Nordic Diet and Cardio-metabolic Diseases: A Review

Abstract

Nordic Diet is a diet based on foods typically consumed in Nordic countries. This diet includes fruits (e.g. apple and pear); berries (e.g. blueberry, bilberries, lingoberries); vegetables; legumes; whole grains and dietary fiber from barley, oats and rye; low-fat dairy; fatty fishes (e.g. salmon, herring, mackerel); and rapeseed oil. On the other hand, Nordic diet provides small amounts of processed meats, sweets, salt and saturated fat .The Baltic Sea Diet Pyramid is a food pyramid based on Nordic foods. The pyramid illustrates the recommended amount of foods that should be consumed. Foods that are at the bottom of the pyramid should be consumed in higher amounts. Foods that are at the top of the pyramid should be consumed at least amounts. Studies have suggested that compliance with Nordic diet is associated with health benefits and might improve anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, blood pressure, low-grade inflammation an insulin resistance.