Eat Like a Viking And Lose Weight
The latest diet to hit the headlines draws on Scandinavia for inspiration, and means eating Viking-style. Helmets and longboats optional...
Professor Arne Astrup, an obesity expert who heads Copenhagen University's department of human nutrition, believes that the Nordic diet is perfect for keeping us slim.
The Viking diet:
Focuses on seasonal and local produce, and a balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat.In real terms, the diet is simple but varied: mix grains such as oats and barley, berries, vegetables, fish, poultry and game, but go easy on the meat.
Professor Astrup believes that the relatively high protein content helps keep us full for longer. Scandinavia has a low obesity rate compared with other Western countries like America and Britain - so they're definitely doing something right.
Trina Hahnemann, a well-known Scandinavian chef, has just published a new book "The Nordic Diet", with recipes fit for a Viking. She explains that:
In Denmark, we eat breads made from grains suited to cool climates: spelt, rye, oats and barley. White toast bread is here, but not so common - you can barely call that food.
Hahnemann also attributes Scandinavian slimness to taking exercise, eating together as a family, and having a society without vast divides between rich and poor, as in other parts of the West.
The Viking diet could well provide good principles for eating healthy. But, it could also prove yet another way to sell desperate dieters more recipe books and diet plans.
What do you think?
Sources:
Axe the fat with the Viking diet
Keeping figures Dane-ty with Denmark's top chef Trina Hahnemann
9 Comments
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Created / Updated: February 1, 2010
Another way to sell dieters the same diet.
Sounds a common concept:
Reply- Moderation
- Whole grains
- Fruits and Veggies
- Avoid processed foods
- Lean meats
Same stuff, different book cover--she's saying to eat unprocessed food, lots of whole grains, fish, seasonal produce, etc. Of course you'll lose weight eating that way; you don't have to live in Norway to eat that way. She's just pointing out the obvious...keep physically active, eat together as a family, avoid processed junk food, etc.
I'm guessing that a lot of people are going to start looking for spelt at their grocery store after reading this book.
ReplyI am with you Spectra!
ReplyYep, def sounds like any other sensible eating lifestyle with a new name. *yawn*
ReplyI agree with all those who have chimed in already re: same ideas different title. I will say that I am a fan of Astrup's work - especially when it comes to protein research.
ReplyFrom the info presented in this article, it sounds like it resembles the Zone Diet, which is composed of lean proteins, lots of veggies and fruit, oats, barley, and a dash of healthy monounsaturated fat.
ReplySounds to me that the diet suggests less processed foods and fresher foods
Makes sense to me
ReplyNo vast divide between rich and poor means there are not many rich. A materially prosperous society will have at its fingertips many more options, far less uniformity in its diet, and even markets of people who actually eat that white bread junk. :) But the topic is interesting because in the west, we stay slim by observing what others do, educating ourselves about food and our bodies, and fashioning our own custom diets from virtually limitless options.
ReplyI'm wondering how many ounces of protein this diet recommends. Overall it sounds pretty sensible-fresh ingredients, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains... definitely the way to go. Not sure how this is remarkably different from just plain eating right. What needs to be examined, in addition to what food you eat, is your relationship to it. That means learning about how you use food (stress? boredom? habit?) and changing it if you're using food in ways you shouldn't. That is the philosophy of Structure House. They have a book but it's not a diet book, it's about changing the way you think about food.
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