The Lowdown on the Nordic Diet

nordic diet

22 Jul The Lowdown on the Nordic Diet

Posted at 21:52h in Weight Loss by

According to new research, starting babies on a Nordic-style diet may be the key to them developing healthier eating habits.

Babies fed taster portions of the Nordic diet of fruit, berries, roots, and vegetables, as well as breast or formula milk, from the age of 4-6 months of age, were eating almost double the number of vegetables (46% more), than those fed a conventional diet, by 18 months of age.

So what is the Nordic Diet? And could it help you eat more healthily and support your weight loss efforts?

WHAT IS THE NORDIC DIET?

The Nordic Diet is very similar to the hugely popular (and more well-known) Mediterranean Diet. It centres around a largely plant-based diet complimented with oily fish and whole grains. Based on the cuisine in Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, following the diet means cutting out processed foods and fatty meats, and turning to fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy.

The main difference between the Mediterranean Diet and the Nordic Diet is the type of fat each recommend using. For the Mediterranean it’s all about olive oil, while the Nordic Diet champions unrefined rapeseed oil.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NORDIC DIET?

The World Health Organization (WHO) found in a major review that both of these diets can reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Other studies suggest the diet is an effective eating plan for weight loss and to lower inflammation (a contributing factor to obesity and several chronic health conditions). The diet is based around whole, natural foods and typically contains plenty of fibre, which is important for a healthy functioning digestive system. Turning to a more plant-based diet also has environmental benefits.

WHAT CAN YOU EAT ON THE NORDIC DIET?

Seasonal fruit and veg is in, particularly berries, carrots, beetroots, broccoli, spinach and kale. Whole grains are recommended on the diet and are always preferable over refined ones. Oats, barley, rye and wheat are encouraged as well as healthy fats from unrefined rapeseed oil, nuts and seeds and protein sources such as fish and eggs. To start your day the Nordic way, you might opt for a bowl of porridge with nuts and berries. For your main meal, try a poached wild salmon fillet with a salad of lentils, cucumber and dill dressed with rapeseed oil and lemon juice.

WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS?

While the diet follows many basic principles of eating healthily, you’ll probably need to fine-tune the diet to lose weight. Too many starchy carbohydrates, such as grains, can compromise weight loss so it’s important to moderate your intake of those. I’m not generally an advocate for dairy – while some of us can tolerate it, there are a number of reasons why I recommend avoiding it. 

IN SUMMARY

The Nordic Diet recommends some good basic principles of healthy eating. Unrefined, minimally processed, natural foods should always take priority over processed convenience foods. Seasonal produce, quality proteins and healthy fats are the cornerstones of a healthy diet. As always, it’s about finding what works for you based on your own unique needs.

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SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

 

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of th clinic.

 

Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning.

 

A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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