New research reveals that the Nordic diet, rich in berries, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and rapeseed oil, contributes to positive health effects even without weight loss.
The diet, recognized over the past decade for its health benefits, tastiness, and sustainability, can prevent obesity and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Study Details
Previous research on the Nordic diet primarily focused on its positive health effects related to weight loss. However, this new study reveals that the diet’s benefits extend beyond weight management.
This surprising finding dispels the common belief that blood sugar and cholesterol improvements are only due to weight loss.
Researcher Lars Ove Dragsted and his team at the University of Copenhagen’s Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports Department examined blood and urine samples from 200 individuals over 50 years old, all with elevated BMI and increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Participants were split into two groups: one followed the Nordic diet, while the control group adhered to their regular diets.
After six months, the Nordic diet group showed significant health improvements, including lower cholesterol levels, reduced overall blood fat levels, and better glucose regulation, even without weight loss.
Role of Fats in the Nordic Diet
The researchers speculate that the unique composition of fats in the Nordic diet might be key to its health benefits.
Participants who benefited the most from the dietary change had different fat-soluble substances in their blood than the control group, suggesting the importance of the unsaturated fatty acids derived from the diet’s oils.
The Nordic diet includes fats from sources like fish, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed. These ingredients, taken together, appear to provide a beneficial mix for the body.
Although the exact reasons why these fats lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels remain unclear, the study suggests that they significantly contribute to the diet’s health effects, even when participant weight remains constant.
The absence of highly processed food and less saturated fats from animal sources likely play a significant role in these benefits.
The higher omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated fats in the Nordic diet may also be a substantial part of the explanation.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about popular weight loss diets linked to heart disease and cancer, and this exercise has unique benefits for weight loss.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that green diet can reduce belly fat much better, and Keto diet could help control body weight and blood sugar in diabetes.
The study was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.
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