Health Tips from Norway
«Det er aldri for sent, og du er aldri for gammel til å bli bedre.»
«It’s never too late and you’re never too old to become better.»
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The vikings had a balanced diet - Ahead of other ‘nations’
Vikings had a varied and rich diet of wild and domestic meats, fruits, crops, poultry, fish, and other food they could grow, harvest, or hunt. Therefore, it is not surprising that their diet was much better and more varied than in other parts of medieval Europe. The Norwegian climate, lifestyle, and long periods of isolation have significantly contributed to the Viking diet - and later to develop the modern Norwegian (and Scandinavian) diet.
Surprisingly, the Vikings did not fry meat, but boiled it, dried it, or even fermented it. Fermenting meat may seem strange, but for some traditional Norwegian products, the technology invented by the Vikings is still used in modern times. It was a very effective method of preseving food for a longer period of time.
Vegetables were also grown locally. Individual comrades grew green peas, horse beans (horse beans), garlic, angelica, hops, parsnips, and carrots. Eggs, milk, meat, and fat for everyday cooking were obtained from birds and cattle, the same species bred today.
A well-balanced diet provided all of the energy the vikings needed to keep them active throughout the day. In addition, nutrients they needed for growth and repair, helping them to stay strong and healthy and helped to prevent diet-related illness….so they could keep on doing with their favorite occupations - just as done today.
2
Regional specialities
Norway is a very long and narrow country situated at the northern tip of Europe. It extends 1 770 km/1 100 miles from North to South, a distance equal to that from Oslo to Rome or from New York to Miami, crossing the Polar Circle at about 2/3 of the length. Based on that, there is no surprise that Norway has ‘local & regional’ specialities and dishes.
This often comes especially to life during Christmas, where the country is divided into Pork (East), Sheep South & West), or Cod (North). A few of the Norway’s delicious dishes are:
Lapskaus – Stew
Fårikål – Mutton and Cabbage
Kjøttkaker – Meatballs
Smalahove – Sheep’s Head
Rømmegrøt – Sour Cream Porridge
Raspeball – Potato Dumpling
Pinnekjøtt – Dried Lamb Ribs
Fiskeboller i Hvit Saus – Fish Balls with Béchamel Sauce
Brunost – Brown Cheese
Vafler – Waffles
Lefse – Griddle Cake
Grovbrød – Whole Wheat Bread
Tilslørte Bondepiker – Layered Dessert
Trollkrem – Lingonberry Cream
Please see what Gordon Ramsey says about Norwegian food. What pleases med the most, is his liking for Brown Goat Cheese.
So, what do the Norwegian drink? Aquavit!
Aquavit, Norway’s national drink, is a key ingredient of the Norwegian interpretation of a Christmas meal (as well as any festive gathering). Armed with a 40% ABV, it makes sense that such a toe-warming tipple is so popular in a snowbound destination such as Norway. Traditionally served in an elegant fluted glass, aquavit has been embedded in Norwegian culture as far back as the 15th century.
While, today, little stock is put in the medicinal properties that earned it its name, the drink—essentially an oak-aged vodka flavored with an infusion of caraway or dill—is generally considered helpful for digestion. A glass of room temperature aquavit is typically sipped slowly at either end of a rich meal.
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Two social codes of Norway: Jantelov & Dugnad
Janteloven, or The Law of Jante, is a key social code, and it goes in simplicity like this: “You're not to think you are smarter than we are. You're not to imagine yourself better than we are. You're not to think you know more than we do.” There are in fact 10 laws.
The ten laws of Jante, are a fascinating look at the wide net this pattern of behavior casts across society. Notice that they’re directed at “you,” and refer to “us,” meaning the culture or community at-large.
So, it is side before self, we instead of I, and society ahead of individual. It is about equality. In Norway there is no difference between the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker.
This also come to play into the second term: DUGNAD! Dugnad is what Norwegians do based on free will without payment. That is how the society goes around - on equal terms.
If we look at the GINI Index, Norway is among bottom 10 of all nations (together with the other Scandinavian countries and a few East European Countries).
Trust, speed, developmend and health benefit out of Janteloven and Dugnad.
4
Morning rituals - Fishoil or Honey?
TRAN (Cod liver oil or Fish oil) is a ‘ritual’ many Norwegians practice on an empty stomach every morning. The taste is not the best, but it grows on you to like it….after about after 53 years. One of the early tech-pioneers in Norway, Mr. Vebjørn Tandberg, is said to have served his factory employees TRAN every morning in vodka glasses for their health. Cod liver oil contains vitamin A, a vital nutrient for immune system function, cellular growth, eye health, and reproduction. It's also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which decrease blood clot formation and reduce inflammation in the body.
