Nutrient density

In this post I want to talk about the Nutrient Density. Many nutrition experts advise us to consider the nutrient density of the foods when you choose our foods. What is nutrient density? Here is the meaning of Nutrient density, which I took from wikipedia.

First, nutrient density is defined as a ratio of nutrient content (in grams) to the total energy content (in kilocalories or joules). According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, nutrient-dense foods are those foods that provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories. Fruit and vegetables are considered nutrient-dense food, while eggs, meat, cheese, and products containing added sugars, processed cereals, and alcohol are not.

Second, nutrient density is defined as a ratio of food energy from carbohydrate, protein or fat to the total food energy.

Third, nutrient density is understood as the ratio of the nutrient composition of a given food to the nutrient requirements of the human body. Therefore, a nutrient-dense food is the food that delivers a complete nutritional package.

Apparently, a food that gives you a lot of nutrients when compared to its calorie content is a healthier choice than a food that gives you only a few nutrients but numerous calories.

Nutritionally dense foods naturally tend to be light on all the stuff that most of us are trying to avoid, such as saturated fats, cholesterol, lots of sodium, etc. In other words, they're the opposite of empty calories.

You can use the fruit, vegetables, nuts or seeds as a nutrient-dense snacks as they are low in calories and packed with dietary fiber and vitamins. Do this if you feel hungry between your meals time.

But remember that the nutrient-dense food alone is not enough to meet all the needs of your body, especially if you are a very active person.
Eat nutrient-dense food will make you feel full, because of the fiber and nutrients contents from that kind of food, even though your body needs for calories not being met. Your body still needs calories.