What is an "ANDI" score?

Always on the lookout for healthy (er) options, I was delighted to come across the "ANDI" signs on my last visit to Whole Foods.  ANDI stands for "Aggregate Nutrient Density Index".




The ANDI score, based on a Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Nutrient Density Scoring System analyzes many nutrients in a food product:

Calcium, Carotenoids: Beta Carotene, Alpha Carotene, Lutein & Zeaxanthin, Lycopene, Fiber, Folate, Glucosinolates, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Selenium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, plus ORAC score X 2 (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a method of measuring the antioxidant or radical scavenging capacity of foods).

Some foods pack more of a nutritional 'punch' per serving.  These are the foods that we can eat a lot of without worrying too much.  You can bet I grabbed a bunch of kale and collard greens that day!  I cooked them in a bit of olive oil (helps your body to absorb more of the nutrients) and garlic.  Mmmm!

Keep in mind, we're not swaying you towards vegetarianism here.  However, there is no disputing the fact that we could all get more fruits and veggies in our diets.  This is not to say that you should avoid the foods with a lower score.   Eggs, avocado, and walnuts have relatively low numbers because they don't pack as much 'punch' per bite, but they do have vital nutrients and fats our bodies need.

Learn more about it here:

http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/01/28/whole-foods-market-adopts-andi-nutrition-rating-system/