Nordic Diet Healthy Alternative To Mediterranean Diet

The Nordic diet might be healthier than the Mediterranean diet.

The diet is plant-based and focuses on eating berries, which might lower the risk of heart attacks because they’re are rich in anthocyanins that can lower blood pressure. It also promotes eating whole grains, which can provide nutrients that protect the heart, as well as root vegetables (like potatoes or carrots), nuts, low-fat dairy, and fatty fishes, like salmon, mackerel, and herring. Processed foods and most high-fat meats, like sausage and bacon, are not allowed.

It’s similar to the Mediterranean diet, but instead of focusing on olive oil, the Nordic diet promotes canola oil. Canola oil is rich in monounsaturated fats which can be healthy for the heart. The diet features foods that are traditionally eaten in Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden, and Iceland — hence its name. And, according to the World Health Organization, both the Mediterranean and Nordic diets reduce the risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

The Nordic diet is also environmentally friendly, because it encourages eating mostly plant-based foods, which use up a lot less natural resources. So if you’re looking to adopt a new diet that has plenty of plant-based foods and a lot of fish, this diet could be for you.

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