McDonalds to double presence in China; chronic disease follows the Western diet around the globe

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McDonalds has announced it intends to double its outlets in China (to 1,000 restaurants) by the time the 2008 Beijing Olympics arrives. The fast food company also plans to sponsor the 2006 Winter Games, the 2010 Winter Games and the 2012 Summer Games.

Question: why on Earth is a restaurant chain that sells arguably unhealthy foods sponsoring events that should be all about health and physical fitness? Similarly, I've always thought it strange that soft drink companies sponsored sporting events. Sports and soft drinks are near opposites: one promotes activity and health, the other promotes diabetes and disease. Seeing McDonalds sponsor the Olympics is somewhat bizarre.

I believe McDonalds is at least partially responsible for America's obesity epidemic as well as accelerating rates of other chronic diseases. The products sold by McDonalds are high in saturated fat, high in processed carbohydrates, high in sodium, high in refined sugars (high fructose corn syrup in the soft drinks), and high in trans fatty acids (french fries). These food characteristics are unquestionably linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even cancer. While McDonalds obviously isn't forcing anyone to eat their foods, they are in fact heavily promoting these foods and drinks without bothering to warn consumers of the subsequent health risks.

Now, McDonalds wants to expand in China, and there's little doubt that as the Western diet continues to invade Chinese culture, China will see rising rates of the very same diseases now considered epidemic in the United States. The rapid expansion of McDonalds restaurants and soft drink companies into the global marketplace is one reason why I describe the United States as the world's largest exporter of disease. Every country or region that starts consuming American foods experiences chronic disease within a generation.

These opinions are not popular with the McDonalds corporation, no doubt, but they are based in nutritional science.

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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and technology pioneer with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He has authored more than 1,500 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the CEO of a highly successful email newsletter software company that develops software used to send permission email campaigns to subscribers. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org

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