The news about Scandinavian countries continues to get better,
the latest: People from Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark
are living longer, almost as long as the Japanese.

And what can you attribute this longevity to?
Diet!

And not just any diet, but a heart-healthy diet.
That’s right- for years the Mediterranean diet was the
(“gold standard”) when it came to diets that boosted
heart health and increased longevity, but today, doctors
say eating the “Nordic” diet may be even healthier.

So, if you want to a healthier heart, and a longer life, read
the following and become more like your Scandinavian
brothers and sisters.

1) Root Vegetables-
In The U.S. too many people only want potatoes and carrots,
but in Finland and other Nordic countries they eat all root vegetables,
like–turnips, rutabagas, beets and butternut squash.
And if you want to lower your odds of getting heart disease by 70%,
then we suggest you do like they do in Finland and Denmark and
start eating all types of root vegetables as well.
Root vegetables contain lots of potassium and other minerals
that remove inflammation inside your arteries.
Plus, root vegetables are gluten-free.
Important tip:
Not sure how to buy, clean or prepare these vegetables?
Head online to Youtube.com and type in recipe for rutabaga
or recipe for turnips in the search bar.

2) More Fish Please-
Concerned about triglycerides? Lower artery-clogging triglycerides
40% by eating more fish. Fish is rich in omega-3’s, fats that help
your liver keep its triglyceride output low.
Another benefit of adding more fish to your diet?
Lower rates of depression.
Scandinavians go through tougher and harsher Winters, more
so than many other countries and one of the ways they avoid the
Winter blue moods and depression is by eating more fish.
One doctor calls fish a safer, more tastier and less expensive
antidepressant.
Important tip:
Make sure to buy quality fish, (tuna, salmon, mackerel, trout and sardines)
and although it can be expensive, you shouldn’t put a price cap on your health.
And one last point: Avoid deep frying fish, once a year is okay, but
eat it regularly and you increase your risk of a stroke.

3) Berries-
Popular in the U.S. as an ingredient in smoothies, and in Nordic countries
they’re mixed with Skyr (a yogurt) or just eaten alone as dessert.
Adopt this practice and you’ll cut the formation of artery-clogging
plaque by 35%, while jump-starting the repair of damaged arteries.
And lastly, berries can also stop cholesterol from sticking to arteries.
Important tip:
Add fresh or frozen berries to smoothies, bowls of hot cereal, or
eat with other fruits.

4) Whole Grains-
In the U.S. grains are being shunned because of “gluten” but in
Nordic countries-whole grains like museli and oatmeal are
still eaten and that means they cut heart-disease risk by 25%.
Blood sugar is often related to diabetes, but it’s also tied to
your heart health. Eating grains that are rich in fiber, slows carb
absorption, helping to prevent artery-damaging blood sugar surges.
Important tip:
Eat slow-cooked oatmeal, barley, millet and museli. And also
important: make sure to eat your whole grains with fruit,
a small amount of honey or even stir-fried vegetables and
not with tons of sugar or margarine and washed down
with coffee also with more tons of sugar.

5) Cabbage-
Concerned about your cholesterol levels? Does your doctor
want you to go on statins? If that’s the case- and you want to
go the “natural route” try adding more cabbage to your diet.
It’s loaded with glucosinolates, compounds that cut your liver’s
production of artery-clogging LDL (bad) cholesterol by 20%.
Eat a few small servings a week and lower heart disease risk in
half.
Important tip:
You can shred it and use it to make coleslaw or stir-fry
it with some fish, chicken or lean beef or look online
(youtube.com) for a baked cabbage roll recipe.
And lastly- read (or reread) our post on cabbage and its
ability to help you live 10 to 15 years longer.
The post: The Farmer’s Market Rxs For Incredible Health!

6) Cheese and Grapes-
Here’s another post on fruit, but this also includes cheese.
This combo is eaten as dessert in some Scandinavian countries
and it may explain the low rates of diabetes. Eat a cup of grapes
and an ounce (or two) of full-fat cheese daily and you’ll steady your
blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity, reducing
your odds of becoming diabetic by 55%.
Important tip:
You can also add berries to a full-fat cheese for dessert, if you’re not
a fan of grapes.

Sources:
* Arnold Fox, M.D. cardiologist
* Al Sears M.D. Author of The Doctor’s Heart Cure
* The Nordic Secrets For Better Health, available online at Amazon
in the kindle store. Get more in depth information about the
health secrets that give the people of Scandinavian countries a few
more years of life.