We've been saying it for years, decades really: the body is designed to heal and be healthy. Encoded in the DNA of every cell is a blueprint for healthy functioning.

But to build out what's on the blueprint in our cells, we need to give them proper materials to do that. And those materials come from what we eat. Those materials are what we call nutrients.

Join us to hear more.

So, if nutrients are what build a healthy body, where do we get the most and the best of them? This is always our question.

Believe it or not (you may have heard us say it before, LOL) the number one food for the most nutrient density is dark leafy greens. These are kale, collards, chard, bok choy, beet greens, turnip greens, dandelion, radish greens, arugula, all the lettuces (except iceberg), cabbage and sprouts... to name a few.

These foods have the highest nutrient density (HND). What that means is there are more health promoting nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc., per calorie than in other foods.

We eat greens three times a day. That's breakfast, lunch and dinner. And we haven't had so much as a cold for years. It seems to be working. 😊

Interestingly, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a renowned cardiologist has helped thousands of patients forego open-heart surgery by having them change to a HND diet that includes greens six times a day.

One of the main aspects of greens that contributes to heart health is that they promote the production of nitric oxide (NO). NO relaxes the smooth muscle cells in our blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure and improves blood flow. It also helps prevent inflammation, lessening arteriosclerosis as well as reducing the risk of blood clots.

Other HND foods are green veggies like broccoli, celery, and cucumbers. Then, a little farther down the list are the non-green veggies like beets, mushrooms, onions and garlic. You can download a copy of the full list here.

And, back to nitric oxide, adding Balsamic vinegar to your greens increases the production of NO. We'll dress our greens with just a little Balsamic as a way to boost the NO. Thought you might like knowing that.

So, the bottom line for "Where Are the Nutrients?" Vegetables in their whole form with dark leafy greens topping the list.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.

On our website are many recipes for cooking and enjoying greens. Just look under "Recipes" for "Greens" and you will find them.

To your Amazing Health,
Connie and Bill