Ok…so the answer to this one may be a little self-explanatory.  But it is such an important concept that it bears repeating.  Our bodies respond much, much better to a low calorie, high phytonutrient diet.  As I’ve mentioned before, this means that your 1200 calories per day comes from broccoli and not a Value Meal.

In society today, we seem to be addicted to energy dense foods.  Certainly energy dense foods with high phytonutrient value are ok sometimes and in moderation.  Think chocolate, nuts, olive oil and guacamole.

But the energy dense foods we seem to gravitate towards here in the US are the energy dense, low phytonutrient foods.  Think Big Mac, milkshakes, ice cream, cake, extra whip frappuccino, soda and candy bars.  There is no good rationale for us to be eating these types of foods.  Our bodies respond very poorly to them and chronic disease is clearly the result.

This particular study lends weight to what you probably already knew.  Eating energy dense foods dulls the body’s response to these foods, thus resulting in greater intake of more energy dense foods.  Basically a downward spiral into obesity, diabetes and cancer.

The bottom line is that you should evaluate every morsel that is going to cross your lips.  Consider both the energy density (high calorie or low calorie) and the phytonutrient value (broccoli vs french fries).  Eat high calorie foods with high phytonutrient value in moderation.  Eat low calorie, high phytonutrient foods with abandon (no one ever became obese eating broccoli and cauliflower).  Absolutely avoid high energy density, low phytonutrient value foods except in the rarest of circumstances.

As a side note, you should also skip low calorie, low phytonutrient foods.  Think diet soda.  Mother Nature does not make any foods that fit into this category that I am aware of.  They are almost always chemically achieved.