancer and that they are survivors, so when Becklund reached her five-year mark, she thought she was free of the disease.

However, in 2009 Becklund received the worst news; her cancer had not only returned, but it became metastatic and had spread to her bones, liver, lungs, and brain. Metastatic breast cancer is the only form of breast cancer that can kill people, and MBC is defined as cancer that originates in the breast area but then travels to other organs and begins attacking them. MBC is not curable, just treatable, and makes up an estimated 30% of all breast cancer cases.

Despite the overwhelming need for accountability in MBC-diagnosed patients because of how many lives it takes, the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program that provides cancer statistics does not recognize MBC in its statistics. Since these patients are not required to state that they have MBC, not even on their death certificate, Becklund writes that “we are literally uncounted.” Becklund calls out the medical establishment for failing MBC patients by not recognizing them because although it’s estimated that 40,000 patients die annually and 250,000 await their death, there is no way of knowing if this number is much higher.

Becklund is wary of organizations that attempt to raise awareness for breast cancer with false statements, especially Susan G. Komen, since their mission is to raise awareness for “early detection for a cure.” Since Becklund denies that early detection is even helpful, and 79% of Komen’s money goes to education programs, this has contributed little to the survival rate of metastatic breast cancer patients. In the last 30 years, the $2.6 billion that has been donated by Susan G. Komen has had little impact where it matters.

These are harsh words from Laurie Becklund, but perhaps they needed to be heard and she needed to publish them before she lost her battle. Although many MBC patients die less than 2 years after the cancer spreads to just one organ, Becklund’s body fought for 7 years even though it had spread to all four of the possible organs. Her fighting body paired with her fighting words against the breast cancer industry remind us to always questions the establishments to find better solutions to huge issues such as cancer that are taking the lives of loved ones.

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/as-i-lay-dying-last-words-from-l-a-times-writer-question-entire-breast-cancer-industry/

Image courtesy: Holistic Living

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: April 3, 2016
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TEN CORPORATIONS THAT GOT AWAY WITH MURDER

Ten Corporations That Got Away With Murder

With TPP and its deranged Atlantic cousin, TTIP, both proceeding — and Citizens United still buttering up our elections for corporate feasts — watchdogs and whistleblowers have never been more important to our democracy.

However, while a hero like Edward Snowden can reveal to us the surveillance state and dragnet data collection enabled by the Patriot Act, one person alone can’t stop its successor, the USA FREEDOM Act, from privatizing mass data collection and outsourcing the job to the government’s Big Data partners.

Corporate rule over this country is more disturbing than ever, but it’s important to never gloss over the crimes of the past. Corporations can and do get away with murder — and have been doing so for a while. Their dubious “personhood” status — which bestows upon them seemingly limitless powers of ‘citizenship’ — has in many cases immunized them from the same laws and regulations real humans face. As a result, their crimes are swept under the rug as though they were merely teenage transgressions.

But, watchful eyes and minds can collect and archive these crimes with the same ubiquity as the surveillance cameras on our street corners. Without further ado, here are 10 corporations that got away with murder:

Dutch West India Company

Granted a charter to monopolize the Atlantic slave trade, the Dutch West India Company transported African slaves to sugar and cotton plantations in the Americas. On average, 15 percent of slaves died from suffocation, starvation, violence, and disease during the voyages.

Colorado Fuel & Iron Company

After 14-hour work days and filthy working conditions, Colorado miners had had enough. They went on strike in 1914. Then, members of the Colorado National Guard and the CFI descended upon a group of strikers in Ludlow, Colorado, killing two dozen people—including women and children. CFI, owned by John D. Rockefeller, was never charged.

Philip Morris

In May 2011, Philip Morris CEO Louis Camilleri claimed, “It’s not that hard to quit smoking.” The year before, the company had collected $27 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, smoking is responsible for one in five deaths in the United States. Philip Morris has often dodged lawsuits and continues to market its deadly product to teenagers who, they hope, will become lifelong customers–provided these are substantially shortened lives.

Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation

About 10,000 subsistence diamond diggers were working small plots in the Marange diamond field in Chiadzwa, Zimbabwe in 2006. After taking over the mining field, the government of Zimbabwe began shooting the unlicensed miners from helicopters. Today, the field is operated by seven companies, all partnered with the government affiliate, ZMDC.

Dole

In April 2013, plaintiffs filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of 73 Colombians who accused Dole of driving small farmers from banana zones, sanctioning union leader murders, and using terror tactics to discourage local resistance. Dole and rival banana magnate, Chiquita, have long been accused of funding paramilitaries to squelch labor rights.

