A story surfaced in the news today about how some U.S. researchers want to put a tax on products containing sugar (such as beverages, cereals, etc). I know it's a bit of a controversial viewpoint, but I actually completely agree with this. If you had asked me a few months ago, I wouldn't. But ever since I've adopted a primal lifestyle, I've realized how pervasive sugar actually is in our lives.Here's the thing. Until you really start to look at food labels, you don't actually realize how much sugar you consume on a daily basis. I would be totally fine with it, if I was consciously choosing to eat sugar, like a cupcake or a chocolate bar as a treat. But the fact is, in our society, sugar is hiding in nearly EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that isn't harvested from the ground (and even then, if you pick up a package of "dry roasted almonds" or some canned/frozen vegetables, which are cheaper than fresh,... they'll usually have sugar in them! What's up with that?!)
Grocery shopping is a frustrating thing for me these days. I mostly just stick to the perimeter of the store now, because every time I go into the aisles, I am shocked to find sugar (or one of its counterparts: aspertame, high fructose corn syrup and so on) hiding even in healthy foods, or places you wouldn't expect it (anything from tomato sauce to so-called "healthy" whole wheat crackers or power bars). Now, I don't think anyone should be forced to eat a certain way - do whatever you like. BUT, I do think it should be a lot clearer when you're consuming something that you may think is "healthy" but actually has horrible ingredients. And I think mass manufacturers of food have gotten away with hiding sugar for far too long.
By buying and consuming convenience foods throughout the years, these mass manufacturers have managed to change our tastebuds. "Real" foods don't taste good anymore. We need everything to be sweeter. And then they wonder why the diabetes rates are higher today than they have ever been in history. And then, instead of educating and preventing... we have high profile celebrities who promote drugs as the solution! Excuse me as I stand on my soapbox, but really... What kind of society do we live in?!
So YES, I think we should TAX the sugar, and give even higher taxes to the companies that are destroying the health of the population! Make people think about what they put in their mouths, and make companies foot the bill for the diabetes and other diseases that they are (in part) causing. Teach people how to prepare their own food, and make "convenience" food that is not only affordable, but is ACTUALLY healthy, for the times that people just can't prepare their own snacks and meals. And teach people how horrible the processed food they've been consuming for years and years - and hopefully steer people away from that direction.
Is it too much to hope for a world where real food lines the shelves, sugar is only available in treats (and in moderation), and I can shop in a grocery store without having to spend 2 hours, because I'm reading every single label (or conversely, shopping in a high-end "crunchy granola" store, and having to spend $200 for a week's groceries?)
What do you think? Would you support a tax on sugar - or is it just another case of government interfering too much in our daily choices?
