What is Dr Fuhrman's nutrient density score?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

According to Dr. Fuhrman, a diet focused on nutrient density can potentially reverse and prevent chronic disease. What is Dr Fuhrman's nutrient density score, and how can this system help you make healthier, more informed food choices to improve your health?

Quick Summary

The Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) is a scoring system developed by Dr. Joel Fuhrman that ranks foods based on their nutritional value relative to their calorie content. Foods are assigned a score from 1 to 1,000, with higher-scoring options offering more nutrients per calorie. It serves as a practical tool for guiding dietary choices towards nutrient-rich, plant-based foods.

Key Points

Core Definition: Dr Fuhrman's nutrient density score, known as the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI), rates foods on a scale of 1 to 1,000 based on their nutrient content relative to their calorie count.
The Calculation Formula: The score is based on the formula H=N/C, where Health is determined by the ratio of Nutrients to Calories.
Micronutrient Focus: Scores are derived from a broad assessment of 34 nutritional parameters, including vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants.
Highest-Scoring Foods: Dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and watercress receive the top score of 1,000, representing the pinnacle of nutrient density.
Purpose: The ANDI system serves as a guide for the Nutritarian diet, encouraging the consumption of whole, plant-based foods to promote health and prevent disease.
Application: You can use the ANDI score to make smarter food choices, prioritizing foods that provide maximum nutritional benefit for the calories consumed.
Important Considerations: The index focuses heavily on plant foods and does not account for nutrient bioavailability or individual dietary needs, so it should be used as a guideline and not a strict rule.

The Core Concept of the ANDI Score

Dr. Fuhrman's nutrient density score, formally known as the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI), is based on the principle that the healthfulness of a food is determined by its nutrient-to-calorie ratio. The core formula is H=N/C (Health = Nutrients/Calories). This index was developed to help individuals identify and prioritize foods that offer the most nutritional value per calorie. The ANDI scale assigns scores from 1 to 1,000, with higher numbers indicating greater nutrient density.

The ANDI score considers 34 nutritional parameters, including various vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals like antioxidants. By focusing on these beneficial compounds, the system promotes a diet rich in whole, unprocessed plant foods.

Which Nutrients Influence the ANDI Score?

The ANDI score is influenced by a comprehensive range of micronutrients and health-promoting compounds, such as vitamins (including A, C, E, K, and B vitamins), minerals (like calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc), various phytochemicals (such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and glucosinolates), fiber, and antioxidant capacity (ORAC score). This broad assessment provides a holistic view of a food's nutritional benefits.

The Nutritarian Approach

The ANDI score is central to Dr. Fuhrman's "Nutritarian" diet, an eating pattern focused on consuming large quantities of nutrient-dense foods. Key food groups in the Nutritarian diet include dark leafy greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, seeds, nuts, and tomatoes. This approach aims to maximize nutrient intake while controlling caloric consumption, which can support weight management and overall health.

Comparison of High and Low-Scoring ANDI Foods

The ANDI system clearly differentiates foods based on their nutrient density.


Food Item	ANDI Score	Notes
Kale	1000	Highest score due to exceptional nutrient profile.
Collard Greens	1000	Maximum nutrient density.
Watercress	1000	Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Spinach	739	High in iron and other nutrients.
Broccoli	340	Good source of vitamins and anti-cancer compounds.
Orange	102	Contains vitamin C but lower density.
Salmon	35	Animal product, not rated comparably to plant foods.
Skim Milk	11	Dairy products generally score low.
White Bread	1	Low nutrient, high calorie.

Criticisms and Considerations of the ANDI System

While a helpful tool, the ANDI system has faced criticism. Some experts believe it oversimplifies nutrition by assigning a single score. The system's emphasis on plant foods means healthy animal products receive low scores despite providing essential nutrients like vitamin B12 and quality protein. Additionally, the ANDI score doesn't fully account for nutrient bioavailability, which is the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Combining plant foods with healthy fats can improve the absorption of certain vitamins. Therefore, the ANDI score should be used as a guide to prioritize nutrient-rich whole foods, not as the sole basis for dietary decisions. More information on nutrient absorption can be found on Dr. Fuhrman's official website.

How to Use the ANDI Score in Your Daily Life

To effectively use the ANDI score:

Prioritize High-Scoring Foods: Make leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables a significant part of your diet.
Combine Foods: Pair high-ANDI foods with healthy fats to boost nutrient absorption.
Use as a Guide: Employ the scores to steer your diet toward whole, plant-based foods, rather than strictly adhering to the numbers.
Seek Variety: Consume a diverse range of colorful, high-scoring fruits and vegetables for a broad spectrum of nutrients.

Conclusion: Making Every Calorie Count

Dr. Fuhrman's nutrient density score, the ANDI, offers a valuable perspective on food choices by focusing on nutritional value relative to calories. It shifts the emphasis from calorie restriction to maximizing nutrient intake. Although it has limitations and should be used as a guide, the ANDI system effectively highlights the importance of micronutrients. Incorporating high-ANDI foods into your diet can contribute to long-term health and well-being.

How the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) is Used

The ANDI is a tool created by Dr. Joel Fuhrman to help individuals make more informed food decisions based on nutrient density. Instead of calorie counting, the ANDI system encourages prioritizing foods that provide the most nutrients per calorie. This approach guides individuals toward diets rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds, aligning with the principles of the Nutritarian diet for optimal health and disease prevention. Some retailers have adopted the ANDI system to help shoppers identify nutrient-dense options.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) is a scoring system developed by Dr. Joel Fuhrman that ranks foods from 1 to 1,000 based on how many nutrients they contain relative to their calorie count.

The score is calculated using the formula H=N/C (Health = Nutrients/Calories), which assesses an extensive range of micronutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidants per calorie.

Foods with the highest ANDI scores are typically dark leafy greens, such as kale, watercress, and collard greens, which all receive a perfect score of 1,000.

The ANDI score promotes a 'Nutritarian' style of eating, which is a nutrient-dense, plant-rich diet primarily composed of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds.

The ANDI score is intended to shift the focus from simply counting calories to prioritizing foods that offer the most nutritional benefits for the calories consumed, rather than replacing calorie counting entirely.

Critics argue that the ANDI system oversimplifies nutrition, doesn't account for the bioavailability of nutrients, and may unfairly penalize some healthy non-plant foods.

No single diet should be followed exclusively based on ANDI scores. While it's a useful guide for prioritizing nutrient-dense whole foods, a balanced diet should also include healthy fats and other essential nutrients not heavily weighted in the score.