What Is Nutrient Density ?
Nutrient-dense foods have a high nutrient/calorie ratio, which means they are rich in nutrients when compared to their calorie content. In other words, nutrient dense foods provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories.
When you're hungry and looking for a quick snack, choosing a nutrient dense food like a piece of fruit is clearly a better choice than a bag of cookies. We would likely all agree that's because an apple contains fewer calories. While this is true, the apple is also more nutrient dense. Your goal should be to find a low calorie snack that's high in fiber and vitamins, that will satisfy your hunger.
Remember, controlling your appetite is key to losing weight. LepToThin™ weight loss system can also help control your hunger and give your metabolism that much needed boost.
Simply selecting a food based on its calorie content alone is not enough. This is where nutrient density really comes in to play. Foods that are low in calories, but high in fiber and other vitamins, will keep you healthy while you lose weight. A banana for example is high in fiber and potassium and low in calories. Where as a bag of chips contains more calories, saturated fat and very little nutrient content.
Nutrient dense foods will keep hunger at bay.
Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are big winners in nutrient density. They are rich in nutrients and other compounds such as fiber, phytochemicals and essential fatty acids. The fruits and vegetables with the highest nutrient density ratio include carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, spinach, berries, apples, cherries, pomegranate and oranges.
Add these nutrient dense foods to your shopping list:
- Fish: salmon, tuna and trout
- Low-fat dairy products
- Oatmeal and whole grains
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
Attention: Start reading the nutrition fact labels. Pay attention to the calories per serving, look at the amount of fiber, vitamins, calcium and iron. Packaged foods that are low in calories, high in nutrients and contain less sodium are best!