Hi All,
Believe it or not, carrots have been genetically modified to enhance rates of calcium absorption, and this trait may soon be added to other vegetables. Whether or not this is a good thing, probably depends on your views of GMO safety/desirability, and/or the extent of your need for calcium. This could presumably compensate for the loss of dairy products as a source of calcium, when a vegan diet is adopted.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/n ... ts1108.htm
Tex
Now You Can Get Your Calcium From GMO Carrots
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Now You Can Get Your Calcium From GMO Carrots
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
OMG, THIS STUFF SCARES ME TO DEATH. Monkeying around with food could be disastrous for people like me, who have so many intolerances. Tex, I'll bet you knew you'd get an immediate rise out of me!
First of all, we don't NEED more calcium IMHO. I choose not to take any supplements, so I certainly don't want any enhanced absorption of it. Secondly, what about other interactions, both known and unknown at this point? For example, it is known that vitamin A (which carrots contain in large amounts) can interfere with absorption of vitamin D. And vitamin D may be more important than calcium in bone health. What about people who form kidney stones from too much calcium? And on and on............. UGH!
I just hope there are lots of "pure" heirloom seeds in those world seed banks - they may be my only hope some day, when I am shrinking away to nothing from lack of food.
Love,
Polly
First of all, we don't NEED more calcium IMHO. I choose not to take any supplements, so I certainly don't want any enhanced absorption of it. Secondly, what about other interactions, both known and unknown at this point? For example, it is known that vitamin A (which carrots contain in large amounts) can interfere with absorption of vitamin D. And vitamin D may be more important than calcium in bone health. What about people who form kidney stones from too much calcium? And on and on............. UGH!
I just hope there are lots of "pure" heirloom seeds in those world seed banks - they may be my only hope some day, when I am shrinking away to nothing from lack of food.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
Yep, I started to not even post that info, so as not to worry anyone unnecessarily, but then I figured everyone should be aware of it, because this stuff may begin landing in the stores pretty soon. The really bad news is that we won't have any way of telling what we're eating, unless we grow our own. Presumably, they will just slowly replace commercial vegetables with the "improved" varieties. You know they're not going to mark them, because then, too many people would avoid them, and the government always knows what's best for us, anyway.
I have a hunch that there will be a big increase in small specialty farms, and backyard gardens, during the next decade or so.
The first news release that I read about this, didn't even mention, (nor even imply), that this was a GMO process, but I was immediately suspicious, so I tracked it down to the original USDA announcement, and sure enough - there it was.
Love,
Tex
Yep, I started to not even post that info, so as not to worry anyone unnecessarily, but then I figured everyone should be aware of it, because this stuff may begin landing in the stores pretty soon. The really bad news is that we won't have any way of telling what we're eating, unless we grow our own. Presumably, they will just slowly replace commercial vegetables with the "improved" varieties. You know they're not going to mark them, because then, too many people would avoid them, and the government always knows what's best for us, anyway.
I have a hunch that there will be a big increase in small specialty farms, and backyard gardens, during the next decade or so.The first news release that I read about this, didn't even mention, (nor even imply), that this was a GMO process, but I was immediately suspicious, so I tracked it down to the original USDA announcement, and sure enough - there it was.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
ARGGHHHH! GMOs get a rise outta me too. I'm a gardener, though not a real good one yet I must admit. I too hope the seed banks have a lot of heirloom seeds stocked up. I get mine from Baker Creek mostly right now, but hope to learn to save my own someday soon. Keeping some of them from crossing can be challenging 
Polly, that is really interesting about the VitA. I didn't know that. I agree; tampering with these things seems dangerous.
Polly, that is really interesting about the VitA. I didn't know that. I agree; tampering with these things seems dangerous.
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MaggieRedwings
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