Wayne Researchers Rank Top 41 'Powerhouse' Fruits and Veggies

Researchers at a university in Wayne have ranked fruits and veggies in terms of their "powerhouse"-ness, and an unusual leafy green topped the list.

According to 'Defining Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables: A Nutrient Density Approach,' a study by researchers at William Paterson University in Wayne that was recently published in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, watercress is the best.

The leafy green with a tangy taste was followed on the ranking by Chinese cabbage and chard.

According to the study, it aimed at defining what makes a fruit or vegetable "powerhouse," and ranking those that fit the criteria. The classification was based mostly on the nutrient-density of different fruits and vegetables, considering 17 nutrients generally understood to be important to public health, like potassium, fiber, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins, the study said.

The researchers gave each fruit or veggie a score based on the percent daily value each provides in a serving of the 17 nutrients, and then ranked them, the study explained.

In a WashingtonPost.com report, lead William Paterson researcher Jennifer DiNoia, an associate professor of sociology, said this study "is the first classification scheme of which I am aware to define and rank [powerhouse fruits and vegetables]."