Obamas Getting Tough On Obesity?
This week we learned, ”People who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% increased risk — or nearly twice the risk — of pancreatic cancer compared to individuals consuming no soft drinks,” says Noel T. Mueller, MPH, lead research associate at the Cancer Control Program at Georgetown University Medical Center. This from the recently published study in a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention?
The study was done to test a theory that high glycemic beverages like soft drinks and commercial grade fruit juices are a major contributor to pancreatic cancer. The study found that commercial grade juices, though extremely high on the glycemic scale, do not effect pancreatic cancer risk. So what could be the difference?
Oh yeah, juice contains a natural sugar. Soft drinks contain a synthetic one, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Coincidence?
HFCS of course is the brainchild of one of the wealthiest corporations in the world, Monsanto.
This week we also learned that the Obama’s have announced a new child obesity initiative with cheflebrity Jamie Oliver, Let’s Move. This would be exciting if it weren’t such an utter fraud. While Oliver is genuine, Mrs. Obama made her announcement with USDA chief Tom Vilsak (legendary Monsanto lobbyist) and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin (a Burger King consultant) at her side.
Also standing with the first lady was Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, a career politician with absolutely no experience or training in social services or nutrition. Ms. Sebelius has degrees in political science and public administration, the academic equivalents of basket weaving.
With a stroke of his mighty pen, President Obama signed an executive order that outlines the ever expanding federal government’s role in a problem that affects one-third of the school-age children in the country. An issue that he claims as, “one of the most urgent health issues we face in this country,” with all of the sincerity of a fox offering to guard the hen house.
While proper exercise is another key factor in childhood obesity the chief cause is diet. Between diet and exercise, diet is the most important. If children enjoy a proper diet then the amount of exercise they receive in an average school day would suffice. But a diet of processed foods containing HFCS and hydrogenated oils requires much more exercise to negate the negative effects of that diet.
That’s why the Obama’s Let’s Move serves as little more than a diversion from the real issue. The people the President has appointed to make the decisions about what is and is not healthy are not qualified to make these decisions. People like Sebelius, Benjamin, Vilsak and many others do not base their policies on what is best for the country but what is best for their corporate masters.
If President Obama were genuine he would not have traded our children’s well-being for campaign contributions. He likely did not chose his appointees because of careful examination of the facts but more likely to repay the people who financed the most expensive Presidential campaign in history. Clearly they where not chosen based on qualifications. Holding a press conference vowing to end the obesity epidemic while surrounded by the very people championing the chemicals causing that epidemic is at best hypocritical.
Cristeta Comerford: White House Executive Chef
The White House Executive Chef is in charge of all menus for the First Family as well as all official state functions. Though the White House Executive Chef serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States, typically they work side-by-side with the first lady.
Walter Scheib III served at the post beginning in 1994 under President Bill Clinton. President George W. Bush saw no reason to replace Chef Scheib and retained him until 2005 when he left to enjoy life as a celebrity chef. He has since battled Iron Chef Cat Cora and published a book White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen.
To fill the void left by Chef Scheib’s departure, Laura Bush tabbed his talented assistant Cristeta Comerford to be the new White House Executive Chef making her the first woman and first minority to hold the title. Mrs. Bush had reportedly been very impressed with Comerford’s handling of large State events.
Chef Comerford’s voyage into history began in the Philippines where she lived her first 23 years on earth. Just prior to immigrating to the US, Comerford attended the University of the Philippines majoring in food technology.
Upon reaching the States, Comerford took a job in Chicago cooking for Sheraton Hotel and Resorts. Since then she has worked in Washington DC, Vienna and for Hyatt Regency. Her rise has been meteoric and deftly earned.
Apparently, new first lady Michelle Obama was also impressed as she retained Chef Comerford saying, “Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family,” in a statement released by the transition team. Mrs. Obama is quite the foodie who has even started a White House Kitchen Garden.
On Sunday January 3rd. Chef Comerford joins Iron Chef Bobby Flay in Kitchen Stadium to battle the team of Iron Chef Mario Batali and culinary legend Emeril Legasse in the first Iron Chef: America of the new year. Comerford’s boss, Michelle Obama will be in attendance.