One of the biggest “jokes” is the fact that Diet Pepsi is called “diet” when countless studies have shown that diet sodas actually lead to weight gain! Despite what Michelle Obama would like you to believe, it’s not just about calories in and calories out. In fact calories are far from created equally – i.e. 100 calories in fruit is in no way the same thing as 100 calories from Snickers. You’d be better off having 500 calories from fruit than you would be having just 100 from a processed candy bar because calories from natural produce are calories that your body can actually use and process easily.
Unfortunately while Obama is telling our kids that if only they did a few jumping jacks and ate less they’d lose weight, the truth is that processed foods (and the food served in cafeterias) is so loaded with hidden sugars that it’s almost impossible not to overindulge. Fed Up, a documentary that sheds the spotlight on this, should be mandatory viewing for everyone, especially kids. The American food industry is responsible for more sickness than most of us have previously realized. Why? Because money talks and food giants – like Pepsi – have a seemingly endless supply of it, allowing them to exert an inordinate amount of power in Washington. If only Obama spent her energy trying to change the fact that food giants take zero accountability for the social costs of their mission to get us addicted to the processed foods they’re churning out…
Now in response to dropping sales, Pepsi announced that it would remove the artificial sweetener aspartame from all their diet sodas sold in the US, and replace it with sucralose (i.e. the stuff behind Splenda) and acesulfame potassium. Unfortunately any way you dice it, these artificial sweeteners will lead to weight gain (not to mention the possible connections to cancers, tumors, and thyroid issues that some studies have purported). Do yourself a favor: cut out all diet soda!! The zero-calorie claim is little more than a marketing gimmick, and it’s an unfortunate truth that brands are allowed to push products like these under the pretense that they are diet-friendly.
This is a really bizarre article. I’m not sure why the demonizing of Michelle Obama is necessary or even makes sense. What’s wrong with her encouraging kids to exercise and grow their own organic gardens? I’m not even an Obama fan but this left a weird taste in my mouth. I don’t read this website for awkward political commentaries.
I agree but I think sh’es referencing the movie called Fed Up by Katie Couric. I watched it last year and Mrs. Obama was shown to have changed her program due to sugar lobbyists. Such a shame as it was intended to be a good program but politics and money got in the way.
I totally agree; I had to double check what site I was on.
Agree on all counts.
You should take this post down immediately. It’s embarrassing how poorly informed you are on this topic.
Incredible. How do you blast out one woman or individual, because their aiming toward healthier regimen? We ALL are not perfect, but what does blasting out Ms Obama have to do with Pepsi? Calories count yes, and bad calories are in meals. It’s about what you do with them. Let’s blast out something about using pudding as a healthier choice than candy bar. No difference. No calories? No fat? Huh? It’s processed confusion to me.
It’s about time someone called out Obama on her so-called mission to get kids healthy. This was far from demonizing anyone except maybe Pepsi. If anyone really believes that politicians and their wives are not beholden to big companies or rich donors, think again.
What is this woman so angry about?
As a matter of fact, there is no documentation that diet sodas lead to weight gain, only a correlation between consumption of diet sodas and being overweight, which is unsurprising since diet sodas are… wait for it.. for people on a diet. The whole connection is behavioral, not chemical. That’s like saying a vegan diet causes obnoxious oversharing. The two go together, but one doesn’t cause the other; they just coincide pretty often. As for bashing Mrs. Obama – whatever you think of her or her husband’s politics, all she has tried to do is encourage kids and families to exercise and eat healthy natural foods. Yes it’s true that some calories are more nutritious and better for you than others – nobody thinks 100 calories of chocolate is better than 100 calories of salmon or kale – but zero calories of diet soda is still better for you than 160 calories of regular soda. Even if 20 calories of organic kale juice would align your chakras better.
I’m so tired of being harangued and preached at by food televangelists. Please shut up about how I’m going to die of cancer and go to hell if I eat at McDonalds.
Rebecca and anyone else that thinks this was too harsh, it needs to be. The Goliath that is the food industry needs many Davids to take it down. I think the point is that even FLOTUS was cornered into acquiescence by these lobbyists. She is not bashing MO, only called her out a little. A calorie is not a calorie, and its about time the public knows about this. Processed food equals poison, period. Mass produced protein sources, like chicken, are not much better. (Frontline is airing a chicken episode as I type) Never mind a nice purse, or the wonderful face cream, if you don’t have good health, nothing else matters. Truth ladies!
Bravo for speaking about the elephant in the room and don´t let the paid trolls bring you down. Bullying is not the way! Respect the freedom of speech people! If you don´t like it, don´t read it! This is a Blog for crying out loud, its supposed to express personal opinions in any subject what so ever.