Have you seen the popular Hulu show The Handmaid's Tale? Or maybe you've read the book of the same name by Margaret Atwood. I read the book two decades ago and didn't really see it as something that could potentially happen. But watching the show has led me to believe that there's quite a bit of reality within it. Here's a general plot synopsis (no spoilers):
In the near future environmental destruction, toxic burden, genetically modified crops, and global warming have left many people infertile. People are angry and a civil war breaks out. The American government is overthrown and a new government takes over. This new regime rounds up what fertile women are left and forces them into surrogacy for wealthier women who want to have babies but who cannot.
The reality is that we have seen a sharp rise in infertility rates within the last several decades. The CDC estimates that currently nearly 10 percent of women in the United States suffer from infertility. But why? If you're familiar with Dr. Francis Pottenger's famous cat study then you may have some ideas. After four generations of a nutritionally-void diet, many cats became infertile. Do you see a parallel here? Humans as a whole are not eating how nature has intended. Food-like substances ("Frankenfoods") posing as real food are ruining us. Why? Because we are what we eat. So if we eat junk...well, you get the idea. Perhaps Atwood knew of Dr. Pottenger's study and used it as inspiration for her novel. The original novel was published in 1985, and yet it's like Atwood knew that something such as genetically modified crops could contribute to infertility.
A recent study did indeed link genetically modified crops to infertility. GMO corn was the crop used in the study. Scientists fed rats corn that had been genetically modified using Monsanto's GMO technology. Many people consume this type of corn way too often (how about some Doritos washed down with a nice cold can of Coca-Cola?). Gross! The rats that ate this GMO corn either could not produce offspring or produced offspring that were weak and had a higher than average mortality rate. A study done by Monsanto actually found the corn to be damaging to the internal organs of some animals in feeding trials. So why has it been marked as safe for human consumption?
Genetically modified crops are clearly not as safe as profiteering companies have claimed them to be. If they have been shown to harm fertility then why are they still being produced? How can you protect yourself and your children? The easiest solution is to buy organic foods as much as possible. Prioritize food spending. Cut your budget in other areas. There is absolutely no reason why we should be helping companies who put us at risk for profit from sales of their health-damaging products.
Can you tell that I'm a bit upset by this? If you or someone you know has been suffering from infertility, please share this with them and let them know that this could be a potential cause. None of us should have to suffer just so someone can make a profit.