For Better Heart Health, Eat Like A Viking

Historically, the Vikings were famous conquerors who sailed the world and, when they were ashore back home in Scandinavia, worked hard scratching out a living. But an important part of their legacy may turn out to be their diet. A study at Lund University in Sweden shows that the traditional Nordic diet may produce better cardiovascular health.

In this research, folks who consumed a Nordic diet had higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower amounts of LDL (harmful) cholesterol). They also evidenced decreased inflammation associated with the risk of diabetes.

The healthy Nordic diet used in the study consisted of berries, root vegetables, legumes (beans), cabbage, nuts, game, poultry, fish, whole grains, rapeseed oil and low-fat dairy products. No fast food items or processed foods were consumed.