It's more than calories

Let's talk about calories.

• Calories don't always matter. 

WHY? 

If you pick up a snack that's 100 calories, great, but what's IN it? What ingredients does it contain? 

I mean, do you really think about how many calories you're consuming when you eat vegetables? How many calories does this carrot have? You know it's good for you right? So, there's not as much of a concern. 

Dark chocolate is good for you, at least 70 percent cocoa. Four squares of "Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa" has 250 calories, and the ingredients are what actually should be in dark chocolate.

It's some of the best chocolate you can consume. Plus it's $3.85 online and around $3.25 at Walgreens.

Now, Haribo Gummy Bears, we've all had some fun with these since childhood, you can play with them, stack them, anything you want! Wonderful fun memories! 

But the ingredients. So, 17 pieces is 150 calories, but let's check out the ingredients. Corn syrup, sugar, gelatin artificial and natural flavors...

I'm not trying to say bad things, I'm just bringing to light the importance of what we are consuming, and how important it is to stay healthy and really think about what you choose to eat...or snack on. And, if you want to snack on gummy bears every now and then, go for it, but don't make it too often. 

The point is, calorie intake is not your main focus. Be mindful of what you choose to eat. 

CUT BACK

So, how many of you may think about dipping those carrots, or celery sticks into some yummy ranch or blue cheese dressing? A nice way to dress up those bland orange sticks huh?

Well, I know that sometimes I do get tired of eating plain tasting carrots and like a dip every now and then. Those vegetables are good right, add that into your daily servings of veggies. But keep in mind that if you dip and eat, you're getting a heap of fat, salt and the terrifying -- calories.

Certain foods you eat make you crave those sugars, fats and salts. Of course the more sugar you consume, the more addicted you will get, and it'll be harder to say no when making a menu selection.

Relief is here, it's possible to stop those crazy menu decisions. You just need to know what you're looking for.

Dopamine is triggered in your brain when eating foods high in fat, sugar and salts, according to Prevention.com 

1.) Ask what some of the ingredients are
2.) if you see sugar substitutes, don't get excited, it's just as bad as regular sugar, if not worse.
3.) If you're grocery shopping, read the nutrition labels. It'll help put your mind in perspective after you see what makes up the food you wanted to put in your body later.

Give it a try, start to detox your body of those chemicals and bad things in it. Decrease your sugar intake and you'll feel more energetic.