By Dan Robey This Self Improvement article is provided to you for FREE courtesy of You have the right to share this document with anyone you want so long as it is not altered in any way. Get more powerful life changing articles and a free e-book "The Top 10 Healthiest Foods and Fat Burning Tips" at The amazing story of "Nutrient Dense" food
Nutrient Dense Food?.... What the heck is that?
In the next few minutes you are going to hear the story of nutrient dense foods, and how this information can change your life
I think you are going to love the story of nutrient dense foods for several reasons
1. It is interesting 2. It will change the way you think about every bite of food you consume for the rest of your life....in a positive way. 3. It will help you become healthier, live longer, get in shape and have more energy. 4. It will help you reach your weight goals...and much more!
OK, let's get started. The easiest way for me to explain what nutrient dense food is all about is to first talk about a food that we are all very familiar with, "bread"
Most of us eat bread on a regular basis. There are many, many varieties of bread, but for now I am only going to talk about 2 varieties....white bread,and whole wheat, (dark) bread Most of us eat bread on a regular basis. There are many, many varieties of bread, but for now I am only going to talk about 2 varieties....white bread,and whole wheat, (dark) bread
First, let me give you a little history on white bread Do you know why white bread came into existence? Do you know why white bread came into existence?
In the days of our grandparents, farmers grew vegetables, grains, etc. on local farms and the harvest went straight from the fields to your grandparents dinner table In the days of our grandparents, farmers grew vegetables, grains, etc. on local farms and the harvest went straight from the fields to your grandparents dinner table
This was a time when local farms were the main source of food, when bread was baked fresh every day with fresh- harvested grains This was a time when local farms were the main source of food, when bread was baked fresh every day with fresh- harvested grains
Milk came from cows who lived in natural, stress- free environments, and were not injected with hormones and antibiotics
As the population grew, farms become bigger and centralized Distribution channels were set up so that farmers could sell their products to consumers hundreds of miles away Distribution channels were set up so that farmers could sell their products to consumers hundreds of miles away
But, there was a problem....a very big problem
Farmers began to notice that their nutritious bread was spoiling and growing moldy before the consumers even had a chance to buy it. The "shelf life" of the nutritious bread they were shipping was very low.
They needed to increase the shelf life of their bread products so that their bread would not go bad BEFORE they could sell it
Enter "White Bread"
White bread is bread made from wheat flour from which the bran and germ have been removed, in contrast to whole wheat bread made from whole wheat flour, in which these parts are retained and contribute a brownish color White bread is bread made from wheat flour from which the bran and germ have been removed, in contrast to whole wheat bread made from whole wheat flour, in which these parts are retained and contribute a brownish color
In addition, this white flour is generally bleached using potassium bromate or chlorine dioxide gas to remove any slight yellow color and make its baking properties more predictable In addition, this white flour is generally bleached using potassium bromate or chlorine dioxide gas to remove any slight yellow color and make its baking properties more predictable
Most of the vitamins inherent in wheat are removed along with the germ or destroyed in the bleaching process
OK, Dan so what does this have to do with the nutrient dense food story?
I want you to think about the difference between a one ounce slice of bleached white bread and a one ounce slice of whole wheat bread I want you to think about the difference between a one ounce slice of bleached white bread and a one ounce slice of whole wheat bread
Which of these 2 kinds of breads do you think has a higher nutrient density?
