The Nordic diet is a traditional diet, consumed by individuals living in Norway. The Nordic diet is composed of whole unprocessed foods including whole grain cereals, fruits, berries, root vegetables and fish. Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of the Nordic diet is associated with a decrease in mortality, which may relate to the cardioprotective effects of the diet. In this way the Nordic diet may be similar to the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to have similar cardioprotective properties. In a recent study, the Nordic diet was assessed for its effectiveness at improving the lipid profiles of a number of subjects with the metabolic syndrome. The Nordic diet comprising of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, berries, vegetable oils and margarines, fish, low-fat milk products, and low-fat meat, was compared to a newer Western Norwegian diet comprising of low-fiber cereal products, dairy fat based spreads, regular fat milk products, and a limited amount of fruits, vegetables, and berries.
Traditional diets may have a number of particularly beneficial health effects. In particular, traditional diets such as the Nordic diet, the Mediterranean diet, the Okinawan diet and the Australian Aboriginal diet may be cardioprotective and be a useful treatment against the metabolic syndrome and obesity. Obesity, the metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are caused by the consumption of low quality foods, many of which damage normal metabolic and appetite regulation. This leads to the accumulation of fatty acids in tissues and this decreases insulin sensitivity. Traditional diets reverse this process because they are absent of the metabolic poisons that cause these effects, particularly refined starches and sugars. Consuming a traditional diet without energy restriction is an effective way to lose body fat and improve body composition.
The subjects, who all had evidence of the development of metabolic syndrome, followed the diets for 24 weeks and had their lipid profile monitored at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 week. The results of the study showed that consumption of the Nordic diet conferred a number of beneficial changes to lipid levels when compared to the modern Western Norwegian diet. This included an increase in plasmalogens and a decreases in ceramides in those consuming the Nordic diet. Plasmalogens are fatty acids found in high concentrations in the brain and heart of mammals, and it has been suggested that they protect cells against the damaging effects of oxidative stress, and may regulate membrane fluidity. Ceramides are waxy molecules that may be involved in modulating the cell cycle. High plasma levels of ceramides are associated with obesity, inflammation, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Therefore the Nordic diet may have significant, but subtle effects on the lipid profiles of those with metabolic syndrome.
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