A Genetically Engineered Future

Are we approaching a future where “organic” as we know it will no longer exist?  Is it also possible that the world food supply could be controlled by one company? We seem to be heading that way as the use of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) seed grows in popularity. These crops are already in our food supply and being fed to livestock.

I read a lot of articles and looked at many resources looking for information to complete my last Blog post, and a name that I am very familiar with kept popping up, Monsanto. Perhaps it is just because "someone has to do it", but Monsanto has been connected to many dangerous products in its long history. Things like saccharin, DDT, Agent Orange, PCB's and nuclear weapons. Monsanto on Wikipedia   

As I said, I am very familiar with the name Monsanto. I spent twenty three years in the dairy industry in retail distribution, with time spent in my early years driving a farm tanker on weekends picking up bulk milk, and I became very familiar with the battles over rBGH.  

If you explore the internet for Monsanto related articles, you can find a lot of disturbing information on contamination, poisoning, intimidation, law suits, ect. Of course "the truth" is in the eye of the beholder or in this case, the eyes of the writers. I try to keep an open mind when it comes to what I read, based on what I know about business and the world. What I am somewhat familiar with are the lawsuits over promotion of milk that was not produced with Monsanto's rBGH, because of implications through marketing that milk produced by cows treated with rBGH was inferior or unsafe. Monsanto was very aggressive in its fight against the Dairy industry over labeling and marketing that had the potential for cutting into their profits. It appears that the farming industry has faced Monsanto's wrath for even longer, according to many articles like this one from 2008, Monsanto's Harvest of Fear, which continues to be referenced by many because the author provided so much information that if true, is cause for concern on many levels.

As you explore the internet, you can find a lot of articles referencing a fear that has continued in the farming industry.  You can also read about how farmers desperate to make a profit to feed their families, have been turning to GE seed and those who don't, find themselves dotting i's and crossing t's to protect themselves from the "seed police".  

On one side, you can understand Monsanto's interest in protecting its company from theft through unlicensed use of GE seeds and unfortunately, some "bad seeds" have given them good reason to have concern. I can also see the need to solve the worlds potential food shortage, as the worlds population continues to grow at an alarming rate.  But I also see this as a potentially bigger problem that began the day when the first GE seeds were approved for use. That is because of the lack of or limited studies used to gain approval.  


For us who lack the understanding of these complicated technologies, we must rely on published studies and our government to protect us. But, what happens when those published studies contradict the safety of those technologies and our government continues to make questionable decisions and create questionable policies? Almost as if they are being manipulated by big corporations. If you believe the articles written about the latest Monsanto triumph in deregulation of RR Alfalfa, you have to wonder about the future of our ecosystem, plant life as we know it,  animal health, the effects of GMO’s on humans and... Are we approaching a future where “organic” or “natural” as we know it, will no longer exist? 

One company that is still holding on to its over 50 year commitment to produce products from “natural” ingredients, is Shaklee.  To insure that commitment, Shaklee conducts over 80,000 quality tests annually to guarantee purity and safety. For my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, Shaklee products give me hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Five Second Rule... For Health

   I was reminded today of my journey as a parent... With the pacifier.  For those with two or more children, perhaps you can relate.

     As a new parent many years ago, I had trouble sleeping for the first few months.  We had our new baby next to our bed and I still had to have a monitor so I could listen to her breath (to know that she was doing so).  As she grew and became attached to her pacifier, it was a constant battle to keep it germ free.  If it hit the floor, it needed to be cleaned.

     With the birth of my son, I was now more experienced. I slept a little better and we now had a 5 second rule with the pacifier that quickly moved to 10 seconds, then oops.  

     With the birth of our third and fourth, the twins, things changed dramatically for many reasons.  First with the youngest, Juliann (by 30 minutes), there was pretty much no real rule, as long as the pacifier didn't turn up gross. She had several she alternated between as she grew and would lose one now & then, only to have it turn up days later... Back in her mouth.  This is probably a normal sequence of transitions between children in most families, but we were not a normal family as we quickly found out.

     Back to square one... With the oldest of the twins.  Kirsten was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and we were learning of new concerns that had us back in the stressful stage of child rearing, with new concerns and new experiences ahead.

     What hit me hard today was the fact that, like the pacifier evolution, a medical issue with Juliann is like the pacifier that has been under the couch for weeks.  It's fine as long as nothing is growing from it!  However with Kirsten, the same medical issue is like the pacifier with my first child.  It was cause for concern until I had experienced it enough to know that it will all be ok. Consider this:

• How many parents could picture themselves inserting a tube threw their child's nose into their stomach for feeding, at just the right length and hopefully not into their lungs. This is how we fed Kirsten for the first six months.
• How many parents would have ever imagined giving their child daily injections... And we do two daily now.  It was one injection daily for years 1 through 5.
• How many parents could stand the stress of watching their child poked and prodded in search of a good vein to draw blood from... Every three months since she was one!  

     I've also come to realize that as a parent of a child with PWS, I have a lot of experience to offer other parents who are not a part of the special needs community.  PWS has so many medical issues that are amplified creating greater concern, that our experience in battling or avoiding some of these issues is a great resource for parents fighting basic health and child rearing problems.  Here are some examples:

• What your 80 lb child can eat in a day and burn off quickly, my 100 lb daughter can only have about half of because she does not burn calories effeciently.  We have learned to eat a very controlled and healthy diet, which after a lot of hard work has become accepted as the norm in our home.
• The cold your child fights off through coughing and many over the counter medicines, my daughter struggles with because of low muscle tone (resulting in unproductive coughing) and limited access to over the counter drugs because of prescriptions she is taking.  We have helped her, not only by a healthy diet and exercise, but by removing as many toxins as possible from our home to try and limit potential breathing issues, by using organic cleaning products.  
• The quality time that many families struggle to find time for, is something that is a necessity for us because it helps keep Kirsten's mind off food.  One of the issues with PWS is that she has a constant hunger that can, unsupervised, lead to overeating to the point of stomach rupture. She will never know fullness.  We have learned to have a lot of fun and keep activities somewhat  organized with many great family options, while getting exercise at the same time. 

     The bottom line, as a special needs parent I have learned so much more about child rearing than I would have without Kirsten.  More importantly, it has benefited my whole family in their health and their future.  It has also led me to a home based business that promotes products that are good for the family and the environment.  Imagine using effective organic window, all purpose or degreaser cleaning solutions at a cost of less than 10 cents per 16oz.  How about an organic laundry soap that costs between 17 and 36 cents per load.  Then there is also their nutritional line that is second to none in quality.  And so much more!

     I would love to share my experience as a father or tips for a healthier home & family to help you. There is so much available to us that is so easily overlooked. 

     To contact me or check out the products available from the #1 natural nutritional company in the U.S. please visit my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com.