Sugar affects your body and weight loss goals in a significant way. While a mini candy bar may have more calories than a large hard-boiled egg, chances are you’ll still be hungry soon after you’ve eaten the candy bar for your snack. Why?

A type of sugar called glucose is the fuel our bodies use for energy. Whenever we eat carbohydrates (sugars and starches) our bodies quickly turn them into the energy fuel glucose, which causes our blood sugar to rise rapidly. The insulin hormone then moves the glucose that’s needed for energy into your cells and stores any that’s leftover as fat.

When you eat starchy foods or foods high in sugar, your blood sugar spikes causing your body to pump out insulin and your blood sugar level begins to drop quickly. The drop in blood sugar may leave you feeling hungry, tired and craving more carbs. And when you give in to those cravings, the whole cycle will start all over again.

Keep in mind that along with candy or sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates such as potato chips, white bread and other starches can have the same effect on your blood sugar levels and your appetite.

To help keep cravings at bay and your blood sugar balanced, opt for healthy, nutrient-packed meals and snacks, try not to skip meals and stay active. Zestar is a great app to get nutritious meal recommendations whether you’re at home, work or out to eat. And if you can’t resist that mini candy bar, let Zestar know you ate it and the system will update the rest of your day’s meals right away to get your blood sugar levels and diet back in balance.

Primarily, human resources is the function of selecting and developing people so they are satisfied with their work and have the knowledge, skills, and tools to give their best to the organization and help it fulfill its mission and its operational goals. HR staff play a pivotal role in the success of the organization. There are many components in the HR toolkit that enables them to do this important work: Creating meaningful positions that link to the overall strategic direction of the organization and provide the resources it needs to successfully and efficiently fulfill its long-term goals. Developing hiring practices that are fair and consistent, and which provide an opportunity to bring a skilled and diverse array of people to the organization to help further its work.

The practice of providing an equitable compensation and benefits package that is consistent and aligned with organizational direction. Compensation can include both base pay (salary) and variable pay (bonuses). Benefits include health, dental, disability, and life insurance, as well as various leave programs such as parental and vacation. It also may include “work-life” balance initiatives like flexible work hours and telecommuting. Finally, benefits packages often contain some kind of retirement or pension plan. A commitment to continuous learning for employees that ensures they have the knowledge and skills needed to perform their jobs effectively. It also provides them with an opportunity to develop their talents and abilities for future opportunities within the organization.

A process by which plans, goals, and performance are regularly reviewed to ensure that expectations of both staff and the organization are met. Focuses on prevention of workplace injuries and creating an environment that is safe and healthful for all staff. Regular training and audits as well as thorough accident investigation are all tools to help promote an injury-free workplace. Creating fair and consistent policies, procedures, and reporting systems that help to ensure regulatory obligations are met and the needs of both staff and the organization are considered.