5 diet tips from around the world

Find inspiration from these 5 diets tips from around the world.

When it comes to staying healthy, look across the globe for inspiration. Taking your cue from the diverse diet traditions around the world can offer massive body-honing gains, so here’s the top five secrets from the healthiest countries on the planet.

Italy

The Mediterranean diet has enjoyed a healthy reputation for centuries. Studies suggest that eating the Med way, (which includes a diet packed with fruit, vegetables, fish, wholegrains, nuts, olive oil and red wine in moderation), could be better for the heart than taking medications such as statins to lower bad cholesterol  – cutting the risk of early death in heart disease patients by 37 per cent. Separate research shows that a Mediterranean style diet could help to improve brain health by preserving the quality of brain health – this is thought to help minimise the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Scandinavia

Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Norway may have the secret to warding off conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A study by researchers at Sweden’s Lund University found that following a Nordic diet, which emphasises local, seasonal produce, helped to cut levels of harmful cholesterol, resulting in a healthier heart and lower odds of developing diabetes. Key foods in the diet include oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant-rich berries including red currants and blueberries, along with blood sugar-balancing wholegrains such as rye and spelt.

Japan

The traditional Japanese diet is known as one of the healthiest in the world. This highly nutritional way of eating is thought to be one of the factors that gives this nation a low obesity rate and a high life expectancy at 82.5 years. They are known for guzzling antioxidant-rich green tea and piling their plates with sea vegetables such as seaweed and dulse, which are both crammed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. They also eat a diet loaded with fish and fermented foods such as miso, which help to improve immunity-protective gut microflora.

Brazil

Brazilians boast a healthy lifestyle partly thanks to their simple diet. Rice and beans ,which are low in fat, yet high in fibre, form a significant part of the diet while superfood berries such as acai berries, camu camu are staples that contribute to their five-a-day.

India

The complex spices found in Indian cuisine have a wealth of health benefits. Turmeric, a spice which is used widely in curries, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory potential that may help to ward of chronic disease. Its metabolism-boosting powers are because of its active ingredient curcumin, which is thought to inhibit the spread of fat tissue. Indian cuisine also features cinnamon, which is blood sugar-balancing, fennel seeds, which are a digestif and cumin, which is thought to be immunity boosting.