Viking Diet Lauded

I find this item personallyencouraging at least, particularly in terms of my own food preferences.  It is literally a list of my own preferredstaples.

Cabbage, rye bread and roots,some oatmeal and throw in a kipper please.

After using these for years, Isuppose I can address the best way to prepare them.  Cabbage and all cruciforms, I like to simplysteam until tender and then flavor with butter or margarine.  Cabbage also works with caraway seed addedprior to steaming.

All roots do well baked until tender,but also do very well boiled to death if the water is saved as stock.  A personal favorite is mashed turnip with theobligatory butter.

Throw in a kipper and oatmealporridge and we will make you an honorary Scot. Recall Scotlandwas very much part of the Viking world for much of its history.

I obviously grew up with all thisand it is good to know that we had something right even though I neverassociated it with Scandinavia, though it isobvious in retrospect.

Eat Like a Viking to Live Longer

By RealAge

http://www.realage.com/tips/healthy-eating-plans-include-scandinavian-food?eid=1098950007&memberid=14418348

You've heard about the Mediterranean diet. Now try the Viking diet.Recent research suggests that it, too, could help you live a much longer life.

So what's a Viking diet, exactly? It's one that emphasizes the staplesof Nordic cuisine, typically rich in cabbage, rye bread, root vegetables, andother healthful, hearty fare. In a study, diets that emphasized theseScandinavian staples reduced 12-year mortality risk by as much as one-third!

Score One for Cabbage

In the study, researchers assigned people a score from 0 to 6, depending on howclosely they adhered to the traditional Nordic eating style. For every pointearned, mortality dropped by 4 to 6 percent over the course of the 12-yearstudy. Overall, men with the most points reduced their mortality by 36 percentwhile top-scoring women lowered their mortality by 25 percent. Cabbage, ryebread, and root vegetables were responsible for most of the longevity benefits.But people also scored points for other Nordic favorites, including fish,oatmeal, apples, and pears.

Gender Gap

When the researchers broke things down by gender, they found some interestingdifferences. Although both genders enjoyed longer lives if they ate 1½ cups ofshredded cabbage each week, only the men appeared to reap significant longevitybenefits from eating ample amounts of rye bread while only the women seemed toget a big boost from eating lots of root vegetables. Regardless, we know thatall of these Nordic faves are nutritional superstars, which probably explainstheir overall impact on mortality risk. Rye bread contains vitamins, minerals,and nutrients that keep blood sugar and insulin levels in check. Cabbage isrich in isothiocyanate, which helps rid the body of toxins and carcinogens. Andcarrots win first place among root veggies as a source of beta carotene. Takentogether, all of these nutrients can translate into lower rates of heartdisease, diabetes, and cancer.