A healthy diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes and pulses provides our bodies with vitamins, minerals and fibre, boosting our immune systems and preparing us to fight against infections.
Everyone knows what it means to eat healthy food and what is a healthy diet but only some follow the rules on a daily basis.
There are countries where they know how to eat better and maintain their bodies healthier. Through the centuries, local people have perfected a balanced diet, cultivating and eating mainly local produce and high-quality foods. Furthermore, they developed habits and practices that allow them to enjoy eating food without any side effects. Unfortunately, the UK is not one of these places. But where is it in Europe that people eat the healthiest?
Mediterranean diet - whole grains, a lot of vegetables and olive oil
The Mediterranean diet, which is predominantly plant-based, is considered one of the healthiest. It is very popular around the world, but the countries which benefit from this cuisine on a daily basis include Italy, Greece, and Spain.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy snacks like nuts, healthy fats like olive oil, herbs and seafood. Many Mediterranean diet staples are low in calories and high in fibre. These foods help promote healthy weight management, low cholesterol levels and normal blood pressure.
This type of diet prevents you from conditions like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
According to research by Harvard University, people who eat a Mediterranean diet have 25 per cent less risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the course of 12 years. Moreover, those who strictly followed this diet had a 24 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and 23 per cent lower risk of premature death compared with those who had the lowest adherence to this diet.
French diet - everything in moderation
French cuisine is all about the perfect portion and quality. French people never overeat during a meal and keep their meals regular, which means they never skip them, but they choose products with high quality.
This allows them to eat some 'forbidden' products rich in fats like cheese and butter, carbs like bread, or even meat, as they will always have them in moderation.
Thanks to this habit of eating little or just enough, the numbers of obese people and those suffering from heart disease are pretty low in French society.
The French don't eat junk food, deep-fried items or low-quality sweet snacks, which also has a great impact on their overall health and body weight management.
Nordic diet - whole grain bread and seasonal produce
The Nordic diet may not be as popular outside the North of Europe, but it's worth mentioning as the health of inhabitants of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark is not so bad either.
The quality and nutritional profile of many Nordic staples is better than that of the British. People eat more seasonal produce, locally sourced vegetables and fruits, choose darker rye bread over white bread, and occasionally eat oily fish like salmon.
