Should junk food be highly taxed to avoid unhealthy eating?

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Should junk food be highly taxed to avoid unhealthy eating?

Advantages

  • Obesity -  Even though putting tax on junk food may cause the rising price, the tremendous consequences comes with obesity is way more severe than spending a few more bucks on buying food.There would be a decrease in obesity since it takes an extra 3,500 calories in your diet to gain 1 pound of body weight. Junk food is high in calories and sugar that contribute to increased-weight gain. As well, people who consume fast foods are less likely to eat fruits, vegetables, milk etc. This change in eating habits can also easily lead to obesity.
  • Heart Disease - Reduces the stroke risk given the fact that if you reduce the intake of sodium since you shouldn't take in more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day. Also, junk food creates a much higher risk of heart disease because of the high level of saturated or trans fats found in much of the food. Those fats can clog the arteries and, over time, contribute to high cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular diseases are the main concern associated with junk food consumption. Regular consumption of such foods with high quantities of fats, carbs and salts means that you are clogging up your arteries and choking your heart.
  • Tooth Decay - A diet rich in sugary sweets increases your chances of developing cavities, so if the people find themselves with high prices for the junk food they'll stop buying it, preventing tooth decay in the process. Junk food is high in sugar and chemicals, especially the aerated drinks and candy. These foods attack the enamel of the teeth and causes cavities and tooth decay.
  • Loss of appetite -
  • Lack of essential nutrients -
  • Stress -
  • Type 2 diabetes - Your body uses insulin to move blood sugar from digested food into cells, where it is stored until your body needs it. The refined carbohydrates, or added sugars, in junk food cause spikes and then dips in your blood sugar levels.  This leads to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, where sugar doesn’t get stored, but rather stays in your bloodstream. As time passes it would lead you to type 2 diabetes, which puts you into risk for other health complications.
  • Nutritional Deficiencies - When you eat too much junk food, you may suffer from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. High-energy-dense foods often lack protein. If you're nutritionally deficient, your body also can't make the neurotransmitter serotonin, which may leave you with feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability.
  • Junk food addiction is now being classified as a disease.
  • Junk food is filled with trans and saturated fats: These are extremely unhealthy and difficult to digest versions of fat.
  • If we choose to eat foods that make us unhealthy and obese, this creates external costs such as: Medical Costs – treating obesity. Lost productivity at Work e.g. Time off sick. Premature death

Disadvantages

  • People always have a craving for something unhealthy or that looks really appetizing, however, they won't be able to afford it
  • It’s hard to avoid junk food because food companies have mastered the perfect taste sensation, largely a blend of salt, sugar and fat, to keep you coming back for more.

Evaluation

The human body is a machine which needs to be well oiled all the time in order to function properly. Food is the fuel for this machine which gives it energy to run properly and helps do all the necessary body functions. Having a tax on junk food does not mean the majority will no longer being able to afford it. It is only a little change that may bring better health conditions to the citizens. People want government healthcare to save their lives ...Yet they have a problem with government trying to prevent you from getting sick to begin with?If fast food prices were raised it would help support a higher wage for the workers as well as start to cut back on the americans who struggle with their weight. If the healthier food is cheaper they may end up trying it and hopefully like it.Junk food doesn't fill you up, it is just empty carbs. It may taste good, but the effects of these snacks are much worse than what they gave. Instead, you have to waste money buying all of the snacks, then have to perhaps pay even more for medical bills, and endure the humiliation that comes along with the flab.Since junk food is known to cause health problems such as cancer, and these facts are common knowledge, taxes must be employed on these products just like taxes are incorporated into tobacco sales. People should get there rights to eat what they want but not everything is good for you! That's exactly why the government should increase the taxes on junk food like how the healthier food is these days . However, the healthier food should be lower on taxes.

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