When you think of geographic areas that are known for having healthy diets, Mediterranean countries probably come to mind. But the Nordic diet is another worthy contender for the title of best diet on the planet, as the traditional eating patterns of people living in Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden offer many of the same health benefits.

“It’s basically the Mediterranean diet’s colder-climate cousin,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Chicago and author of The Superfood Swap. “It’s very similar but it includes more foods that grow in cold climates.”

( The Mediterranean diet has stood the test of time for a reason: It works .)

Created by a group of nutritionists, scientists, and chefs in 2004, the “ new Nordic Diet ” is based on local

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