If you’ve been to Whole Foods lately you have probably noticed that some of the fruits and veggies have been given an ANDI score.

So what exactly is an ANDI score and why should you care?

health starts here

Well, this is all part of the Health Starts Here program at Whole Foods which is centered around the “Aggregate Nutrient Density Index” or ANDI.  These are some Super Foods that you may want to throw into your shopping cart.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, founder of Eat Right America created this Nutrient Density Scoring System which analyzes many nutrients in a food product.

An ANDI score shows the nutrient density of a food on a scale from 1
to 1,000 based on nutrient content. ANDI scores are calculated by evaluating an extensive range of micronutrients, including but not limited to: vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities.

The higher the concentration of these good elements in food per calorie, the higher the ANDI score. For example kale, a dark leafy green, scores 1000, while a sugary soda scores 1.

Here are many of the nutrients that are determined in this ANDI score:

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).

AndiScores_0

Luckily I actually love to eat dark leafy greens, but what if you’re like my mom and don’t love these Super Foods?  Looking at the above chart you might think to yourself, dang, are kale and collard greens the only food I should eat?!

Don’t worry, Dr. Fuhrman says:

Keep in mind that nutrient density scoring is not the only factor that
determines good health. For example, if we only ate foods with a high
nutrient density score our diet would be too low in fat. So we have to
pick some foods with lower nutrient density scores (but preferably the
ones with the healthier fats) to include in our high nutrient diet.

So, be sure to get those good fats in too!

Would love to hear what you all think of these super foods and this ANDI scoring.  Any recipes that you have to share to make them extra yummy would be great!

23 Comments

  • Rose Goddess March 26, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    Awesome! So glad I had a whole bag of kale chips today;)

  • erikke March 29, 2010 at 1:37 am

    what a fantastic blog! I extremely appreciate to the blog owner. It has lost of worth for me.

    Thanks for the great info.

    cheer!
    MLM Leads

  • holistic healing April 1, 2010 at 4:55 am

    Wow very fantastic blog all sharing of video is very usefull.

  • printer cartridges April 1, 2010 at 5:56 am

    A more extensive list of ANDI scored items can be found at the link below, but I can't find a place online that lists each food. Whole Foods has little books that tell the score of most foods, available in their stores. Since heating causes veggies to lose some of their nutrients, I would say yes, their ANDI scores go down. However, they'll still be extremely high relative to other foods on the list. Thanks for your comment!

  • holistic healing April 1, 2010 at 9:55 am

    Wow very fantastic blog all sharing of video is very usefull.

  • printer cartridges April 1, 2010 at 10:56 am

    A more extensive list of ANDI scored items can be found at the link below, but I can't find a place online that lists each food. Whole Foods has little books that tell the score of most foods, available in their stores. Since heating causes veggies to lose some of their nutrients, I would say yes, their ANDI scores go down. However, they'll still be extremely high relative to other foods on the list. Thanks for your comment!

  • women health April 5, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Wow all points is fall in Graphic design Word, Excel, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc.), then they will teach you about that. Basically.

  • women health April 8, 2010 at 7:15 am

    ANDI Score o yar what are saying all is very bold language whats are sharing i don't know what are you saying.

  • printer cartridges April 15, 2010 at 11:18 am

    A more extensive list of ANDI scored items can be found at the link below, but I can't find a place online that lists each food. Whole Foods has little books that tell the score of most foods, available in their stores. Since heating causes veggies to lose some of their nutrients, I would say yes, their ANDI scores go down. However, they'll still be extremely high relative to other foods on the list.

  • women health April 21, 2010 at 5:27 am

    Hi very joke full post and define any regional language all is very great sharing thanks fore it.

  • printer cartridges April 23, 2010 at 9:51 am

    Oh my, 2 nutrition degrees and this system confuses me. I think we have to go back to common sense and personal research. Any idea when this will be implemented? Thanks for the information!

  • holistic healing May 3, 2010 at 8:45 am

    i like this post…

  • boat produts May 10, 2010 at 5:47 am

    The Healthy Foodie is Doug DiPasquale, Holistic Nutritionist and trained chef, living in Toronto. Doug specializes in private in-home holistic cooking lessons.

  • beach vacation May 12, 2010 at 6:52 am

    I'm writing a paper about food that people eat on a regular basis- healthy food, junk food (not fast food), and drinks that people eat.

  • hunting rifles May 14, 2010 at 3:31 am

    Well, this is all part of the Health Starts Here program at Whole Foods which is centered around the “Aggregate Nutrient Density Index” or ANDI.

  • printer cartridges May 18, 2010 at 5:24 am

    I know these scores aren't gonna just get me into college. I'm taking AP classes and all that, have a's and b's in all my classes. what “higher level” colleges have similar SAT scores to this, and maybe even a little higher since i plan to take the test again.

  • beach vacation June 1, 2010 at 8:25 am

    Hi all score is really very andi looking thanks for nice post sharing.

  • sexual enhancement June 1, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Such a nice post buddy. Thanks for sharing with me. Your blog is really very nice and informative.

  • sexual enhancement June 1, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    Such a nice post buddy. Thanks for sharing with me. Your blog is really very nice and informative.

  • holistic healing June 6, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    I have never hear about ANDI Score. let me know what is ANDI Score???

  • holistic healing June 7, 2010 at 4:23 am

    I have never hear about ANDI Score. let me know what is ANDI Score???

  • printer cartridges July 12, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    lol hes just lying their holding? his balls

  • printer cartridges July 12, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    I'm disheartened to know that my beloved Gummi Bears do not rank high. Travesty.

Comments are closed.