What is the Norwegian diet and what are its benefits?

The Nordic diet

The Norwegian diet is based on age-old principles. It promotes a healthy way of eating by using mainly local and seasonal products. People who follow this diet are said to be less prone to lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The Norwegian diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet and focuses on whole foods typical of the Nordic regions such as Norway, Denmark and Iceland. You eat mainly seasonal plant-based foods, rich in protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Think of fruit, vegetables and fish.

The difference is the type of oil each diet uses. The Mediterranean diet uses olive oil, while the Nordic diet uses rapeseed oil. According to experts, both oils are healthy and anti-inflammatory. In addition, the Nordic diet encourages people to consume less sugar and twice as much fibre and fish as traditional Western diets.

Specifically, the Nordic diet consists of :

• Whole grains such as rye, barley and oats
• Fruits, especially berries
• Vegetables, especially root vegetables such as beets, turnips and carrots.
• Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel.
• Low-fat dairy products, for example Skyr yoghurt.
• Pulses
• To some extent you can eat eggs and game meat such as venison, rabbit and bison: game meat is a good source of lean protein and contains less saturated fat than red meat.

Trading meat and industrial products for legumes and whole grains would allow us to live much longer, even if we change our diet after retirement.

Pulses, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts are the “optimal” diet for improving life expectancy. The research is the work of scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway.

Until now, numerous studies have demonstrated the health benefits and harms of certain food groups, but the links between dietary changes and life expectancy have never been clearly established.

Benefits of the Norwegian diet

Although the Norwegian diet has not been widely researched, existing studies indicate some protective effects:

• Reduces inflammation
• Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
• Reduces cholesterol levels
• Reduces blood pressure
• Promotes weight loss and helps maintain a healthy weight

So, although you have to be organised to always eat fresh and in season, the Norwegian diet can certainly contribute to a healthy, varied and more plant-based diet.