You guessed it....the wheat bread which still has it's germ and vitamins intact has more nutrients per ounce than the white bread
OK, so now let's take this formula and apply it to all the foods that we eat. What we want is to consume as much "nutrient dense" food as possible OK, so now let's take this formula and apply it to all the foods that we eat. What we want is to consume as much "nutrient dense" food as possible
Our goal is to have the most nutritional value per ounce of food that we eat. There are many foods that deliver powerful nutrition per ounce...they are called "Superfoods.“ There are many foods that deliver powerful nutrition per ounce...they are called "Superfoods.“ Here are some examples Here are some examples
1. Acai – in its natural state, this little berry has anti- oxidant properties that will out perform any other food on the planet! The acai berry is also packed with essential omega fats and amino acids. Acai can improve energy, help you lose weight, balance hormones, and also make your skin glow 1. Acai – in its natural state, this little berry has anti- oxidant properties that will out perform any other food on the planet! The acai berry is also packed with essential omega fats and amino acids. Acai can improve energy, help you lose weight, balance hormones, and also make your skin glow
2. Cacao ( raw chocolate) – You would never think that this is the worlds best source of antioxidants, magnesium, iron, manganese, and chromium. Raw cacao comes in many, many forms: cacao nibs, whole cacao beans,, cacao powder, and also cacao butter. Raw Chocolate helps improve cardiovascular health, builds strong bones, is a also natural aphrodisiac, it can help to elevate your mood and energy, and also increases longevity. Don't confuse this with candy bars, this is pure Cacao. 2. Cacao ( raw chocolate) – You would never think that this is the worlds best source of antioxidants, magnesium, iron, manganese, and chromium. Raw cacao comes in many, many forms: cacao nibs, whole cacao beans,, cacao powder, and also cacao butter. Raw Chocolate helps improve cardiovascular health, builds strong bones, is a also natural aphrodisiac, it can help to elevate your mood and energy, and also increases longevity. Don't confuse this with candy bars, this is pure Cacao.
3. Goji Berries — goji berries have been linked to healthy, clear skin, protecting the immune system, anti-aging, reduction of body aches, and lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. They contain 18 kinds of amino acids, including all 8 essential amino acids, up to 21 trace minerals, high amounts of antioxidants, iron, polysaccharides, B & E vitamins, and many other nutrients. 3. Goji Berries — goji berries have been linked to healthy, clear skin, protecting the immune system, anti-aging, reduction of body aches, and lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. They contain 18 kinds of amino acids, including all 8 essential amino acids, up to 21 trace minerals, high amounts of antioxidants, iron, polysaccharides, B & E vitamins, and many other nutrients.
4. Maca — grown in the Peruvian Andes for thousands of years, this plant is packed with nutrients. It is also famous for its ability to increase energy and libido. Women appreciate maca for its ability to naturally balance hormones, increase bone strength, help to regulate menstrual cycles and reduce cramping and PMS symptoms. 4. Maca — grown in the Peruvian Andes for thousands of years, this plant is packed with nutrients. It is also famous for its ability to increase energy and libido. Women appreciate maca for its ability to naturally balance hormones, increase bone strength, help to regulate menstrual cycles and reduce cramping and PMS symptoms.
So why do we want to always strive to eat the most nutrient dense foods possible?
The human body is an extremely complicated machine; it requires a wide variety of nutrients to maintain a constant state of health. The human body is an extremely complicated machine; it requires a wide variety of nutrients to maintain a constant state of health. But the simple truth is that the average American does not get the nourishment needed to maintain a healthy body free of disease.
The reason is that they are consuming processed "nutrient poor" foods. The reason is that they are consuming processed "nutrient poor" foods. They are getting calories but they are not getting quality nutrition. They are getting calories but they are not getting quality nutrition. Did you know that most "Obese" people are actually starving themselves to death? Pretty weird....right? Did you know that most "Obese" people are actually starving themselves to death? Pretty weird....right?
But very true. They are starving to death because they are primarily consuming "empty" calories with almost zero nutritional value But very true. They are starving to death because they are primarily consuming "empty" calories with almost zero nutritional value
We can take the knowledge we gained from the story of "nutrient dense" foods and apply it to our lives for positive change How do we do that? How do we do that?
It is actually very easy. Make it a habit to start thinking about the food that you consume on a daily basis. It is actually very easy. Make it a habit to start thinking about the food that you consume on a daily basis. Think about the nutrient density of the food. If it is processed food it will likely have a poor nutrient density. If it is processed food it will likely have a poor nutrient density. If it is an organically grown fresh vegetable it will likely have a high nutrient density. If it is an organically grown fresh vegetable it will likely have a high nutrient density.
Study superfoods and superfood recipes Study superfoods and superfood recipes
The idea is to eat more nutrient dense foods. Look for foods that are closest to their natural state such as fresh fruits and vegetables and other raw foods. Fresh foods have higher nutrient values than processed food. Read the nutritional labels of the food you buy. Fresh foods have higher nutrient values than processed food. Read the nutritional labels of the food you buy.
Dan Robey