Should I Consider the Nordic Diet?

The new “Nordic Diet” has been growing in popularity, and is gaining momentum now that it’s pool season. Registered Dietitian Dianne Schneider RD tells Local 12’s Liz Bonis how it works and if it really is beneficial for our health.

The Nordic Diet is high in:

“All of these root vegetables, beets – all that rich color – translates into vitamins and minerals,” Diane explains.

Part of the reason this diet has been getting attention lately is because of its potential health benefits. A recently study in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that people who ate this way for six to 18 weeks were able to:

Additionally, the study found that many people in a couple of studies – even though they were told not to cut calories – were able to eat less and lose weight. This resulted from the "satiety of the diet," which means you feel not only full, but satisfied, after you eat.

The satiety comes from a diet, which consists of mainly fiber and almost strictly whole grains. “Or, instead of white rice, brown rice, eating some of the different types of grains – couscous and quinoa,” Diane points out.

Diane also says that while foods such as berries are popular in this diet, the downside is that they’re not the usual kinds of berries you’d fine in the United States, such as strawberries, which means you’ll need to adapt. “My philosophy, when I talk to my patients is: keep it simple. If you can keep it simple, eat the foods you enjoy – that follow the same characteristics of the Nordic diet – you’re going to do a whole lot better,” Diane says.

Similarly, the diet also calls for things you may only find in other parts of the world, known as “wild foods.” These foods include cloudberry jam, moss and even ants.