Question: What is Nutrient Density?

Answer: “Nutrient density” has several meanings and are explained below.

Nutrient Density explained as a simple formula :

ND = Nutrient Content / Total Energy Content

Nutrient density is the ratio of grams value of the nutrient content(vitamins and minerals etc.) to the kilo calorie value of its total energy content. In other words “a measure of the nutrients obtained per calorie..”

Lets take an example..

1. A fresh apple containing 60 calories, few grams of fiber and various vitamins and minerals.
2. A small glass of apple juice with the same amount of calories (60) but no fiber and less vitamins and minerals.

In the above case, option #1 is the more nutrient-dense choice since it gives you more nutrients per calorie of energy you intake. Knowing about the nutrient density will help you choose more healthy food choices and it will help you improve your physical health and physical activities in your activities.

Another definition for nutrient density would be the ratio of food energy from carbohydrate/protein/fat to the total energy.

It can be also defined as the ratio of the nutrient composition to the nutrient requirements of the human body.

Whichever way you want it to describe, any nutrient-dense food will be a good choice to have since it will provide you more nutrition always compared to the same quantity of non-nutrient-dense food and you will intake less calories always by eating nutrient-dense food.