Royal Dutch Shell

Shell, long a mistress of the Nigerian government, has regularly faced accusations of razing villages to install pipelines, flaring billions of dollars’ worth of natural gas, mucking up water quality, and committing human rights abuses culminating in murder. Yet in the Supreme Court case, Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., the judges dismissed the pleas based on “lack of subject matter jurisdiction.”

Temmler Werke

Methamphetamine was first marketed as Pervitin, an alertness enhancer, by Berlin-based drug manufacturer, Temmler Werke, in 1938. It was used widely through World War II in Germany, Japan, and even America. Addicted soldiers were known to shoot themselves and others in psychotic phases. Pervitin was removed from the market, but of course, meth remains and its Big Pharma cousin, Adderall (and other amphetamines), contributes to premature death and psychiatric disorders every year.

CITGO Petroleum Corporation

For 10 years, CITGO expelled carcinogenic waste gases from its oil refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. But in 2014, Judge John D. Rainey decided that calculating the real-life amount owed to local victims would “unduly delay the sentencing process” and “[outweighed] the need to provide restitution to any victims.” Make no mistake, this corporation was responsible for the premature deaths of dozens of victims.

Kansas Pacific Railroad

The Kansas Pacific Railroad transported businessmen, tourists, and the military to and from Kansas City to Denver in the early 1870s. It encouraged travelers to shoot American bison from the train windows for a jolly good time. By 1890, the buffalo populations had dropped from its 1492 peak of 60 million to just 750. Some call that near extinction, others call it murder. This entry is representative of countless corporations responsible for the deaths of animals, including the livestock industry and oil companies like BP that killed thousands of birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals.

Accusations of the mass-murder of buffalo to starve out Native Americans also possibly play into the Kansas Pacific Railroad’s decision to systematic slaughter of the buffalo. US Colonel Richard Dodge famously said in 1867, “Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone.”

Monsanto

Monsanto is a special breed of evil. The multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation is best likened to a serial killer that you could arrest for murder but never be sure of exactly how many people he killed. The deaths we know about involve the Indian farmers who commit suicide every thirty minutes because the GMO seeds they are basically forced to plant fail to produce necessary yields. Disturbingly, some of the farmers committed the act by consuming the same Roundup herbicide Monsanto gave them for their crops. The total death count is estimated at 290,000.

Additionally, Monsanto may very well be causing irreversible kidney damage and cancer on large-scale populations with the herbicide glyphosate marketed as Roundup. The city of San Diego is even suing Monsanto for polluting its bay with cancer-causing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

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Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 28, 2016
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TAKE CARE OF YOUR NAILS -TIPS FOR HEALTHY NAILS

Take Care Of Your Nails – Tips For Healthy Nails

Beauty of hands  not only depends on the skin texture but also on the how healthy is our nails. Whether we apply nail polish or not, appearance of healthy and well maintained finger and toenails represents our health. Beautiful and well-maintained nails also increase our confidence level during our communication.

Human nails are composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin. They grow from the area at the base of the nail under the cuticle. Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They are uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.

Discoloration and changes in nails that need doctor’s attention:

  • Changes in nail color, such as discoloration of the entire nail or a dark streak under the nail
  • Changes in nail shape, such as curled nails
  • Thinning or thickening of the nails
  • Separation of the nail from the surrounding skin
  • Bleeding around the nails
  • Swelling or pain around the nails

To prevent nail damage, Do not –

  • Bite your nails or pick at the skin around your nails. It can cause an infection and it hurts, too!
  • These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your fingernail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection.
  • Pull off hangnails. You might rip live tissue along with the hangnail. Instead, carefully clip off hangnails.
  • Ignore problems. If you have a nail problem that does not seem to go away on its own or is associated with other signs and symptoms, consult your doctor or dermatologist for an evaluation.
  • Use nail-polish remover more than twice a month. It is really hard on your nails. Limit your use of nail polish remover. When using nail polish remover, opt for an acetone-free formula.
  • Pry or poke at things with your nails. This can damage them.
  • Cut or push back the cuticles, the tiny sliver of skin where your nail grows out your finger. That can lead to infection.
  • Use acrylic nails or artificial nails as these can be very harmful to your nail and are not recommended.
  • Wear shoes that are too tight, which can cramp toes and put pressure on toenails.

How to keep nails health?

