A Sustainable Diet for a Longer Life: Nordic Nutrition Shows Promise
New research suggests that embracing the principles of the Nordic diet – emphasizing whole grains, legumes, fish, and low-fat dairy while limiting meat and added sugar – may significantly reduce the risk of premature death. A large-scale study conducted by Aarhus University in Denmark has found that individuals who closely adhere to the updated Nordic dietary guidelines experience a 23% lower risk of mortality compared to those who do not.
The findings, published on , are particularly noteworthy because the Nordic diet was specifically designed not only to promote human health but also to minimize environmental impact. This dual focus makes it a potentially valuable model for sustainable eating patterns worldwide.
A Long-Term Study of Swedish Adults
The study, led by Associate Professor Christina Dahm and PhD student Anne Bak Mørch, analyzed data from over 76,000 Swedish adults participating in the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Participants have been regularly reporting their dietary habits and lifestyle details since , providing researchers with a rich dataset to examine the long-term relationship between diet and health outcomes.
According to Professor Dahm, the observed reduction in mortality extends beyond overall survival rates. The study also revealed lower rates of death from both cancer and cardiovascular disease among those who most closely followed the Nordic dietary recommendations. “Our study shows that among middle-aged Swedish men and women who follow the guidelines, mortality is 23% lower compared with those who do not — even when factors such as education, income, and physical activity are taken into account,” she explained.
Balancing Health and Sustainability
The Nordic dietary guidelines, initially established in and updated in , prioritize locally sourced, seasonal foods. The core principles involve a shift away from excessive meat consumption and added sugars, and a greater emphasis on plant-based foods, including whole grains and legumes. The guidelines were developed in response to growing concerns about the environmental impact of food production, which accounts for approximately 30% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
This research marks the first major evaluation of the health effects of the updated Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. The Aarhus University team developed a scoring system to assess how closely individuals adhered to the guidelines, then correlated those scores with long-term health data. The results consistently demonstrated a significant benefit for those who most closely followed the recommendations.
Implications for Public Health and Beyond
The findings have broad implications, not only for individuals seeking to improve their health but also for public health policy and environmental sustainability. Professor Dahm notes that the results are particularly relevant for countries within the Nordic and Baltic regions, where national dietary guidelines are already based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
“We show that following the guidelines as a whole benefits public health,” Dahm stated. “But our results also go further: because the recommendations take into account both nutritional value and climate impact, our research demonstrates that a sustainable Nordic diet benefits public health and the climate — and could serve as a model for other regional sustainable diets worldwide.”
A Colder-Climate Cousin to the Mediterranean Diet
The Nordic diet shares many similarities with the well-established Mediterranean diet, both emphasizing whole foods and limiting processed ingredients. However, the Nordic diet incorporates foods more readily available in colder climates, such as fatty fish like salmon, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and have been linked to reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. As Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian nutritionist, has noted, it’s “basically the Mediterranean diet’s colder-climate cousin.”
Future Research Directions
While the current study provides compelling evidence of the benefits of the Nordic diet in reducing overall mortality and the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, researchers emphasize that further investigation is needed. Professor Dahm and her team plan to explore the potential impact of this eating pattern on other health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and specific types of cancer.
“The study confirms that You can follow a Nordic diet to improve both our health and the climate — at least when it comes to preventing premature death,” Dahm concluded. The ongoing research promises to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the long-term health benefits of this sustainable and increasingly recognized dietary approach.
