The Scandinavian diets were developed in the twentieth century by a number of independent nutrition and health specialists in Scandinavia. However promising these diets may be, they are still too little known in our region.
Diet or nutrition?
In principle, these Scandinavian systems involve nutritional science. The basic idea is a way of eating for healthy people who want to stay healthy.
In addition, a kind of diet has also emerged from this, with its dos and don’ts. This is increasingly being used by people who are already in trouble.
Fundamentals of Scandinavian nutrition
- Living food (crude vegetables or lightly stewed vegetables)
- Eliminate toxins
- Increase resistance
- Exercise in the open air
Problems that the Scandinavian diets are supposed to help with:
- Lethargy
- Overweight
- Rheumatism
- Gallstones
- Cancer
None of these authors guarantee that his or her diet can solve these problems in all cases. However, many cases are known in which the impression may be given that the patient has found benefit from this. However, it would be foolish to replace therapy with these diets without consulting the attending physician in the event of a serious illness!
Well-known representatives of this nutritional system
Although there will be more, as leading authors we can already mention:
- Are Waerland (1876-1956)
- Dr. Kirstine Nolfi (1881-1957)
- Alma Nissen (1897-1991)
Although he does not belong to this school/schools, it is striking that the Dutch doctor Cornelius Moerman’s Moerman diet is already quite similar to the Scandinavian diets.
Scandinavian diets in the future
Although some insights from these diets have been integrated into the nutritional habits of people trying to eat healthily, we must note that they are always fragmentary elements that are singled out from these systems, but not always placed in a consistent context.
I can imagine that in the future, orthodox nutrition and medicine will research the Scandinavian diets and recognize their valuable effects.
On the other hand, I hope that in our major cities, in addition to the existing vegetarian and macrobiotic restaurants, there will also be Scandinavian natural food restaurants, so that this diet can come closer to the people from our region.
Conclusion
The Scandinavian diets have a lot to offer, both for healthy and sick people. Anyone who is not trained in nutrition should not experiment without expert guidance! I do not claim that a diet can replace a doctor, but I would like to argue for cooperation between the different approaches.
