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What are hybrid foods?

Hybrid foods are those that do not grow in nature. Hybrid beans and fruits are some examples of foods that are selectively bred rather than evolving in nature over time. Hybrid foods must be supported by humans, otherwise they will succumb to parasites, fungi, or other environmental aggressors. Farmers benefit from the fact that hybridized fruit plants can produce consistent, higher yields with predictable ripening times. Differences Between Hybrid Foods and GMO Foods Hybrid foods are those that are crossed to create products that maximize desirable characteristics. These include increased durability, production yield, size of the fruit or vegetable and improved taste. This is not a new process; in fact, the process has been going on for over 10,000 years. Examples of hybrid foods include bananas and Honeycrisp apples. A November 2013 study published in PLOS One suggests that crossbred or hybrid bananas are grown around the world and are a major economic and food resource in developing countries. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics explains that hybrid foods do not use genetically modified organism (GMO) technology. Instead, hybrids use traditional pollination that can usually occur in nature with controlled pollination techniques that allow the selection of new generations of fruit plants with desirable characteristics. This can lead to fruits and foods that are uniform in size and shape, juicier, tastier and more nutritious. A hybrid product is created when two different varieties or types of a fruit or vegetable are crossed to create new varieties. A grapefruit, for example, is a hybrid fruit resulting from the crossing of a pomelo and a sweet orange. However, this does not mean that it is a GMO food. Learn More: Examples of GMO Foods Potential Benefits of Hybrid Foods GMO foods are those that cannot occur by growing in nature or without traditional breeding techniques that can interfere with the natural state of the food. The word genome is used to describe the genetic material present in each cell; the addition of foreign material such as transgenic DNA into the genome is the process that creates a GMO. By changing a single gene, it changes the entire organism. There are hidden GMO foods that you may not even be aware of; affected individuals should read nutritional labels carefully. The downsides of genetically modified foods can include an allergic reaction, according to a March 2013 study published in Annals of Agriculture and Environmental Medicine. The study also suggests that consuming GMOs could increase the risk of developing tumors in the lungs, breasts or colon. Although some believe that GMO foods pose potential risks, hybrid foods are generally not as controversial or subject to such debate. In fact, hybrid foods can even be classified as organic by the USDA. Many of these foods are thought to provide health benefits. Read more: GMO Foods: The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing Examples of Hybrid Foods An August 2014 study published in the Journal of Extension suggests that a comprehensive hybrid food preservation program noticeably increases knowledge about food preservation, food safety, and recommended food preservation techniques. Examples of hybrid fruits include seedless apples, date and kiwi varieties, seedless pineapples, seedless citrus fruits, seedless grapes, seedless persimmons, and seedless watermelons, among others. Common hybrid vegetables include beets, carrots, corn, potatoes, celery and cauliflower. Other hybrid foods are hybrid beans, nuts, and seeds. These can include cashews, almonds, oats, rice, wheat, wheatgrass, soybeans, legumes and most beans. Examples of hybrid herbs are goldenseal, ginseng, echinacea, chamomile, aloe vera, nutmeg, comfrey and garlic. To prevent foods and/or supplements from wreaking havoc on your digestive system, pay attention, read labels, and use caution when trying a new food or supplement for the very first time. .

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