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Have you heard about the latest diet to sweep the internet – the Nordic Diet?
As the name would suggest, the Nordic Diet is based on the traditional foods of the Scandinavian countries, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
Experts are lauding the diet because these countries tend to have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and obesity that the rest of the Western World.
But is this just another internet fad, or are there real benefits to eating like a Viking?
What is the Nordic Diet?
Based on The Baltic Sea Diet Pyramid, the Nordic Diet emphasises natural foods instead of processed foods, with a cutting down of red meat in favour of fatty fish and sea-food.
Focusing on locally-grown and sustainable resources, the diet encourages root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots, lots of fruits, berries and nuts. Compared with an average Western diet, it contains less fat, less sugar, and twice the fibre.
If this sounds familiar, that may be because it’s very similar to the Mediterranean Diet, with both including plenty of fruit and vegetables, an emphasis on whole rather than refined grains, and plenty of sea-food.
Which oil to use?
One of the main differences between the Mediterranean and Nordic Diets is the oil used. For the Med, it is famously Olive Oil, while for the Nordic it’s canola (rapeseed) oil.
Both oils contain high amounts of monounsaturated fats, which have a proven range of health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease.
According to Cynthias Sass of Health.com, if following the Nordic Diet, you should use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil instead of canola oil, as we have far more scientific research about these oils, and the extraction process is more straightforward.
Benefits of the Nordic Diet
If you’re thinking of switching to the Nordic Diet, then there are certainly plenty of reasons for doing so. Both the Nordic and Mediterranean Diets have been proven to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease by the World Health Organisation.
The diet also promotes weight loss, even when people are not cutting down on calories. Studies suggest that the diet is great for short-term weight loss, although over time people tend to put it back on.
The Nordic Diet is also good for the environment. Focusing on foods which are grown locally and organically, it promotes sustainability. Cutting down on dairy also has a positive effect on the planet, with fewer greenhouse gasses and factory waste produced by livestock.
Use Olivado as part of your Nordic Diet
If the Nordic Diet seems to be your thing, then we recommend using our delicious extra virgin olive oil as your primary oil when cooking.
With a robust, herbaceous and peppery flavour, our unique olive oil is quite simply the best on the market. Extracted through our pioneering cold-pressed extraction technique, it retains all the goodness, including the antioxidants, polyphenols, and organic compounds Mother Nature put in there in the first place.
Olivado are respected throughout the world as one of the best manufacturers of high quality cooking oils.
Check out our range here, or if you have any questions about our cooking oils, please feel free to contact us.
Our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to help in any way they can.
