Holiday Eating: Please Pass The Alka-Seltzer!

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), on the other hand, is a functional bowel disorder. According to the latest statistics from the CDC, IBD (Crohn's Disease/Ulcerative Colitis) affects more than 3 million American adults.

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As with many other autoimmune disorders, IBD cannot be traced back to any single cause; rather, it appears to be influenced by several factors, including: genetics, toxic environmental exposures, diet, immune dysfunction, excessive antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

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According to independent testing by The Detox Project, glyphosate (the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup) is present at "alarming levels" in many popular processed foods. Genetically engineered (GE) crops tend to contain higher levels, but conventional non-organic crops can also be heavily sprayed prior to harvest.

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According to Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., a research scientist at MIT, "Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body."  Published research ties glyphosate exposure to Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance.

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According to Dave Murphy, of Food Democracy Now, "It's time for regulators at the EPA and the White House to stop playing politics with our food and start putting the wellbeing of the American public above the profits of chemical companies like Monsanto."

IBS is far more common than IBD, affecting an estimated 70 million Americans. Symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) include abdominal discomfort, spastic colon (spastic contractions of the colon), gas and bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

As noted by Naked Food, "…Bt toxin, a built-in insecticide that inherently works by imploding the stomach of the creature that is feasting on it, could very well be contributing to your intestinal angst."

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Digestive Medical Solutions states, “Ultimately, GMOs create bowel hypersensitivity, increase inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. This makes IBD and IBS cases much worse, as they contribute and in some cases, may actually trigger these diseases.”

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Non-GMO, free-range, and otherwise organic foods should replace any GMOs you regularly consume. It also helps to avoid the most common food allergens, such as gluten and sugar products.

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The most commonly consumed GMO crops (which includes both herbicide-resistant and Bt varieties) are

• Corn (corn meal, corn syrup, corn starch, corn flour )

• Soy (which can hide under descriptions such as lecithin and starch)

• Canola (rapeseed oil)

• Sugar beets

 

You may also be exposed to Bt toxin via meat from animals fed Bt corn, and glyphosate via herbicide-resistant GE grain feed such as corn and soy, all of which are common staples in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

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Studies have shown that organic foods:

• Are less likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. (Synthetic chemicals are not permitted in organic agriculture, yet can occur due to contamination from nearby conventional farms.)

• Contain fewer heavy metals (i.e. average 48% lower levels of cadmium).

• Contain 18 to 69 percent more antioxidants than conventional varieties.

• May be more nutrient-dense. One 2010 study, which was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found that organic strawberries were more nutrient-rich than non-organic.

 

This article has been adapted from Dr. Joseph Mercola’s article published November 2016 on Mercola.com.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/11/23/inflammatory-bowel-disease-rise.aspx