Over the past few years, we’ve become more and more aware of GMOs and how they’re impacting our daily lives. As many in the country become more health-conscious, increasing numbers of consumers are actively seeking out non-GMO goods, particularly when it comes to the food we eat.
What we put into our body and what we put onto it (including cosmetic products, soap, and topical balms) matter a great deal and can influence our overall health, so it’s important to know what you’re using and how it’s affecting you. That’s why we only use non-GMO hemp to make our CBD oil. Let’s take a look at why this matters.
What does GMO mean?
GMO stands for “Genetically Modified Organisms,” which are living organisms whose genetic material have been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering. Scientists actually change the genetic makeup of these organisms (most notably plants).
Many GMOs are engineered to withstand chemical herbicides and pesticides specifically, allowing farmers to use these harsh chemicals on the plants to make them easier to grow, even though those chemicals can be dangerous for human consumption
While this sounds like a great idea, it can create combinations of genes in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses that don’t occur naturally on their own, or even through traditional crossbreeding methods. It may also mean that more herbicides and pesticides are used directly on crops that then go immediately to our families’ tables.
To date, there are only 8 GMO crops that are legal to grow or sell in Canada and the US. These are:
- Alfalfa
- Cotton
- Corn
- Sugar beets
- Soy
- Canola
- Papaya
- Yellow summer squash and zucchini
Though there are only eight GMO crops legal to grow and sell in the upper half of North America for the time being, more are currently in development. The most significant of this is wheat.
Why should you avoid GMOs?
As of right now, the safety and long-term implications of GMOs are currently unknown, but they may be harmful to the environment due to an increase in chemical agriculture, meaning more herbicides and pesticides are used more regularly. These can have a negative impact on our overall health, and the increase in usage will likely be tied to an increase in accidental, incidental consumption of them.
They could also possibly contribute to “superweeds” or “superbugs.” This can include weeds and viruses that develop as a result of the genetic modifications in the crops we grow, which can wipe out a field of genetically-identical crops in the blink of an eye or even develop into treatment-resistant weeds, bacteria, or viruses that can put our well-being or food supply at risk.
As a result, more and more consumers are choosing to opt out of GMO products altogether.
According to the Non-GMO Project, the highest-risk foods you’ll face with GMO products include:
- Alfalfa
- Canola
- Corn
- Cotton
- Papaya
- Soy
- Sugar beets
- Yellow summer squash and zucchini
- Potatoes
- Microbes and enzymes
- Animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs
If you’re concerned about GMO foods and products, you can look for labels that say “Non-GMO.” Note that “GMO-Free” labels do not mean that the product is free of herbicides or pesticides, but only that they don’t contain products, crops, or ingredients that were genetically modified.
You can also opt for more organic foods and products, which is one of the best ways to stay away from GMO goods and toxic chemicals, even if they aren’t necessarily labeled as non-GMO. At the least, you’ll be able to avoid GMOs that have been grown with dangerous chemicals like herbicides and pesticides.
Are Elixinol products Non-GMO?
Worried about CBD hemp oil that’s non-GMO? We’ve got you covered, with the best non-GMO CBD oil out there.
We are proud to say that Elixinol’s entire line uses exclusively non-GMO hemp to create our CBD oil products, including both our oral, sublingual, and topical products. Moreover, the hemp we harvest to extra our oil is organic.
We only use Colorado-grown, organic, non-GMO hemp, and we can guarantee this as we control the entire process, from seed to sale. We also provide third-party laboratory testing, along with certificates of analysis for every product, batch, and lot. This ensures that you know exactly what you’re getting every single time you purchase an organic non-GMO CBD oil Elixinol product (which is every time you purchase from us, period!), and that no harmful risks, toxins, or chemicals are coming along with it.
