Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to maximizing autoimmune health through the

paleo-autoimmune protocol and functional medicine. While there is no cure for autoimmune disease,

the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel. I'm Eileen Laird, your host from

PhoenixHelix.com, and I reduced my rheumatoid arthritis pain by 95%,

which took me from a life of excruciating pain and disability back to a full and beautiful life.

A short disclaimer, I'm neither a doctor nor a nutritionist, and the opinions expressed here are personal.

Always consult with your health care team before making

medical decisions. Now let's get on to the show. Welcome to episode 177. Our topic today is GMOs, genetically modified organisms. We're going to be focusing on their presence in our food supply. So the first genetically modified food hit the market in 1994.

Now, nearly all the food included in a standard American diet contains genetically modified

ingredients. The good news is that if you avoid processed foods and shop the perimeter of the store,

you cut your GMO consumption dramatically, but we can't escape it

altogether. The industrialized food system affects us all. The increased herbicide use becomes part of the

environment in which we live. There's cross-contamination of crops, so even farms that strive to be

GMO-free, often find GMO plants in their fields.

And 95% of animal feed is GMO.

So what are the health risks associated with genetically modified foods?

Is it the genetic engineering that's the problem or the chemicals that are sprayed on them?

How can we make the healthiest choices when it comes to the food we eat? My guest is McKay Jenkins, a professor

and journalist who has been writing and teaching about the environment for 30 years. He's the author

of nine books, including one called Food Fight, GMOs, and the Future of the American Diet.

I'm very grateful he agreed to join us today.

Welcome to the podcast, McKay.

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