  • Keep them short and clean. Use a good nail clipper or a small nail scissors to cut them every week or two. If you let your nails get too long, they are more likely to break and to get infected under.
  • Cut them in the shape of the tip of your finger, somewhat straight across but a little round at the sides so they’re strong.
  • Cut your toenails straight across, using a clipper designated for toenails. This will help prevent an ingrown toenail.
  • Some people use a nail file or emery board to smooth the ends of their nails. Make sure that the file is not old, rusted and dull. Rub it back and forth very gently along the end of your nail to remove any rough edges.
  • Dry your hands really well after washing them, or getting them wet.
  • Rub lotion on your fingernails, especially when your hands feel dry.
  • Eating a healthy balanced diet keeps nails strong.
  • Changing socks everyday is important otherwise, toe nails may get infected and fall off.
  • If you are using public showers wear flip flops in public showers and at the swimming pool to prevent infections caused by fungus that can get in to toenails.
  • Apply artificial nails only to healthy nails. Covering brittle or diseased nails only makes matters worse. It might even cause you to lose natural nails. Also, before applying artificial nails test for skin reaction.

For beauty of nails:

  1. Apply moisturizers to hands and nails: When rubbing lotion or oil into your hands, make sure you work it into the cuticles and nails, too. Coconut oil is excellent for rubbing into nails and cuticles.
  2. Cuticle care: Cuticles are meant to be a barrier for bacteria, and cutting them can lead to painful infections. Avoid having your cuticles trimmed during a manicure. Apply olive oil or almond oil on cuticle area and keep cuticle.
  3. Do not use harsh nail polish: Many nail polishes are also loaded with toxic chemicals such as toluene, dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl and diethyl phthalates, camphor, and formaldehyde. Use water-based polishes, which do not last as long but are the safest option out there. Read label before use.
  4. Buffing can help: A bit of buffing can go a long ways. Take the time to trim, file, and buff your nails properly. Never saw back and forth with a file because that can weaken your nails. Always file from the outside edge of the nail inward.
  5. Nail polish remover quality: Instead of using acetone based remover try using remover made from natural ways – entirely from soy and corn, and fruit acids and vanilla.
  6. Use nail-strengthening treatment: Strengthen your nails by applying castor oil and wheat germ oil. Mix 2 tsp castor oil, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp wheat germ oil. Mix and keep in a sealed bottle. Rub a small amount onto nails. Leave for 3 to 5 minutes. Wipe off. Try this for few weeks to strengthen nails.
  7. Food: Foods that supplies good amount of protein, vitamin B, Zinc , iron, calcium are very essential for healthy nails. Protein is crucial. Eating foods with vitamin B reduces brittleness; zinc gets rid of white spots; iron prevents ridges from forming; calcium keeps them strong; vitamins A and C prevents dullness and drying. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

If you are going for pedicure or manicure – make sure the  salon has a proper certificate and salon is clean and good hygiene is in practice. Healthy nails represent beauty of hands. Take care of your nails properly and keep them clean.

References:

Image credit: Image by Pexels from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 22, 2016
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Soya Nuggets Sabzi

Soya Nuggets Sabzi

Recipe by : Mamatha Anil (bhakshyabhojana.blogspot.com)

Wonder stuff of the food world – that is the name given to soybean. With increased concern about protein intake in vegans and vegetarians soy has taken center place as a rich protein source for both. The key benefits of soya are its high protein content, vitamins, minerals and insoluble fiber.

Miso is fermented soya bean paste that is used as a flavoring, popular in Asian cuisine. It is a good source of many minerals.

Tempeh – is an Indonesian specialty made by cooking and dehulling soya beans and forming a textured, solid ‘cake’. It good source of protein, B vitamins and minerals.

Tofu – also known as bean curd is made from soya milk by coagulating the soya proteins with calcium or magnesium salts. It is an excellent source of iron and calcium and a very good source of protein.

Here is a Indian curry (subji) made of soya nuggets.

Ingredients:
1. Soya Nuggets 1 cup
2. Spinach finely chopped 1 cup
3. Green peas (frozen) ½ cup
4. Onion finely chopped ½ cup
5. Tomato (finely chopped) 1
6. Green chilies 3
7. Red chilli powder ½-1 tsp
8. Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
9. Garam masala powder ¼ – ½ tsp
10. Garlic minced ½ tsp
11. Ginger minced ½ tsp
12. Cumin seeds ¼ tsp
13. Fenugreek seeds ¼ tsp
14. Cilantro chopped ¼ cup
15. Lemon juice 3-4 tsp
16. Anistar 1
17. Asafoetida pinch
18. Salt
19. Oil

Method:

1. Wash and soak the soya nuggets in water with little salt for 1 hr.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add anistar, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida one by one. Add green chilies fry, add minced ginger and garlic fry. Add onions and fry till brown.

