{"id":16876,"date":"2019-12-26T16:24:13","date_gmt":"2019-12-26T21:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleanplates.com\/?p=16876"},"modified":"2020-03-23T16:50:59","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T20:50:59","slug":"eat-nutrient-dense-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cleanplates.com\/everyday-cooking\/tips\/eat-nutrient-dense-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Eat Nutrient-Dense Foods + What That Really Means"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all want to eat foods that are healthy. But it can be hard to nail down which ones actually are. \u201cAvoid sugar, but eat plenty of fruit\u201d and \u201cCut out grains \u2014 but make sure you\u2019re getting fiber!\u201d are just a few of the confusing messages we receive. Keto, paleo, and low-FODMAP are just a few of the many, many complicated nutrition plans that have taken the wellness world by storm.<\/p>\n

How do you know what\u2019s healthy, and what\u2019s not?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re you have a case of information overload when it comes to food, it\u2019s time to simplify. And luckily, there\u2019s one rule you can follow that will cover your bases, guaranteeing you\u2019ll be eating the right foods and avoiding the ones everyone agrees are best<\/p>\n

The rule is sticking to nutrient-dense foods only. Here\u2019s what that means:<\/p>\n

What is a nutrient-dense food?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In simple terms, a nutrient-dense food is a food that contains high levels of nutrients in reference to how many calories it contains. According to Abigail King, R.D., CMS<\/a>, a functional nutritionist in Charleston, South Carolina, \u201cNutrient-dense means that a food contains high amounts of naturally occurring nutrients.\u201d<\/p>\n

But why is this so important? \u201cOur body and cells need these nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, and fiber, to function properly and carry out metabolic processes,\u201d says King.<\/p>\n

Nutrient-dense foods are the opposite of empty calorie foods, which have very few nutrients but are high in calorie. As King explains: \u201cNutrient-poor foods are refined and processed; think fried foods, cookies, chips, processed meats, and vegetable oil,\u201d she says. Unfortunately for us, most of the foods on the list are staples of the standard American diet. But the truth is, \u201cthey provide minimal or no nutritional value and can contribute to inflammation in our bodies,\u201d says King.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, almost all experts agree that nutrient-dense foods are the foods we should be eating. Generally speaking, they include foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and complex carbohydrates. According to King, they also include famously healthy foods like:<\/p>\n