Russia Bans U.S. Food Imports, Obesity Plummets
Russia has seen a massive drop in obesity rates and related diseases since it banned food imports from the United States and Europe. Moscow has halted imports of sodas, candy, junk food and other processed food from the West in retaliation for economic sanctions on its oil and banking sectors. The sudden unavailability of processed Western foods â notorious for unhealthy amounts of trans-fats, salt, sugars, artificial flavors, and high-fructose corn syrup â has created an unexpected health and fitness boom as Russians turn to more nutritious foods. âI thought Iâd starve when the supermarket stopped selling cheap American microwave dinners and candy bars,â said Maxim Ves, a 380-pound Moscow resident at a farmerâs market as he ate a salad and a low-calorie prosciutto, avocado, and olive sandwich made with 100-percent whole-grain bread. âWho knew fresh, healthy food was so good? Yet I only eat it when Iâm hungry, not just because. Itâs like a curse has been lifted. âAnd walking to market every day has been great: Iâve lost 10 pounds!â Na Zdorovya!nObesity has become a major health problem in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, especially since Western fast-food chains have rushed to open local franchises. But since cheap, fattening processed foods have become difficult to obtain due to the ban, Russians have started eating healthier local meals. Outside Moscowâs first McDonaldâs on Pushkin Square, protesters have demanded it be shut down and replaced with an organic food market. Twenty-four hour gyms across the country have seen a surge in new members, with 99.9 percent keeping their membership instead of quitting after a month. The ban has even affected Russiansâ legendary fondness for alcohol and cigarettes, as liquor and tobacco shops across the country have set up fruit juice and smoothie bars to meet the sudden demand. âWho needs vodka and cigarettes when you have ginger tea and carrot sticks?â said Zhaloba Portnoy, a 75-year-old babushka whoâs lost 25 pounds and has taken up yoga and kickboxing. âI feel 40 years younger!â Moscowâs Gorky Park is unusually crowded with joggers and bicyclists who shared the park with outdoor tai chi, karate and yoga classes. âAfter work Iâd eat frozen pizza or fast food for dinner, and Iâd just have enough energy to watch TV or play video games before going to bed. I didnât even have enough energy to jack off,â said jogger Vitaly Sushchnost, who was training for a marathon. âNow Iâm lifting weights, exercising and eating great. Iâm free from crap food and its instant gratification.â Meanwhile, Moscowâs notoriously gridlocked roads have seen a drop in traffic as newly active, healthy residents have taken to walking and bicycling instead. The Russian health ministry reports a massive drop in national rates of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and strokes. At current trends, Russiansâ average life expectancy will exceed the United States and other European countries within 5 years. In response, American junk food companies including General Mills, Hostess, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Kelloggâs are pressuring the U.S. government to demand Russia end the ban. âVladimir Putin must be stopped,â food industry lobbyist Nick Naylor said. âHe has surpassed Michelle Obama as the greatest threat to freedom and American values worldwide.â