North Shore Shape Up: Listing calories helps, study finds

Seeing calorie counts on restaurant menus seems to help us make better choices, according to a new study cited by Cleveland Clinic Wellness:

A group of young adults were shown images of foods such as burgers, fries, and cheesecake without calorie information, and then with calorie information, and rated their desire to eat the food — all while a specialized MRI scanner recorded their brain activity. Participants were less interested in eating the foods labeled with calorie counts, and the brain scans showed less activity in the areas associated with reward and more in the areas associated with control.

That is: When you’re looking at pictures and descriptions of food specifically designed to make your mouth water, seeing calorie counts can help rein in your hungry lizard brain, and give you the self-control to choose a healthier option. Here’s to information making a difference!

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