For the last five years, I’ve struggled with daunting health issues that time and time again have gone misdiagnosed and mistreated. There have been many times when I really thought there was nothing I could eat without feeling completely miserable afterwards. Even the simplest snack, like a Saltine cracker (which you’re supposed to have when you don’t feel good, right?) was able to make me feel sick and bloated for days, with terrible stomach aches that kept me home from school.

I have endured every test imaginable and three operations, all which were supposed to be the end-all to my stomach issues. To my dismay, not even the test where I practically drank chalk and got flipped upside down into a handstand position, or any of the three operations, provided any relief. After my last operation, I decided that there had to be something I could do by myself to improve my quality of life and overall health. If the doctors couldn’t figure it out, I would do it myself.

After following many restricted diets for long periods of time, I was used to eating just a handful of things that didn’t make me feel terrible, but I was ready to be able to eat a larger variety of foods and feel good afterwards. I began eliminating many things from my diet that I hadn't before. Although I noticed some change in my body’s reaction to food, it wasn’t significant. So, like I had many times before, I took out my laptop and got searching after what could be making me feel so sick.

Finally, I have a possible answer to why I can’t stomach a frozen pizza, doughnuts, or a bag of cheesy chips like so many of my peers.

GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are “living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering,” (nongmoproject.org). In most developed nations, there are restrictions and bans on GMOs, however, the United States government has approved GMOs due to the profit from their sale.

GMOs have been linked to organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility, (responsibletechnology.org). But if that’s not enough to convince you that GMOs aren’t worth their profit, they are also hurting our environment. GMOs and their associated herbicides have damaged many ecosystems and soil organisms. Further, “they reduce bio-diversity, pollute water resources, and are unsustainable,” (responsibletechonology.org). Are you convinced yet?

By avoiding GMOs at all costs, I have finally found the most effective treatment to my health issues yet. GMOs are found in 80% of processed foods (nongmoproject.org), and since I already follow a gluten-free and lactose-free diet, processed foods were not something I came into contact with regularly. Still, I always make sure whenever I buy gluten-free bread, granola bars, or lactose-free yogurt, that these products are labeled "NON-GMO," or "100% certified organic." If a product is labeled "100% certified organic," it does not contain GMOs.

Avoiding GMOs can be tricky, and it has taken me time and research to master the skill, but it is well worth it. Most of the produce in the United States is GMO free (buy local and organic produce!), but be very careful with sweet corn. Sweet corn was GMO free until 2012 when the first genetically engineered corn hit the shelves at American grocery stores. Walmart carries this corn, but Whole Foods and Trader Joe's does not, (motherjones.com). So if I want some sweet corn, I make sure to go to Whole Foods or buy from local farmers.

Soy is something to always avoid. Although drinking soy milk might seem like a healthier alternative to drinking dairy milk, it definitely is not. Ninety-three percent of soy grown in the US is genetically modified. However, the brand Silk which produces soy milk and almond milk joined the "Non-GMO Project" in 2010, so their soy milk is free of GMOs and is delicious, (motherjones.com).

Avoiding GMOs in foods I used to eat more often has lead to a serious increase in my health and overall well-being. It feels so good to not only be (finally) providing my body with food it can actually withstand (although there are still a lot of things I can’t or won’t eat), and to know that I am making a positive impact on the environment. Saying no to GMOs has been extremely beneficial to my life, and I suspect it would help many others as well. I encourage everyone to avoid GMOs at all costs, and get educated about them! You have a right to know exactly what you are putting in your body.