What is the difference between nutrient density and energy density

Most nutrient-dense foods, on the other hand, are low in calories. A recent meta-analysis of 13 experimental and observational studies that looks at over people age 28 to 66 by years showed a significant association between low- energy. In other words, people who ate more nutrient-dense foods that are naturally low in calories — foods like vegetables and fruits, whole grains, fat-free dairy products and lean sources of protein weighed less than people who consumed more foods that are higher in calories and lower in nutrients.

Another benefit of nutrient-dense foods is that they are often high in water and fiber, which increases their volume without increasing calories. For example, compare the volume of calories and a raw apple to calories of apple juice.

About 2 cups of sliced raw apples contains calories, while 1 cup of unsweetened apple juice calories. We can eat a larger volume of low- energy, nutrient-dense foods and lose weight feeling satisfied. We also have a few other email lists you can subscribe to.

Now on Twitter. When these are triggered by food, they send signals to your brain to tell you to stop eating. With high fibre, whole plant based foods, you can eat the most quantity for the the least amount of calories. For example, take the picture above where you have two options:.

Carbs: g, Sugar: Carbs: 75g, Sugar: The Nutrient Dense choice will make you feel fuller for longer and stabilise your blood sugar levels for a longer period of time. What choice will you make? Annelies Grimshaw. Energy Dense vs Nutrient Dense Foods. However, some foods are both nutrient dense and energy dense, such as cheese, meat and nuts. Cheese is both energy and nutrient dense. Candy is energy dense but provides no vitamins and minerals.

Spinach is nutrient dense but provides few calories. Foods with a lower energy density provide fewer calories per gram than foods with a higher energy density. The terms refer to the amount of calories present in any given serving of food, normally measured per portion size or per g. High-energy-dense foods are foods include things like peanut butter, butter, eggs, avocados, ice cream, cheese and bacon.

The opposite of nutrient dense foods would be empty calories — foods that provide little to no nutritional value but plenty of calories. Empty calories often come from high sugar, high fat, and heavily processed foods. Chemical nutrients and energy tend to flow in the same direction for most of an ecosystem. The big difference is that the chemical nutrients are ultimately recycled in the ecosystem while the energy is ultimately lost from the ecosystem to the universe at large.