The Pros And Cons Of Sugary Food

Sugar is everywhere in our lives. When you eat, sugar is in the food such as hamburger, sandwiches, pizza, bread, etc. When you drink, sugar is in the beverage like soda, juice, coffee and even milk. Furthermore, sugar exists in snacks such as cookies, cupcakes, biscuits and so on. I cannot list everything with sugar here. Actually, when we eat, we eat sugar. Unfortunately, sugar is now considering a toxic to our bodies. It causes diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart attack and cancer, etc. As sugar threatens the public health, government is considering curb sugar consumption by taxes on sugar; restrictions placed on food production and even age requirements on purchasing sugary foods. For this research project, I decided to pursue the question, Should sugar be regulated? This question deserves to be examined because we need to make some change for life to reduce sugar intake but at the same time it’s controversial that whether the government should intervene and regulate sugar. I wonder how the government will take appropriate measures to regulate sugar as well as improve public health.

Negative externalities are costs imposed upon an individual or group that is outside or external to a transaction.

The American diet is based mostly in processed food which contains enormous amount of sugar. The excessive consumption of sugar can cause diseases such as obesity, heart diseases, alzheimer, liver diseases, diabetes and others. One of the problems with the consumption of sugar is that people get sick progressively without the knowledge that it is caused by sugar. In addition, sugar is an addictive food and life without it is almost impossible. As a result, processed foods are cheaper than healthy food. It is hard to avoid processed food when Americans do not have time to cook because of their life style. Americans need to know the way to change their diet and improve their lifestyles. Americans sometimes forget about the amount of sugar that a soda or flavored drink contains. These drinks are tasty, but it will not satisfy thirst. Sugar is equally dangerous and has the same health effects than smoke cigarettes. Consume sugar in excessive amounts per day have a significant effect in Americans ' daily life. Americans should be aware of the diseases caused by their eating habits, therefore; they should be more conscious of what they eat and change their diet.

Externality is defined as an effect of a decision on a third party not taken into account by the decision maker. There are two types of externalities being positive and negative. Second hand smoke would be a negative externality. The smoker does not take into account the smoke emitted from their cigarette. Education would be considered a positive externality. When an individual is educated, their

Tobacco, alcohol and poor diet are the main risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory disease that kills approximately 35 million per year. Out of the three risk factors, an inadequate diet was found to the culprit of more diseases than smoking and liquor consumption combined. In Aseem Malhorta’s (2014) article “Sugar is now enemy number one in the western diet”, he claims that added sugar should be regulated as it is a health hazard that has caused the increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Malhorta only focuses on sugar being the main causative agent in causing negative health outcomes, he fails to address the fact that there are many other confounding factors associated with each disease

The excessive consumption of sugar has a strong correlation with the most of the diseases considered a common cause of death like cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, sugary beverages are one of the biggest sources of sugar consumption in American’s diet. As Humhnergarth, states in her article, “Berkeley's Soda Tax is working and That Could Be a Game Changer”: “Sugary drink consumption is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, tooth decay and obesity…” Therefore, tax on sugary drinks will raise the price, which will turn the consumer to a healthier food choice, and in consequence will decrease the consumer’s consumption of

When most people think about sugar, their first thoughts are not: heart disease, addiction, or slow and painful death; yet, unfortunately, these conditions are very real consequences of the unregulated and excessive consumption of sugar. In Nature’s article, “The Toxic Truth About Sugar” (2012), Robert Lustig, pediatric endocrinologist; Laura Schmidt, Professor of Health Policy at UCSF; and Claire Brindis, Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at UCSF, evaluate the world’s ever-increasing and toxic struggle with the substance sugar – also discussing counter measures to promote healthier diets amongst American’s and other societies. Lustig and his colleagues develop their argument using statistical evidence as they address the global impact of sugar, refuting minor oppositions, before dissecting each harmful aspect of the substance – even comparing it to substances more known for their toxicity. Eventually, presenting readers with possible routes of regulation, the authors firmly suggest government intervention in the production and sale of sugary foods. Although the argument is well executed, I remain unconvinced that government intervention is actually necessary.

Alan Levinovitz builds his argument that the dangers of sugar consumption may be overstated, and that there is a need to reconsider the best way to deal with the issue of sugar consumption in the U.S by using examples and facts. He also uses logical reasoning to develop his ideas and connect his claims to his evidence. Lastly, he uses persuasive techniques, which are particular words that appeal to his’ readers emotions to give power to the ideas put forth. With these tactics, the author will attempt to persuade the audience.

Many Americans believe that all sugar is bad for the human body. This statement is incorrect because in Konie’s article: Is sugar bad? Why I say no! States that, “Sugar is essential to good health, Im talking about the right kind of sugar as part of real foods diet.” (Konie.para 2.Line 4). What Konie is stating is sugar is good if it is natural sugar, like from ripe fruit and sweet potatoes. This kind of sugar is what the body needs to stay healthy.

My nutrition related term was sugar, sugar is something that we all crave and enjoy from time to time. For some sugar can be as addicting as any drug or alcohol. I once watched a documentary on the effects sugar can have on the human body and ever since then I have become obsessed about watching my daily sugar intake. I have become more mindful of it and try to avoid added sugar at all costs.

It is challenging subject to determine whether government should have jurisdiction on sugar consumption to reduce obesity. In my perspective, government should provide alternative approach to regulate the use of sugar in the food that is consumed regularly. Legislation might interfere with the freedom of choices that public hold. FDA oversees and manages the food industry regulation for the safety of public. Information on the food labels are insignificant to read and comprehend at times if you are not careful. Moreover, some of the marketing claims may mislead the consumer. Long-term effect of sugar and fat intake can lead to obesity and chronic disease. However, effect of ingredients in the food is not labeled unlike drugs. Instead

Negative externalities are detrimental third-party effects caused by the production and/or consumption of a good. A public good is a good provided free of charge to the consumer, by the government. A public good is non-excludable and non-rivalrous. A merit good is a good that gives positive externalities upon production and/or consumption. A merit good is non-excludable, yet rivalrous.

Sugar is in so many things that you can barely count. It is even in healthy things such as fruit like apples and bananas, but it is a different kind of sugar. The sugar that is highly addictive, unhealthy, and overall delicious, is the type that is in sweet things like candy, ice cream, so it is in different types of desserts in general. (zelf geschreven)

An Externality is when costs or benefits of certain activities spill or fall into third parties that have nothing to do with the initial situation in hand; its like a side effect or consequence of an activity that affects other parties who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit.

externalities keep the market from reaching allocative efficiency because the gains or losses generated are external to the pricing system; they are unpriceable. The transaction costs of externalities misallocation of resources or a failure of the market economy to generate a Pareto optimum. positive externalities 3 types of interventions the government may engage in: