02/06/2013
What is nutrient density and why is it so important?
Like anything involving "density," " nutrient density" means how much you get of one thing, given the presence of something else. In the case of nutrient density, the "things" you receive, the nutrients, are analyzed in relationship to how much they "cost" you, in terms of calories. Simply stated, nutrient density means how many nutrients you get from a food, given the number of calories it contains. Nutrient density is a simple way to connect nutrients with calories.
More nutrients for less calories
Nutrient dense foods give you the most nutrients for the fewest amount of calories. In other words, nutrient dense foods give you the "biggest bang for the buck." You get lots of nutrients, and it doesn't cost you much in terms of calories.
Nutrient density is the exact principle we used when we rated all of 127 foods found on the World's Healthiest Foods website. The World's Healthiest Foods give you the biggest bang for your buck. They give you the most nutrients possible for the least amount of calories.
