With the vast number of diet plans available, some diets have become more popular than others, these include the paleo and keto diets. A new eating trend, called the Nordic diet is gaining popularity. This diet is mostly comprised of natural foods that are typically consumed by residents of Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.
What is the Nordic Diet?
The Nordic diet consists of large quantities of seafood, healthy unsaturated fats and fibre. This includes the regular consumption fatty fish, organic vegetables, pulses, low-fat dairy and whole grains.
Nutritionally dense berries like lingonberries, gooseberries and cloudberries are native to Nordic regions and provide the necessary antioxidants. The diet also includes a lot of fermented foods, which can be beneficial for the digestive system.
Red meat, processed foods, added sugars and refined foods are to be avoided when undertaking this diet plan.
Are There Any Benefits?
Because the Nordic diet includes a lot of fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, it is high in omega-3. As a result, this diet has the potential to lower blood pressure, increase good cholesterol and decrease levels of inflammation in the body. Due to the significant limit on processed foods involved in the Nordic diet, it could be ideal for people looking to achieve long-term weight loss.
There are some important health benefits to the Nordic diet. A number of studies have been conducted to analyse the impact this diet has on heart health and overall weight. The results indicated that the Nordic diet helped normalise blood cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of heart disease.
Important Things to Remember
Although the Nordic diet has so much potential, there are some minor downsides that are worth considering. Because the diet revolves so much around consuming fish, it can be possible to eat too much, therefore it is important to properly balance your plate. You should also be cautious about the fish you buy, because it isn’t always clear where the fish has come from and how it has been handled.
It is also important to consider the costs involved in the Nordic diet, as it can be more expensive that other nutrition plans, considering it is based on ingredients that are native to the Nordic region. Additionally, you still need to regularly exercise for the diet to be effective.
