VHeadline.com guest commentarist Kenneth T. Tellis writes:  I recently read that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias was exhorting the people of Venezuela to eat healthy foods, and he was quite right. We need just look at the United States of America, and see its major problems of obesity and health.

Obesity jumped by leaps and bounds, and so has Diabetes. But, the root cause of these problems has not been touched, because of the link between the corporations that own the Fast Food industry and the government in general.

How, can you be in bed with corporations and expect them to pay heed to your warnings on health? You cannot lay down the law any industry if you receive funding for your election campaigns, can you?

If Venezuela has to advise all its citizens on good eating habits, it will be a plus for healthcare. Of course the government has a right to set food standards, which means set the norm, what Fast Foods and prepared foods may or may not contains. It is within the jurisdiction of a government to set standards in every area of public life. Thus, Fast Foods chains, especially American ones, must comply or be shut down.

Free Enterprise does not mean freedom to damage the health of people by the sale of their wares or goods. Thus, all those American Fast Foods chains should be put on notice that they comply with food standards laid down by the government or ace action by law.

So, Hugo Chavez Frias is right in advising the people of Venezuela to eat properly, which means the consumption of healthy foods that are available.

Now, the people of Venezuela will have a better health standard and a longer life, because of the advice. There is also a greater danger by the consumption of all foods containing the various sugars. Large amounts of sugars ingested by children lead to Diabetes at a much younger age.

So, again Hugo Chavez Frias has hit the nail on the head.

So far, he is the only known leader to advice people on healthy living because he has no ties with the food industry at all, unlike many leaders in the US and Europe. But the biggest advantage that Venezuelans have is their link with Cuba ... Cuba has very few health problems related to food. Why? Because in its isolation, Cuba has had to develop many things dealing with health, well outside the norm.

For instance look at Cuba’s organic farming methods, which Venezuela has adopted. Look at low incidence of Diabetes in Cuba, because there are much more natural products to be had and besides low consumption of sugar, a factor in Diabetes control. If one adds up the cost to healthcare because of these changes in Cuba, it is saving that island country millions of dollars in pharmaceuticals alone.

The average Cuban is much healthier than the average American because of their diet and organic foods, not Fast Foods.

Thus, the advice by President Hugo Chavez Frias is he best that anyone can give his people. It shows above all that he really cares about their health.

It is those in the business of Fast Foods who might attack the Chavez Plan for Health, but the people of Venezuela are much more liable to reap the benefits of a healthy happy lifestyle.