2016

Sugar Tax: Why it won’t work

Sugar Tax: Why it won’t work
[caption id="attachment_21742" align="alignright" width="352"]What should the labels really say?What should the labels really say?[/caption]

Admit it. There’s nothing better than drinking a can of cold, bubbly, thirst quenching soft drink on a hot summer's day.

Just like you see in the commercials on TV. Friends having a good time together laughing with a can of Coke in hand.

It makes life much more fun doesn’t it? (or at least that's what the TV ads would have us believe)

Well maybe not so much, but awe do love our sodas.

And that’s the problem.

It’s killing us.

Yep. Drinking soft drinks regularly, is slowly chipping away your health. In fact, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) labels sugary drinks as a major reason in the obesity epidemic.

Just one can of Coke has 8.25 teaspoons of sugar. That’s a lot of sugar!

And drinking more than one soft drink a day leads to increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes according to a study published in Circulation by the journal of the American Heart Association.

Truth is, we are consuming far more sugar than ever before. Laura Schmidt, a professor at the UC-San Francisco, says we consume nearly three times more sugar than is recommended.

"So, now we're consuming about twice as much as we did say in 1970," says Schmidt.

https://youtu.be/aIc6iF5k9v4

It’s become so easy for us that it is now part of our culture. Even children as young as 13 years are being diagnosed with adult onset diabetes. This is something that 30 years ago, would be unheard of.

Have a look at this graph below:

obesity rates

It makes you wonder. Something needs to be done about it. Fast.

The Sugar Tax: Is it a Good idea?


There have been a number of proposed taxes on sugary beverages by governments, states, cities and public health groups all over the world.

This tax, known as the “sugar tax” or “soda tax” is designed to do one thing.

Reduce our consumption of sugar.

[caption id="attachment_21741" align="aligncenter" width="598"]Added Sugar: Where does it come from?Added Sugar: Where does it come from?[/caption]

By adding a sugar tax, it is hoped that we as consumers think twice about what we buy. The tax ultimately aims to discourage unhealthy diets and offset the economic costs of obesity.

Revenue from the tax is then spent tackling obesity, particularly childhood obesity.

A recent research found reducing consumption of just one sugary drink a day could cut a person’s risk of diabetes by 18 per cent.

But.

Will the sugar tax really work?

Sugar Tax: Why it won’t work
soda-taxjpg-a66945c8aa55e4e5


Although introducing a tax for soft drinks may help reduce the onset of obesity to some degree, it is not the solution.

Why?

Because soft drinks are not the cause of obesity. Only a small percentage of the daily intake of kilo-joules comes from soft drinks.

Geoff Parker, chief of the Australian Beverages Council says “the amount of sugar consumed through soft drinks has dropped, while obesity continues to rise.”

Mr Parker says a tax on soft drinks will only hurt families where it hurts most - their pocket. He believes a tax will do little to reduce obesity.
A sugar tax simply won’t work, and this is clear as many countries have repealed the taxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ish8NBunrQU

If you are addicted to coke, chances are you will still end up buying it despite a price increase. Drinking soft drink has become such a necessity that it seems we cannot live without it.

So what exactly is the solution?

The only real solution


If a sugar tax won’t work, what will?

Jeff_parker_portions

We need to first understand that the main cause of obesity is living an unhealthy lifestyle. This means eating poorly (eating foods high in fat) and not engaging in regular exercise.

So our solution needs to focus on this cause.

We need to focus on the education of eating a healthy balanced diet and maintaining a regular exercise routine.

[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]

Note from Coach Moose: Take the 21-day Sugar Detox


About a year ago my family and I did the 21-Day Sugar Detox - it was amazing at helping our family ween sugar from our home. Click here to learn more about it and see if it's a fit for you.

21 day sugar detox

The 21-Day Sugar Detox is a comprehensive, yet simple and effective real-foods based program to help break the chains sugar and carbs have on you – and help you find food freedom.

[/box]

What you should do now


Sugar tax or not, YOU are able to make a difference from now on. Now I’m not saying to go cold turkey and give up on soft drinks all together. That would be unrealistic.

What you should try instead is making small changes. One at a time.

1. Improve your diet


If you haven’t already, try the Food Swap Technique.

In the Food Swap Technique, you basically replace one “bad” food you eat with one“good” food.

It a simple but super effective technique you can start using today.

Try it out now !

2. Increase incidental activity


If you aren’t regularly exercising, give this a go first.

Incidental activity is the day-to-day "exercise" you do without even realizing it.

  • It could be walking from your car to the shops.

  • Walking up a flight of stairs.

  • Walking to and from work

  • Etc.


You get the point.

But how do we increase our incidental activity?

Easy.

  • If you drive anywhere, park slightly further.

  • If you normally take the lifts or elevator, use the stairs if possible.

  • If you can walk or ride a bike to work, do so.

  • If you use public transport, get off at an earlier stop and walk the rest.


Its simple, just increase your daily incidental activity. It's a great way to fit in more exercise each day.

If being healthy is important to you then try this out today.

And if you are exercising regularly, then great! Keep it up.

What’s next?


Now you know why a sugar tax won’t work.

You know that the only REAL solution is by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.

Let’s celebrate.

With a cold can of Coke…… NOT!

[divider style="dashed" top="15" bottom="15"]
waseemAuthor Bio: Waseem Khan

Waseem Khan is an Exercise Physiologist and founder of The Better Yoo . If you want to become a better version of yourself, be sure to check out his website. As a bonus, download your free copy of " The Only 3 Things You Need to Finally Get Fit ". Follow Waseem on his Blog , Twitter or email at waseem@thebetteryoo.com

[divider style="dashed" top="15" bottom="15"]
Share by: