Finnish Study: Baltic Sea diet reduces obesity

New research by the Institute for Health and Welfare indicates that eating food native to the regions around the Baltic Sea can combat obesity. Rye bread, root vegetables, berries and rapeseed oil are eaten daily , whereas red and processed meat is not.

A new study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) finds that food typical to regions around the Baltic Sea are useful in fighting obesity. The study lasted a total of seven years, and participants were weighed and measured before and after the time period.

"It would appear that those who stuck to the Baltic Sea diet managed to diminish their body mass index or at least keep it level," says researcher Noora Kanerva.

The study's findings are of international interest because the Baltic Sea diet has not been widely researched until now.

"There are only about 60 publications on Nordic diets, compared with more than 3,000 on Mediterranean diets," Kanerva illustrates.

Nordic grain and berries top list

Researchers have found the Mediterranean diet to be especially healthy. Nutrition researchers say that people living in the far north did not find it realistic to revert to a diet from a completely different region of the world. Five years ago THL developed the Baltic Sea diet.

"The healthy foods in the Mediterranean model have been replaced with similar foods to be found in our environment. These include rye bread, non-fat dairy products, berries, apples, root vegetables, cabbages, peas and rapeseed oil," Kanerva rattles off.

She adds that red and processed meat should not be included in anybody's everyday diet. Candy, sweets, alcohol and saturated fats are other things to avoid.

Baltic ingredients in dietary recommendations

Nordic foods are making their way into international diet plans, too. Kanerva says that the newest recommendations from 2012 are not a far cry from the Baltic Sea diet.

"The focus on local food production and local food culture is clear," she says. "The trouble is that these recommendations are not yet in line with dietary realities."

According to Kanerva Finns are right at the top of the Nordic countries' fattest, just behind Iceland. Finland is followed by Sweden, Norway and then Denmark. Kanerva underlines the importance of certain products when shopping.

"Nordic grains like rye, barley and oats together with our northern berries are key. A third thing for Finns to keep in mind is to lessen their alcohol intake."

Yle Finland