Nibbles: Should junk foods be subject to an extra “obesity” tax?, common food dye helps spinal cord injuries, iced coffees found to be dangerously high in calories
Should junk foods be taxed to help pay for rising health care costs?
The Urban Institute today released a study that suggested reducing obesity rates in the United States by borrowing a tactic used by anti-tobacco activists: a sin tax. Taxing foods that lead to weight gain and related diseases, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, would reduce the amount of unhealthy food consumed, say advocates, while also raising money to help pay for the rising cost of caring for the obese.
Blue dye used in junk food can help spine injuries
The same blue food dye found in sports drinks and candies could be used to reduce damage caused by spine injuries and improve odds of recovery, according to animal trials at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Scientists found that when they injected Brilliant Blue G into rats suffering spinal cord injuries, the animals experienced strong recoveries. The rats also turned blue, but only temporarily.
Iced coffee drinks loaded with calories, warns cancer charity group
A survey of iced coffees sold in UK fast food chains showed alarmingly high calorie counts in most popular drinks, including those sold at Starbucks, Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee. The survey was conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund, which was looking for a link between popular consumer drinks and obesity, a known risk for cancer. The drink with the highest amount of calories, 561, was a venti dark berry mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks. Most iced coffee drinks contained more than 200 calories.
Refrigerating produce doesn’t retain nutrients
Many fruits and vegetables experience rapid losses in their nutritional value when stored for more than a few days, and refrigeration doesn’t help, says one food expert: once they are the fridge, “some fruits and vegetables can lose as much as 50 percent of their vitamin C and other nutrients in the ensuing week, depending on the temperature.” To get the most nutrients from your fresh food, buy produce that’s grown locally and therefore still fresh when you get it home. Frozen foods, which are flash frozen just after being picked, might also contain more vitamins and nutrients.
Doritos and chocolate-covered potato chips fuel health reform debate
The six senators charged with banging out a health care bill to meet President Obama’s reform goals are eating anything but healthy food to keep up their energy levels during their twice-daily marathon meetings. According to a New York Times report, the group has snacked on chippers (chocolate-covered potato chips) Doritos, pretzels, Oreo cookies and beef jerky.
Freshman 15 is no myth
One in four freshmen in college gain at least five percent of their body weight, or an average of 10 pounds, during their first semester, according to a study from Utah State University. “This study provides further evidence that the transition to college life is a critical period of risk for weight gain, and college freshmen are an important target population for obesity prevention strategies,” said a study author. There was no significant difference in the amount of weight gained between men and women. The respondents who gained at least five percent of their body weight reported being less physically active in college versus high school, and sleeping more.
(By Margaret Thomas for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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The idea of taxing unhealthy foods is never going to work. The food-oholics will just switch to eating more healthy foods with lower taxes and still be just as fat if not more then they were before. To advance the cause of the Obama National Health Plan we must progressively tax the clothing that the fatties ware, that should get their attention. They can pay their fair share for the real costs for the Obama National Health Plan. No more free rides for the Lane Bryant Plus Size porkers and the fat slobs at Casual Male. They can pay their fair share of national health taxes of go naked.
They could raise the prices of junk food without taxes by eliminating or redirecting agricultural subsidies, from soy beans and corn to smaller production locally grown vegetables and fruit.
Taxing junk food is not the answer. Surprisingly, there are some people who have the opposite problem and are too THIN. They need to eat foods higher in calories just to maintain their weight.
Yes a food tax in the name of obesity is next. First Government control of your health and then tell you what you can or can’t eat. Gotta love them Liberals!
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Great blog, thanks for sharing.