The Viking Secret to Beating Stroke
By
Natalie Moore
Posted January 18, 2017
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
A stroke is one of the most terrifying things you can go through.
And if you’re lucky enough to survive one, you could be stuck with months of costly rehabilitation, relearning how to do everyday tasks and even limited mobility.
Your best bet is to do everything you can to avoid having a stroke in the first place.
And now scientists say there’s an easy way to do it — and it’s all thanks to one of Europe’s oldest civilizations.
I’m talking about the vikings, and their secret to beating strokes lies in the traditional foods they ate.
These great warriors of the north depended on foods like fish, oatmeal, rye bread, root veggies, cabbages and fruits like pears and apples to fuel their bodies and stay healthy.
More recently, science has discovered that a Nordic-style diet including these foods can help increase your chances of dodging a life-altering stroke.
For the study, researchers followed the diets of more than 55,000 folks in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study. At the end of the study, the scientist found that participants who followed a Nordic-style diet closely reduced their total risk for stroke by an impressive 14 percent.
That’s 14 percent less risk of losing your independence… or even your life… just by eating some of the tastiest natural foods around.
Scientists believe one reason this ancient diet could help save you from stroke is because it reduces your risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Additionally, other studies have linked the Nordic diet to weight loss, lower blood pressure and reduced triglyceride levels.
This means following a Nordic-style diet could reduce your chances of not only stroke, but also heart disease and metabolic syndrome — two of the nation’s leading diseases.
And the best part — it’s easy to eat like a viking.
Just incorporate foods like fish, berries, apples, pears, cabbages, kale, Brussels sprouts, celery and herbs like dill and chives into your diet and avoid foods you know vikings didn’t eat, like processed, sugary junk foods.
If you’re looking for meal ideas, check out The New Nordic Diet at www.amazon.com.
Following this easy template could help find your inner warrior and keep your health in tiptop shape.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Adherence to Nordic-Style Diet Linked to Lower Risk for Total Stroke
[2] The Nordic Diet: An Evidence-Based Review
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...