3. Add tomatoes and salt. Cover the lid and cook for few minutes.

4. Add chopped spinach and cook for few minutes. Add soaked soya nuggets (squeeze out all the water before adding), red chili powder and turmeric powder. Mix well, cover the lid and cook.

5. Add green peas and garam masala. Mix well, add ¼ cup water, cover the lid and cook for 5 minutes in low to medium heat.

6. Add chopped cilantro and lemon juice. Cook for few minutes. Switch off the stove.

7. Healthy soya nugget sabzi goes well with chapati, roti, and rice.

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 18, 2016
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IMPORTANCE OF ABHYANGASNANA OR OIL BATH

Importance of Abhyangasnana Or Oil Bath

During festival days, especially on the day of Deepavali (Diwali -festival of lights) in India people during early morning will have a special oil soaked body bath – head to toe. This is called Abhyangasnan (full body oil bath). This oil bath has many advantages and significance. One can have oil bath not only on auspicious day but can on also other days when the body and mind need to feel better.

In Ayurveda’s ancient medicinal text, the Charak Samhita there is information about regular oil massage that cleanses the body of impurities, strengthens the immune system and enhances longevity. Considered spring-cleaning for the spirit, the abhyanga snana is still very much the mainstay of  many parts of India – Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh.

What is the procedure?

During festival days the ritual bath begins the night before as sesame oil is infused with herbs and water pots are cleaned, venerated and decorated with marigolds and mango leaves. The morning routine begins with the ritual oil massage followed by a body ubtan (an aromatic paste of herbs in scented oils) application, topped off with a hot water bath.

Abhyangasnana consists of an oil massage to facilitate the absorption of oil in the skin. Once the oil has been absorbed in the skin, a warm water bath is taken. On regular days, also some herbs can be infused in the sesame oil and apply to hair and body. It is important to soak the body in oil.

  1. Wake up early in the morning on this auspicious day (preferably before sunrise)
  2. Massage your entire body with sesame oil. Also, apply few drops of oil on the scalp.
  3. Massage in circular motion on your forehead, temples, cheeks, and jaws (always moving in a upward movement). Be sure to massage your ears, especially your ear-lobes—home to essential sensitive points and nerve endings.
  4. Wait for around 30 minutes to an hour before you go for a bath so that the oil is absorbed by the body.
  5. While bathing, apply ubtan or ayurvedic mixture and massage it thoroughly over the entire body.
  6. Scrub it and rinse with water properly so that the mixture is removed.
  7. Now, bathe as you usually do using a bathing soap.

Physical benefits of abhyangasnana

  1. By applying oil to the skin, skin retains elasticity. Warm water is auspicious and pleasing to the body. Bathing after an oil massage retains only the required amount of oiliness that the skin and hair require. Applying oil and taking bath has more benefits for the body – it helps the skin to rejuvenate and removes the toxins from the body.
  2. Massaging with oil increases the blood circulation  and massaging head with warm oil relieves from stress and strains that mind is going through
  3. Abhyanga snan stimulates the nerves and also aids sensory motor integration and thus helps prevent neurological problems.
  4. The gentle oil massage relaxes the muscles, reduces inflammation and helps in strengthening of the muscle.
  5. Nourishes the entire body—decreases the effects of aging. It increases vision.
  6. Imparts a firmness to the limbs, Lubricates the joints

Spiritual significance of abhyangasnana:

According to  Charaka Samhita Vol. 1, V: 88-89 

A daily Abyanga practice restores the balance of the doshas and enhances well-being and longevity. Regular Abyanga is especially grounding and relaxing for Vata dosha imbalances, but everyone can benefit from this practice. “The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected much even if subjected to accidental injuries, or strenuous work. By using oil massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts and becomes strong, charming and least affected by old age”

References:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 16, 2016
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Relax With Poppy Seed Kheer (Dessert)

Relax With Poppy Seed Kheer (Dessert)

If someone has to work a lot and has body pain, grandmothers in India used to give a delicious sweet before going to bed. This sweet or dessert will have one main ingredient namely “poppy seeds”.  Poppy seeds are also commonly known as khus-khus or gasa gase. Very pleasant and nutty poppy seeds are good for health.  They are packed with various nutrients. More importantly dried poppy seeds contain very small levels of opium alkaloids – morphine, thebaine, codiene, papaverine etc. When consumed with other foods these compounds produce minimal effect on the human nervous system. On the contrary, these chemicals found to have some beneficial effects on the human body; soothe nervous irritability, act as pain killers. Its seed extractions found useful in pharmacy and in many traditional medicines in the preparations of cough mixtures, expectorants, etc. Apart from these alkaloids, poppy seeds contain good levels of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium.

