State of Science :: Nutritional Quality
"Identifying Smart Food Choices on the Path to Healthier Diets"
September 2011
Author(s): Charles M. Benbrook, PhD
Donald R. Davis, PhD
What fruit delivers the most nutrition per 100 calories?
Answer -- strawberries (TOC-NQI = 0.218).
Does a 100-calorie serving of watermelon (TOC-NQI = 0.119) deliver more nutritional value than a BigMac and cheese (NQI = 0.023), or a salmon steak (NQI = 0.167)?
Watermelon versus a BigMac and cheese -- the watermelon delivers five-times more the nutritional value per 100 calories.
Watermelon versus a salmon steak -- the salmon steak delivers about 50% more nutrients per 100 calories.
This report provides detailed documentation of The Organic Center's Nutritional Quality Index (TOC-NQI). The system is the most comprehensive and flexible nutrient profiling system ever developed. The last chapter in the report offers an overview of the advantages of the Center's NQI compared to three nutrient profiling systems now in the market place.
Access a two-page summary below by clicking on "The Path to Improved Health."
"The Path to Improved Health" (Two page summary, pdf)
Identifying Smart Food Choices on the Path to Healthier Diets, (44 page PDF)
