Study Finds Nordic Diet Can Lower Mortality Risk

While the Mediterranean diet features leafy greens, tomatoes, and citrus fruits for fiber, along with quinoa and brown rice as grains, the Nordic diet incorporates fiber from beets, carrots, turnips, and berries, using rye, barley, and oats as grains. Olive oil is the primary source of healthy fat in the Mediterranean diet, whereas the Nordic diet uses rapeseed oil, also known as canola oil in the U.S., which contains a low level of saturated fat.

Research suggests that rapeseed oil can lower “bad” cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease risk. The Nordic diet is characterized by lower consumption of meat and added sugars, emphasizing whole grains, legumes, some fish, and low-fat dairy products.

In this study, researchers analyzed the impact of adherence to a healthy Nordic diet on all-cause mortality over an average follow-up of 24 years among middle-aged and elderly Swedes. They found a significant reduction in mortality risk associated with the Nordic diet compared to a standard diet, noting the possible contribution of increased rapeseed oil consumption.

However, researchers cautioned that the findings may not be directly applicable to populations with different dietary habits. This study aligns with previous research from September, which reported a 23 percent lower mortality rate among Swedish men and women who followed the Nordic diet compared to those who did not.

The Nordic diet emphasizes locally sourced, seasonal, and primarily plant-based foods from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. By minimizing red and processed meat consumption, known contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, the Nordic diet benefits both public health and the environment, presenting a model for sustainable eating globally.