non-gmo Archives

One day you’re casually perusing around your usual market and you stumble across a product that says No-GMO. You think to yourself what is that? GMO? Does it have something to do with the military? Is it poisonous or toxic? Why No-GMO? To be able to answer these questions that this strange notation produces, you must first realize GMO is an acronym for genetically modified organism. How many of you knew that?

Genetically modified organisms are animals or plants that have been biotechnically altered for “better” appearance, taste, and/or longevity. This way, they combine aspects of different species and create something that cannot be created naturally. Whether GMO is natural or not is currently up for debate– it’s really quite a controversial topic in the industry.

GMOs are becoming increasingly popular due to the lack or over usage of some resources like plants. They were also deemed necessary to grow because of the need for successful crops.

Pests and the survival of crops have been problems for years, and GMO’s were a resolution to those problems—in other words, GMO products have been around, used, and eaten for years. It seems that research now has shown some concerns with ingesting or using GMOs.

GMOs have been connected to increases in weight, kidney problems, and liver problems. Also, in larger quantities of GMO foods, herbicides have been detected. Yet, all of this information is inconclusive since there hasn’t been any definitive research showing a direct connection between GMOs and these problems. Nor has the government actually ruled whether or not GMO’s are safe.

As far as effects on the skin, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that there isn’t any evidence that GMOs negatively affect the skin. Some researchers have found inconclusive connections to Morgollens disease. As we say at EE, know your skin. Pay attention to the products you use and listen to your skin. If irritations begin to happen, notify your doctor or a specialist.

You should also learn your products. Research what may be GMO and what is not because many companies do not label it. Be aware that some products that say “all-natural” or even some products containing organic ingredients can also contain GMOs.

The EE 411:

Some companies do not label whether their product have or do not have GMOs. Here are a few ingredients that can be genetically modified:

Canola
Corn
Corn oil
Corn flour
Soy bean
Lecithin
Proteins that can come from yeast
Flax
Rice
Cotton
Wheat
Vitamin C
Citric Acid
Corn Syrup
Flavorings that are natural or artificial

There are many more products that can be GMO. The best way to make sure your food or skin care product doesn’t contain GMOs is to look for the USDA Certified Organic Seal or a specific “non-GMO” designation; those products cannot contain GMOs. To be careful, just to be on the safe side, some companies are cutting out GMOs, joining GMO- free companies such as EE.

When you have some free time, do a little research on your own. That way you can discover all the answers to your questions.

Share with Us: Anything on the list that surprised you? Or is there anything you’d like to add? What do you think about GMOs?

(This post was brought to you by Earth’s Enrichments. Similar posts can be found by visiting our Blog. More information about our company and products (USDA Certified Organic Soaps, Organic Bath Salts, Organic Sugar Scrubs, Organic Body Balms and Organic Lip Balms) can be found on our Website. Thank you Earth’s Enricher!)

Yes we are—USDA organic, all-natural, handcrafted, cruelty- free, non-GMO, vegan*, and gluten- free* (*Except for Honey Granola which is in the process of a makeover. It will become gluten- free soon!)

Last week we talked about skincare ingredients that have harmful effects to your skin. This week we will talk about the aspects of our soaps that care for and nurture your skin. Remember, we know what it’s like to have sensitive skin and have some elements in the average soap break you out. We know what it’s like to have skin irritation and can’t find skin care products that won’t irritate your skin further. We also know what it’s like to use an organic soap and have it not meet your expectation. So, we have used our experiences and homework to make our soaps with you and your skin in mind.

The EE 411

We at EE offer USDA certified organic soaps that do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petroleum, artificial coloring, artificial fragrances, or artificial preservatives. Instead our products are handcrafted, USDA organic certified, all-natural, cruelty- free, vegan* and gluten-free* (*except Honey Granola).

USDA Organic Certified

First, what does it mean to be organic? It means that the product does not contain any genetically modified organisms, synthetic ingredients, chemicals, pesticides, etc. In other words, everything is grown in a natural, un-tampered environment.

Second, how does the USDA National Organic Program recognize products that are USDA organic certified? In order for products to be recognized as USDA organic certified they must contain 95% certified organic ingredients or greater. To obtain the ‘USDA Organic’ title, a Government certified agency must check and make sure that the manufacturer fulfills all of the requirements of the USDA organic standard.

Third, how do you know if a product is USDA Organic certified? Simply look for the USDA organic seal on the product. This is a circular seal that contains the words USDA organic. Check out the picture at the top of this blog.

All- Natural

All-natural means that the product doesn’t contain any chemicals or lab made preservatives such as parabens, sulfates, artificial preservatives, phthalates, artificial coloring, etc. At Earth’s Enrichments we have found natural ingredients to these unhealthy choices. Mother Nature equips us with natural ingredients to be used as preservatives and repellants. The trick is finding out her secrets—for instance, some herbs can be used as a bug repellent. Likewise, salt can be used as a natural preservative. Check it out! You’d be amazed at what some of the things in your fridge and cabinets can do for you.

Handcrafted

Handcrafted or handmade means skillfully made by hand. Like our products, when your favorite products say ‘handcrafted’ it means made by people and not machines. In other words, each product is specially fashioned with you in mind. With us, each bar has its own personality and is uniquely designed.

Vegan

A vegan product means that none of its ingredients or products were taken from any insects or animals. Just in case you have forgotten, this would include bugs, critters, and creepy crawlers. This would even include the bees that make your honey.

Cruelty- Free

Cruelty free means no animals or any living creatures were harmed in the making of a product. When we say our products are cruelty free, we mean it! No lipstick on dogs or sulfate ridden shampoo on kittens. In our case, no bees were harmed during the making of our Honey Granola bar soap. We do not condone any testing of products on animals.

Gluten- Free

Gluten is a type of protein that produces elasticity in dough. It can be found in cereal, grain, and wheat. Although it is naturally found in grain and wheat, it is also a popular allergen. It can affect people with allergies to grain, wheat, or those who suffer from Coeliac Disease (unable to digest gliadin, which is in Gluten).

Therefore, when a product says it is gluten free, it contains no traces of gluten.

Non GMO

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. It refers to products that are scientifically tampered with in anyway to make them last longer, taste better, or look more appealing. This often includes fruits, vegetables, meats.

Share with Us: What other positive benefits would you like your skincare to have?

Tag: non-gmo

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