The traditional Mediterranean diet has a substantial body of research to support its healthfulness, but there's a new contender in town - the Nordic diet. This way of eating was designed by a team of scientists, nutritionists and chefs to improve public health and bolster the culinary appeal of seasonal Nordic ingredients - foods available in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Though it differs from the Mediterranean diet in ingredients, it is similar in principle.

"The Nordic diet, much like the Mediterranean diet, promotes lifestyle habits that focus on choosing fresh and local ingredients that are sustainably sourced," said registered dietitian Layne Lieberman, who authored Beyond the Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets of the Super-Healthy.

The diet is based on whole and minimally processed foods: In this case, high-fibre vegetables, whole grains, fruit, dense breads (pumpernickel or real sourdough), fish, low-fat dairy foods, lean meat of all types (beef, pork, lamb, veal), beans and lentils, tofu and skinless poultry. Fermented foods - fish, vegetables and dairy - also play a strong role, as do herbs and spices. It limits sugar and highly processed foods.

Dense breads such as pumpernickel or real sourdough are included in the Nordic diet. Photo: iStock

The Nordic diet derives 50 per cent of kilojoules from carbs, 25 per cent from protein, and 25 per cent from fat. Claims that this diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes aren't surprising given what is known about the health-promoting attributes of individual components of the diet, including high-quality, high-fibre carbs and heart-healthy omega-3 fat. However, Lieberman points out that unlike the Mediterranean diet, there's much less research looking at the health outcomes of the Nordic people following the Nordic diet.

While both diets have a strong seafood focus, she recommended limiting one Nordic diet staple - cured fish - as it's high in salt, sugar and typically nitrates. She also recommends opting for extra virgin olive oil, preferably cold-pressed, instead of the canola oil that plays a central role in Nordic cuisine. (Canola, unlike olives, thrives in cold climates.) Both oils are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, but olive oil contains polyphenols, which have antioxidant benefits.

Registered dietitian Jennifer Bruning, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the US, said that while both the Nordic and Mediterranean diets are based on food availability in a certain geographical area, their principles can be applied to any location. "The Nordic diet focusses on what people in Nordic countries have access to today, instead of looking back at historical diets and food availability," she said.

Don't let the name stop you from adopting the principles of the Nordic diet to your life. Jennifer Bruning, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Lieberman said the Nordic diet is more practical for those living in northern climates while the Mediterranean diet may work best in southern climates, and not just because of the types of local produce that's available.

"Staple foods that are traditionally sourced in the colder-climate Nordic countries surrounding the Baltic Sea include fatty fish like herring, salmon and mackerel, berries and other fruits, legumes, root vegetables and cabbage, and whole-grain cereals like barley, oats and rye," she said. "While some of these foods may be accessible, they may be heavy for those who reside in warmer climates or during hot summer months when we crave lighter salads, local corn and seasonal melons."

Affordability is also a factor. While the Nordic diet is touted as being more budget-friendly than the Mediterranean diet, largely due to inexpensive staple vegetables such as cabbage and its acceptance of canned fish, there are a few caveats. For example, Lieberman said that while breads made from whole rye and spelt flour are becoming increasingly popular in other parts of the world, and canned, jarred and aseptically packaged fish such as sardines, mackerel and tuna are available everywhere, the Nordic diet is also rich in local berries that are difficult to export, such as lingonberries and cloudberries, so she suggests choosing berries that are local to us.


"Besides being more nutritious, delicious and economical, fresh food supports local farming and food systems, which is good for the economy and environment. For example, papaya is freshest in Hawaii where it's grown. Colorado trout tastes best in Colorado, close to the source. There is nothing like summer corn grown on eastern Long Island or Nantucket bay scallops in the fall. Citrus is most delicious in southern Florida."

"If you'd like to try Nordic-style eating, think first about how you eat now, and what aspects you'd like to change," Bruning said. She suggests thinking of fruits and vegies, grains, beans and lentils, and fish that you already like, then finding a few interesting recipes that use Nordic principles. For example, the Nordic plate is one-half vegetables, one-quarter high-fibre carbs and one-quarter quality protein. "Don't let the name stop you from adopting the principles of the Nordic diet to your life - eating fewer processed foods and more whole and locally produced foods are things many people can do within their means," she said. "And remember that a Nordic-style diet isn't meant to be a short-term or fad diet - it's a lifestyle."

With that in mind, Lieberman points out that an active lifestyle is essential to the success of both the Mediterranean and Nordic diets. "People of the Nordic region bicycle as a means of transportation even during the freezing-cold winter months, use public transportation, walk everywhere even in the rain and enjoy skiing and other sports," she said. "Besides being physically active, they are generally environmentally minded and make daily choices with health and sustainability in mind."

Dennett is a registered dietitian nutritionist.

The Washington Post