Plant-Based: Virtually all nutrients come from plants and the process of photosynthesis—except
for vitamin B12, which comes from bacteria and can be supplemented, and vitamin D, which comes
from the sun but is taken up directly through the skin in animal life. Regardless of supplementation,
a healthy eating style must be plant-based—full of vegetables, beans and legumes, fruits, whole
grains, and raw nuts and seeds.
Nutrient Rich: If you want to eat in a way that maximizes your health and longevity, just eating
plant-based is not enough. You must eat plant-based nutrient rich, which is optimized to include
large amounts of whole foods. Whole foods are rich in micronutrients (non-calorie containing
vitamins, minerals, water, fiber and phytochemicals) that detoxify the system and meet your body's
most important nutrient needs for health, function and performance (more on this in Part IV The
Science Is In).
For the first time ever, we finally have a clear, specific, articulate definition for what healthy eating
truly means. It can be defined as eating up to 90% or More Plant-Based Nutrient Rich® foods and
optimizing the way you eat for nutrient density, calories and volume. You do this eating great-
tasting foods and meals that you like, free of addictive substances. And the result is you detoxify
your body, lose weight naturally, improve your health and personal performance, reverse disease,
age slower, look younger and maximize your longevity.
Nutrient Rich® is the new two-word term for healthy eating. Unlike low-cal, low-fat and low-carb
eating trends, it’s not going to pass like a weight-loss-only fad. Nutrient Rich® is healthy eating for
life.
Why Is There 10% Wiggle Room?
90% or More Plant-Based Nutrient Rich® is not a wishy-washy stance. It is a practical one, even if
you personally want to be 100% plant-based or vegan for health, environment or ethical reasons.
The 10% applies to either animal foods or refined foods. The fact is, even the healthiest eaters in the
world occasionally eat refined food or animal food.
At NutrientRich.com, we know that once your diet is optimized for eating 90% or More Plant-
Based Nutrient Rich® food, over time your cravings and psychological needs for eating nutrient-
poor calories will diminish or disappear.
However, no one is perfect, and situations are not always optimal for eating a truly nutrient-rich
diet. Therefore, while we don’t promote eating nutrient-poor 10% of the time (or any time), we do
acknowledge that many people will eat small amounts of animal products and refined foods in
various situations.