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Digestive Health Summit – March 2005: Abstracts
Effects of Fruits and Vegetables on Dietary Patterns and Energy Intakes
Adam Drewnowski, PhD
University of Washington
The diet of Western societies is said to be increasingly energy-rich but nutrient-poor. The consumption of energy dense foods and energy dense diets is said to be responsible for the global obesity epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that one way to reduce the energy density of the diet is through increased consumption of vegetables and fruit.
Energy density (calories per g or KJ/kg) and nutrient density of foods (nutrients per calorie) are inversely linked. There are many cases where energy-dense foods are also nutrient-poor. Groups that consume nutrient poor diets tend to be more obese, and diet quality may have an impact on digestive and gastrointestinal health.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that consumers give priority to foods with a high nutrients-to-energy ratio. The remaining discretionary calories could then be consumed as energy needs allow. Because of their low energy density, vegetables and fruit are very rich sources of vitamins and minerals relative to the calories they provide. The most desirable nutrient dense foods would be those that pack the most key nutrients (including both fiber and antioxidants) per calorie. Food labels and health claims could also be based on the nutrients-to-calorie ratio, as an alternative to a specific minimum amount of a nutrient per serving size.
However, no agreed-upon measures of overall nutrient density as yet exist. There are no criteria as to what nutrients and in what amounts define a nutrient-rich foods or a healthful beverage. Attempts to evaluate nutrient density have been based on calories-to-nutrient scores, nutrient-to-nutrient ratios, and nutrients-per calorie indices. The new Naturally Nutrient Rich (NNR) score is based on mean percent daily values for 16 nutrients, including fiber. It can be used to rank foods along the dimension of nutrient density and to calculate nutrient adequacy and nutrient density scores and the nutrient to price ratio. This approach has major implications for regulatory agencies and food labeling, for implementation of nutritional policies in schools, and for consumer education.
The NNR approach allows consumers to select nutrient-dense foods first and monitor the nutrients to calorie ratio. Given the current dietary trends, the nutrient density approach is a valuable tool for nutrition education and dietary guidance. The nutrient density approach would allow consumers to substitute foods in their diets with healthier and more nutrient-dense options.
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