The Most Effective Diet – Mediterranean vs. Nordic
The Most Effective Diet – Mediterranean vs. Nordic
Recently dieticians from all over the world actively promote a so-called “Mediterranean” diet. However, from now on the “Nordic” one replaces it as the most effective and useful.
The Mediterranean cuisine embraces a wide range of countries and in each of them has slight differences. What exactly unites all its territorial versions? The answer is simple – the usage of the same products – tomatoes, Bulgarian pepper, zucchini and eggplants, olive oil and olives themselves, fish and paste, garlic, onions, and also various kinds of seasonings (thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil). Furthermore, red wine is considered to be one of the favorite drinks of Mediterraneans – for instance, in Greece or Italy it is the obligatory visitor to any dining table.
Long time such food was considered as one of the healthiest if to speak about national cuisines. Of course, it is rich in vegetables, flour products made of “correct” top-quality flour, red wine, which regular consumption is considered to be an effective preventive means from cancer, and wonderful olive oil consumption of which will not only make you healthy, but will also help lose weight. But meat and dairy products – the basic sources of cholesterol and carcinogens – are in less quantity. However, nowadays scientists seem to have a new favorite in the culinary world – a so-called “Nordic” diet.
Professor Arne Astrup, the president of the International Research Association of Obesity, has become a ringleader of the powerful company for propagation of the Nordic, or Norwegian diet. As he says, so much praised Mediterranean diet, firstly, is not suitable for inhabitants of the northern countries because of the climate and peculiarities of their organism, and secondly, products included in it are too expensive for northerners. In this connection as an alternative he has offered other feed supply circuit.
First, instead of the Mediterranean tomatoes and pepper this scheme offers Brussels sprouts and vegetable marrows that are more than any other vegetable rich in cellulose and antioxidants. For the same antioxidants doctors recommend such northern berries as blueberry, cowberry and cloudberry in where, by the way, are also Omega-3 fat acids that are necessary for normal work of cardiovascular and nervous systems. Also the Norwegian diet includes the increased consumption of fish and low-fat meat – elk’s flesh or venison, – and low-fat dairy products made of sheep milk.
In these products there are almost no harmful fats, but a lot of fiber that allows to eat in full, but receive few calories.
Last year professor Astrup actively made statements as the defender of every possible protein diets - based on lowered consumption of carbohydrates and increased ones of proteins. According to his saying, such diets help not only get thin, but also remain in the reached weight after their finishing. On the contrary, nutrition based on division into “bad” and “good” carbohydrates does not promote reachable effect at all.
By the way, pay attention that the Nordic diet does not mention any alcohol. So, the opinion that northern people should warm themselves taking something strong, is only a myth and gradually vanishes into the thin air. Truly speaking, more and more scientific evidences are appearing confirming the fact, that even so much praised red wine can be dangerous if consumed regularly. In particular, it is accused of breast cancer risk increase among women.
