Cottonseed Oil Health Hazards

A method called Genetic modification can change the genetic composition of plants or food, and other numerous organisms by using a method named recombinant DNA technology. These products are now called transgenic products or genetically engineered products, they are also generally known as genetically modified (GM) products.

One of these products available on the market is cottonseed oil, extracted from two species of cotton, Gossypium herbaceum and Gossypium hirsutum. This kind of oil is generally available in our grocery stores because they are relatively cheap, and they have a long life span, and are an ingredient in many of our food products in the market. However, you should avoid products that contains cottonseed oil because these oils are genetically modified and have been associated with numerous health issues such as impairment of the immune system, allergies, inflammation, bleeding and ultimately, increased possibility of death.

Labels do not tell you

Typically, these genetically engineered products are labeled in many countries across the globe; however, GM products are not labeled in the United Stated or Canada since manufacturers are not required by the FDA to list the existence nor the quantity of GM food in a producer’s products on their labels. Generally, consumers like us do not know what is in the food we eat, and with no warnings being given, these GM foods have become a great risk to human health.

No escape from GM cottonseed oil

Cottonseed oil is so pervasive in processed foods that you have a much greater chance to purchase an item which contains GM cottonseed oilin comparison with different cooking oils. Cottonseed oil is a very common ingredient present in many food sources including chips, margarine, mayonnaise, salad oils and dressing, pasta sauces, packed foods, baked and many more. Read all labeling to be certain you’re not consuming this harmful oil.

Subsequently, cotton, together with corn and soybeans are among the most frequently grown GM crops. At present, around 88 percent of United States cotton is genetically manufactured, says Natural Health Guide.

Hypersensitivity reactions

Genetically designed foods include Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt). BT is a a ground micro-organism contaminant which has been utilized as a pesticide aerosol for several years. Bt cotton continues to be associated with hypersensitive reactions, such as severe itchiness, redness, inflammation, sneezing and allergic dermis reactions. Each one of these indicators was found in Indian personnel who have been dealing with and who process cotton. Furthermore, only a few circumstances were serious enough to need hospitalization. Workers utilized by a cotton gin manufacturing facility also were required to take antihistaminic medications on a regular basis, reports Stephen Lendman, well-known author and also Research Associate from the Center for Research on Globalization.

Sudden deaths in animals with a week

A number of Indian villages claimed that a quarter of the sheep in contact with Bt cotton had a sudden death, just one week after exposure. Autopsies revealed a toxic effect resulting in their deaths. This finding needs to be further examined to evaluate the effect of GM cotton in human wellness. The risks of consuming these types of animals in contact with genetically designed cotton can also be dangerous. Some scientific studies link GM foods with higher death rates as well as a greater offspring fatality rate, says Lendman.

Other GM related health concerns

Various other unbiased studies analyzing genetically modified ingredients uncovered a number of harmful health problems such as impaired immune system, delayed growth, impaired cell growth development, abnormal cell structure in the pancreas, testicles and liver and high potential growth of precancerous cells in the intestines as well as hemorrhage in the stomach and inflammation in the kidneys and lungs have been noted. Additionally, these GM food products affect our digestive system by increasing the blood sugar content in the blood as well as decreasing our body’s production of digestive enzymes.

It seems that animals naturally understand to avoid dangerous foods. For instance, several geese given both GM as well as non-GM foods decided to consume only non-engineered whole grains. Nevertheless, we don’t have this particular natural capability to detect processed foods. The only alternatives we have now would be to avoid taking in unhealthy foods, those that list cottonseedoil being an ingredient, and select rather certified organic and natural products.

Gossypol is a polyphenolic substance obtained from cottonseed, and is also potentially harmful, reported by Drugs.com. It has recently been investigated for its capability to cause sterility, both in males and females. Alongside its sterility concerns, high amounts of gossypol are actually related in scientific studies with anorexia, altered taste sensation, nausea, fatigue and obstruction of the small intestine.

As cotton is not considered as a food crop, they are expected to have a high amount of harmful substances and pesticides. Because of this, farmers tend to use numerous numbers of agrichemicals when growing cotton trees.

In addition to these, cottonseed oils have very little amount of monounsaturated fats and relatively high content of unhealthy saturated fats that is known to increase our possibility to developed heart diseases as well as high level of cholesterol in the blood.

References:

http://www.rense.com/general80/haz.htm

http://www.drugs.com/npp/gossypol.html

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400361/Is-Cottonseed-Oil-Okay.html

http://www.natural-health-guide.com/genetically-modified-food.html