Have you ever heard the terms ‘nutrient dense’ and ‘empty calories’? Do you understand what these terms signify and how they impact your diet? These two terms are an important factor to consider when deciding what foods to include in your diet. Nutrient dense foods will have more nutrients per calorie than other foods. Foods that provide the body with a high ratio of nutrients per calorie are healthier and more nutritious than foods that have a lower ratio of nutrients per calorie and more sugars. These foods are referred to as empty calorie foods and are very low in nutrients per each unit of calories.
Eating nutrient dense foods are essential to good health and attaining a healthy weight. Nutrient dense foods provide your body with the fuel it needs to function properly. Empty calorie foods cannot claim the same benefit. Without the proper nutrients, your body will not function at an optimal level. This could make losing weight exceedingly difficult. Exercising will become increasingly arduous also. Your body will be unable to provide fuel to your muscles to allow them to continue working effectively. Without proper nutrition, weight loss will plateau.
Do not make food choices based solely on calorie content. Select foods high in nutrients. Nutrient dense foods include lean meat, poultry, eggs, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seafood, and unprocessed foods. A good example of a nutrient dense food versus empty calories would be a watermelon versus a soft drink. At around 150 calories per serving each, the watermelon contains vitamin C and fiber. The soft drink provides only sugars that will add pounds. Another case in point would be the baked potato versus the potato chip. A serving of each would contain around 100 calories. The potato contains 1.6g of fiber and 13.7mg of vitamin C. The chips provide only .75g of fiber and only3.4mg of vitamin C.
Choosing nutrient dense foods will help you maintain better overall health and aid with weight loss. Nutrient dense foods will give you more energy (in the long run) to continue with a long term exercise plan. Nutrient dense foods will aid body functions which are essential to a healthy metabolism. And nutrient dense foods are generally more satisfying and contain fewer calories. Empty calorie foods are higher in calories, sugars, and fat and