What does it mean to consume foods that are nutrient dense?
As Americans, the standard and acceptable diet has become so stripped of whole food ingredients and replaced with manufactured ingredients. The reason being - cost effectiveness. The sad surprising truth is that manufactured ingredients are less expensive for the manufacturer and in today’s economy, everyone is looking to save as much money as possible. Unfortunately for big food, that comes at the cost of the consumer.
Anyway - that’s beside the point! The point here is that the foods you eat should be whole foods, packed with micro and macronutrients that are going to nourish your body the way it needs to be fueled in order to operate most optimally. We should be eating with intention and purpose rather than pleasure. Afterall, we only have one body! We don’t get to replace the breaks when they’re worn out, or the fuel filter when it’s clogged. We shouldn’t just write off all enjoyment of any food whatsoever, but we should consume those types of foods sparingly.
Foods that are dense in micronutrients include foods like; red meat, fish, leafy greens, dark green veggies and berries. Red meat is high in iron, B12, and zinc while fish (salmon for example) is loaded with Omega-3s, protein, B6, B12, potassium and phosphate. The benefits of these nutrients (micro & macronutrients) include, cognitive/brain functionality, muscle function, heart health, reduced inflammation, fluid regulation, stable blood sugar, higher satiation properties (keeps you satisfied and full longer), cellular function and so much more!
When you consume foods that aren’t nutrient dense, but that still have caloric value, you’re not doing any favors for your body. Those foods are harder to digest, cause fat to build around your organs (visceral fat), in your arteries, cause you to sleep poorly (B12 and zinc also improve sleep) which in turn reduces your body’s ability to heal itself. Non-nutrient dense foods also cause you brain fog, lethargy, and extreme cravings for more of the same stuff that is hurting you!
