A diet has been named that dramatically reduces the risk of early death

Scientists from Aarhus University have discovered that following updated Nordic dietary recommendations is associated with a significant reduction in mortality risk. The results are based on data from more than 76,000 people and indicate the potential benefits of such a diet for both health and climate. The work was published in The Journal of Nutrition (JN).

The updated recommendations were introduced in 2023 and developed taking into account not only nutritional value but also environmental sustainability. They advise reducing consumption of red meat and added sugar, as well as increasing the proportion of whole grain products, legumes, fish, and low-fat dairy products.

The study was led by Associate Professor Kristina Dam together with doctoral student Anne Bak Merch. According to Dam, middle-aged Swedish men and women who most strictly adhered to the recommendations had 23% lower overall mortality compared to those who followed them to a lesser extent. This effect persisted even after accounting for education level, income, and physical activity. Additionally, deaths from cancer and cardiovascular diseases were less frequently recorded among diet adherents.

For the analysis, the scientists used data from two large cohort studies - the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Since 1997, participants have regularly reported on their diet and lifestyle, which made it possible to trace the connection between nutrition and long-term health outcomes.

According to the authors, the results are relevant not only for Sweden but also for other countries. Since the updated guidelines take into account both health benefits and environmental impact, the study demonstrates that a sustainable diet can simultaneously reduce the burden on climate and decrease the risk of premature death.

The contribution of the food system to climate change is significant: approximately 30% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food production and consumption. The Nordic diet was conceived as a compromise between human health and ecology.

At the same time, the scientists emphasized that additional research is needed to understand how such a dietary regimen affects obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. These questions are planned to be studied in further work.