Try this simple, traditional and healthy kheer recipe to get rid of pain from those aching muscle and relax. One will also get good sleep after consuming this relaxing kheer.

Ingredients for 4 people, serving size one cup/person. Preparation time 30 minutes (except ingredient soaking part) 

  1. Poppy seeds – 2 Tbs
  2. Raw rice – 2 teaspoons
  3. Fresh grated coconut – 1 cup
  4. Crushed Jaggery – 1 cup (one can use sugar, but jaggery gives best taste)
  5. Cardamom – 5-7
  6. Cashew – 15
  7. Raisin – 1/4 cup
  8. Saffron – Little

Preparation:

  1. Clean and Soak poppy seeds, raw rice and a few of the cashews in water for about two hours.
  2. Grate coconut, crush jaggery, peal and powder cardamom and keep it aside.
  3. Grind the soaked ingredients along with grated coconut in a grinder by adding little water.
  4. After fine grinding strain and extract the milk from grinded mix by adding little water.
  5. In a vessel, under low flame add crushed jaggery and 2 cups of water. Allow jaggery to dissolve.
  6. Now add the strained coconut – poppy – rice milk to jaggery and bring it to boil. Do not forget to stir the contents continuously.
  7. In a spatula take one spoon full clarified butter of ghee and place on low flame. Add cashews and fry till they turn golden brown. Now add raisin and fry slightly.
  8. Add cashew and raisin to the boiling kheer.
  9. Add saffron and serve hot during meal or after meal.

Recipe: www.werindia.com

Image: WerIndia

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 15, 2016
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Russia Bans U.S. Corn and Soybean Imports Because Of GMO Contamination

Russia Bans U.S. Corn and Soybean Imports Because Of GMO Contamination

Russia may have a questionable reputation when it comes to their leadership and war tactics, but as far as food safety goes, they’ve made a huge step towards accepting more natural and safer food for their citizens.

On February 15th, the country began the ban on all U.S. corn and soybean imports because of genetically modified crop and microbial contamination. Russia’s stance against GMOs has been building in recent years, and this ban is a huge blow to both organic and GMO farmers.

Though Russia has lately been importing a smaller amount of corn and soybean from the U.S., for example, they only imported 4,742 metric tons of corn between 2013-2014, the impact could be immense. Their decision could motivate other countries with the same views on GMOs to place the same bans on U.S. products and further impact farmers.

According to the Assistance Director of Rosselkhoznadzor, Alexey Alekseenko, U.S. corn often is infected with dry rot of maize and the GMOs can contaminate other crops. Alekseenko stated that, “they (the US) have to establish a system to ensure safety of products imported to Russia.”

Alekseenko and Russia are certainly not the first to attack the potential dangers of GMOs, not only for health reasons but for the sake of organic farmers. Since products that were produced with the aid of genetically modified organisms do not have to be labeled, it is impossible to determine what is free from GMOs and safe to eat unless you exclusively purchase organic produce. However, there is a chance that organic crops have been contaminated by nearby GMO farms and that the integrity of their product has been compromised. The pollen from GMO crops can travel long distances to infect seeds for crops intended to be produced organically. According to Responsible Technology, the cross-pollination from GMO crops will outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste.

The health risks, based on studies performed on animals, have shown that the consumption of GMO products resulted in organ damage, immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. The genetic component of the organisms has been shown to even enter into our own DNA and insecticides have been shown to remain in our blood.

With the risks to health and farmers alike, it’s no wonder Russia has decided to ban the products the U.S. exports without labeling the GMO products and properly researching and checking for the safety of using this method to grow crops. Though it may be harmful for all farmers, perhaps it will encourage the U.S. to rethink their widespread production of GMO crops to prevent more countries from banning their exports.

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/russia-bans-u-s-corn-and-soybean-imports-because-of-gmo-contamination/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 14, 2016
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