Hahnemann Diet

Whether looking to shed pounds or just get healthy, nearly everyone, from time to time, looks for a balanced, healthy diet. From diets low in carbohydrates to diets that count calories, plenty of plans are available. Deemed as both environmentally friendly and healthy, Trine Hahnemann, author of "The Nordic Diet," offers a plan that provides a balanced diet while eating seasonal foods grown locally.

Rules of the Diet

According to an online review from Elle Diet Guide, Hahnemann's book "The Nordic Diet Guide" is "all about eating healthy, seasonal food." The diet plan offers several lifestyle changing rules including a daily exercise regime, avoiding junk foods and sugar, and drinking more water. The basic plan is to reduce the fat intake from foods you ingest and concentrate on fruit and vegetables, whole grains and fish. According to a review from Copenhagen University, Hahnemann places an emphasis on the diet adopted by people living in the northern climates, with mainstay ingredients including "a wide variety of grains, berries,vegetables, fish, poultry and game" and less reliance on meat.

Foods You Should Eat

The Nordic Diet's primary essence is eating seasonally while taking advantage of locally grown ingredients with a diet balanced evenly between protein, carbohydrate and fat. Start with whole grains such as rye, spelt, oats and barley, and avoid breads made with white flour. Hahnemann also embraces the root vegetables, not only common potatoes and carrots, but more exotic vegetables such as beetroot, celeriac, parsnip, Hamburg parsley, Jerusalem artichoke and scorzonera (black salsify). Vegetables such as cabbage and kale are also included in her diet. For protein, fish is the dominant food source. If you must have meat on your table, she suggests opting for free-range or organically grown meat only. Another key aspect of her diet is including berries in your weekly menu. Berries, high in antioxidants, are valued by the Nordic people and seen as a healthy addition to your diet. Finally, portion size is important. Hahnemann explains, "You only need one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, so someone who weighs 72kg needs only 72g a day. It's only in countries where people are starving that they need more protein."

Pros and Cons

According to the Elle Diet Guide online book review, the plan "feels less like a diet and more like a great recipe book with healthy meals, which just happens to come with a few healthy-eating rules." Copenhagen University sees the diet as a great opportunity to develop a healthy eating plan while staying environmentally friendly by consuming locally grown foods. The cons, if any, revolve around the diet itself. You'll need to hunt for the fresh ingredients and remember that since this is a seasonal diet not all your ingredients will be available at all times of the year. Though the recipes are not overly time consuming or complicated, you will need to have a love for cooking since they require fresh ingredients and not pre-packaged, quick meals, and you'll want to be able to share these meals with family or a dieting partner.