What do you think?

       With the most recent debates regarding taxes on sweetened beverages and junk foods, I can't help but wonder what every New Yorker is thinking. Although researchers have found a close correlation between the increase in price of particular foods and the decrease in it's consumption many people are arguing why try to force us to eat better? This health initiative resembles the methods taken to reduce cigarette smoking. Taxing these things are supposed to reduce the likelihood of people buying them and in turn improve the health of the nation. But as seen with cigarette smoking there will always be someone buying them. 

        With obesity crawling its way to the top of nation concerns, a tax on these things might not be so bad. The department of health has been campaigning against sweetened beverages for years now with their slogan"pouring on the pounds" along side an image of a soda bottle pouring fat into a glass. 

Junk food does contribute to ones diet, especially when there is no physical activity to counteract their effects and it would benefit this nation to reduce these things and consume a more nutritious diet. 

What do you think about taxes on sweetened beverages and junk food in New York City? 

Email all opinions to --> dietitianambitionja@gmail.com

Keep emails under 2 paragraphs long 

If you do not want your name attached to it write "anonymous" next to your name

All posts will be posted until Monday June 25 at 11:59pm

What you have to say: 

"I think that one of the greatest aspects of living in this country is the freedom of choice we are supposed to have. Although I am opposed to the availability and consequential health problems junk food can lead to, it seems to me it would be a more effective alternative to make healthier food more affordable rather than raising taxes on "bad" food. Then the choice would be easier." - Jamie Caroccio

"I do believe in taxing sweetened beverages and junk food.  I don't think that taxing these items will stop people from buying them but maybe it will make them stop and think a little before they actually do. We need to start making better choices for ourselves and if this tax can help some of us do that then I'm all for it." - Nancy Alvarez 




"Im not sure if taxing them all if the right thing to do. However, i do think that over a specific amount of sugar or other ingredients that are detrimental to our heath that could effect obesity should make them elegible for taxation. This country is built on freedom, and taxing every single item categorized as junk food is starting to limit that to an extent. And lets face it, its not like the companies that make these "junkfood" items wouldnt find a way around this tax law by making some new chemical that stands as a substitute for the ingredients that would make these taxable." - Frankie Alvarez 




"I think taxing junk food and sweetened drinks is unfair. People should have the right to purchase certain foods or drinks without being taxed extra because of the ingredients in these items. Although taxing these things may lead to less purchases it will not stop people from buying them completely. Just like cigarettes, which are extremely expensive due to tax people still buy them and will continue to do so no matter how expensive they get. I believe the same will happen if junk food and sweetened drinks are taxed." - Danny Emigholz 

Visit the department of health's website for more information on their "pouring on the pound" campaign at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/dohmhnews8-06.pdf

You are what you drink!

We have all heard the saying you are what you eat, but what about what we drink? Most people don’t realize that many of the beverages we consume provide substantial amounts of empty calories and not enough nutrients. Recently a new initiative has been proposed putting a tax on sweetened beverages, but why? What do these drinks do that has been causing such a commotion among the public health community and why is it of the utmost importance to change?

Popular beverages

Soda



1) Calories
Soda adds empty calories to your diet. This means that soda will not provide any essential nutrients, just sugar.  
EX:  1 can of 120-calorie soda everyday for a year could equal 15 lbs.!


2) Bone health
Dark sodas contain phosphoric acids which is known to interfere with the absorption of vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential part of bone health because it is required for calcium to be absorbed. Therefore, if Vitamin D cannot be utilized calcium will be lost and bone health will suffer the consequences.

Alcohol 

-       Provides 7 calories/ 1g of alcohol

Recommended intake

Men: 2 drinks/day

Women: 1 drink/day

Serving sizes of alcohol are:

12 oz. of beer

5 oz. of wine

1) Increases urine output

Because alcohol is considered a toxin to our bodies it becomes of utmost importance to remove. Therefore, your liver will work at converting the alcohol to something that can be passed out through the urine and your body will continue to do this until it is all removed.

2) Causes dehydration

Because our urine output increases this will excrete many important electrolytes. This imbalance will force the body to become dehydrated. Dehydrations side effects are much similar to a hangover in that you experience fatigue, nausea, headaches, weakness, etc. That’s why the morning after drinking you are very thirsty because your body is trying desperately to obtain that fluid balance again.

3) Converts alcohol to fat

Once metabolized alcohol will:
a) Be converted to fat and stored
b) Stop all other energy burning systems in the body making it nearly impossible to burn the fat that you just consumed. 

*Remember your body has become so concerned with removing these toxins that everything else is secondary. The toll that alcohol can take on the body specifically the liver, hydration status and body fat is quite a powerful one, especially when consumed in excess. Naturally like most things if consumed in moderation alcohol can have potential benefits as well, such as the resveratrol in red wine and the effect it can have on appetite.

High Fructose Corn Syrup in Juices  

-       A diet high in sugar will interrupt energy burning systems in the body by overloading it. Once broken down to its simplest form sugar has one of two fates either energy use if necessary or stored for later if deemed not. Between the energy expenditure deficit and the overload of sugar fat will continue to be stored. Therefore, it is not these drinks that contribute to the obesity epidemic but the overconsumption of them as well as the physical inactivity to burn it.

Moral of the story:
Choose water more often than not. Be an educated consumer and choose your beverages wisely. There is no need to eliminate them but know why they are bad and how they can influence your health. Remember anything you consume whether a solid or liquid contributes calories to your diet, choose those calories wisely!