Fans of the Nordic diet claim that it is as good as, if not better than, the Mediterranean diet. But, what is it and is there merit to it?
Much like the Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional foods eaten in the area, the Nordic diet focuses on traditional, local Nordic fare. However, while the Mediterranean diet is a common, standard diet, the Nordic diet was created by a committee of nutritionists, chefs, food historians and environmentalists to improve dietary guidelines sustainably while strengthening food culture.
Like the Mediterranean diet, it focuses on whole foods and limits processed products. It also consists of more plants and less meat. It encourages eating locally (including harvesting things from the wild). So, mosses and lingonberries are part of the diet while citrus and tropical fruit aren’t.
While studies have found that following the Nordic diet lowered heart disease and blood sugar concerns in people from Nordic countries, the same health results weren’t seen outside of the country. Studies have found it lowers bad cholesterol.
The diet does contain fermented foods that aid gut health, including pickled vegetables and skyr — a kind of yogurt. But its focus on produce like root vegetables and other high-carb foods might make it too high in carbs for some people with blood sugar concerns. Looking at the Nordic diet food pyramid is fascinating because it’s quite different than what we might normally think of. It puts fruit and vegetables at the bottom, then whole grains. Then it puts dairy, poultry, fish and fat in one group, before making the top of the pyramid a final section with red meat, candy and simple carbs.
We aren’t huge fans of diets with rules. We think the best diet is a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of variety that you enjoy and can stick with. However, some people do find diets helpful for them. We think it’s essential to know the good ones from the dangerous ones. Researchers breaking down healthy diets ranked the Nordic Diet as number three. They cited the studies about its impacts on cholesterol, inflammation and weight loss. The Mediterranean came in number one, still unbeaten for the way it aids cognition as we age.
In the end, finding the healthiest diet for you is about finding what you can reliably stick to. You could eat the world’s healthiest diet, but if you hate it and only stick to it for three days, it doesn’t work. If you like Nordic foods, this could be a wonderful diet for you that will help you reach your health goals.