A different morning ritual on an empty stomach, is to mix honey, apple-cider vinegar into hot water. Apple cider vinegar and honey are often combined in folk medicine. The mixture is generally diluted in warm water and drunk upon rising. It's claimed to aid weight loss and improve seasonal allergies and blood pressure. In addition, it will boost the immune system, balance the pH level, and strengthen your heart. You can of course also do both, but it is not for the fainthearted.
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Constitution
Constitution Day in Norway is a very big deal. On May 17, you’ll see Norwegian culture in overdrive, the outpouring of full-blooded patriotism a countrywide phenomenon.
In villages and cities, potluck breakfasts see friends and family gather to drink champagne and commemorate the signing of the constitution in 1814. After that, it’s on to the parties, marching bands, and children’s parades that pour through the country’s high streets, both metropolitan and rustic. In Oslo, the Norwegian Royal Family wave at the processions from the palace balcony, while rows of red flags with blue and white crosses flutter in the spring breeze.
For this event, Norwegians also haul out their bunad—the country’s traditional dress. The embroidery and bold colors of these rustic costumes are intended to indicate the wearer’s ancestry and birthplace.
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Folk Music & Halling
A key part of any of Norway’s major festivals and smaller celebrations throughout the year is traditional Norwegian folk music.
The Halling (hallingdansen) is a folk dance traditionally performed in rural parts of Norway, although versions of the halling can also be found in parts of Scandinavia. It is the most ancient documented dance of North Europe, and its roots go back to 2500 years old cave paintings. The dance is traditionally performed by young men at weddings and parties.
Norwegian instrumental music, however, is less intense and, much like traditional Celtic folk, intended to get the crowd dancing. While the zither, clarinets, and goat horn all collaborate to create the music, it’s the Hardanger fiddle—Norway’s national instrument—that’s the dominant sound.
This North Germanic style of folk, as opposed to the timeless Sami yoik, is, of course, a great excuse for Norwegians to don their bunad. Kitted out in their finery, they might begin the halling dance—a particularly famous and highly energetic form that involves the dancers kicking hats off of sticks.
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Kos - Good for the soul
The Danes have ‘hygge’, the Swedes have ‘mys’, whilst the Norway has the philosophy of ‘kos’. Those are simple words, but have a deeper meaning, but the simple term is to do something that’s good for the soul.
Cosy, a commonly suggested synonym, doesn’t manage to fully encapsulate everything that the Norwegians mean by kos. The simple pleasures of life might be a better way of describing it, whilst the linguistic expert call it as a state of mind that “reflects an unpretentious Norwegian ideal of equality”.
Kos comes from a time when survival during Norway’s long winters was a more fraught business than it is today, a reminder to be mindful, to relax. Quintessential kos or koselig experiences include a cozy scene in front of a roaring fire while it blizzards outside, enjoying freshly baked bread, or holding hands in a snowy forest while watching the Northern Lights. Simple, but also deep.
KOS has a wide range of benefits. It can:
Increase happiness
Decrease stress
Help you be present in the moment
Improve your self-care / self-love / care for others
Increase feelings of contentment over consumerism
Stmulate you to take healthy / sound choices
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Matpakke - Packed Lunch
Matpakke or Packed Lunch, is when you prepare your own food in advance, and bring it to work, school, or when hiking. There are quite a few benefits of doing so.
It'll help with portion control
You won't waste food
You will reduce your ecological footprint
Having meals planned in advance reduces stress
It's an easy way to save money.
You will appreciate your meal / eat mindfully
You will save time
By packing your lunch, you’re in complete control over what you eat. Eating healthy doesn’t need to be complicated. We often don’t get enough fruits and vegetables throughout the day but if we pack them, we’ll eat them. You can start simple with something like a homemade pasta salad, carrots, your favorite fruit, and drink tap or filtered water instead of sugary drinks. OR you do as many Norwegians do; a MATPAKKE consisting of a few slices of bread with spread and greens. When we eat healthily, it’s proven that we feel better, inside and out.
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Født med ski på beina - # 1 sport nation globally
The Norwegian are all born with skiis on their legs (Født med ski på bena). It is actually true. From the kids are a foot long, theyr are all professionals athletes; hence making Norway the biggets Winter Olympic nation through all times. Not only that, but Norway is ranked #1 as the most sporty nation overall for the 5th straigh year. It is something about fostering good habits and utilizing the nature the best way possible. A key concept in Norway is to do as the scouts (which is very popular activity), is to leave your spot in nature in the same way as you got there (meaning: pick up your own trash). It is all about TRUST, which Norway is built on….and ranked #1 in the world.
Skiing is also a social ‘experiment’, where people spend hours and hours together being active. Whist being on a TUR, they tend to bring along their MATPAKKE (bread with spread), organge, Kvikk Lunsj (chocolate) and Solo (Norwegian soda) or Hot Chocoate. When they have this break, they also tend to make up a fire - to either warm themselves, or to grill hot dogs (when matpakke is not packed).
The mix of being active, sharing stories, and helping each other, is a healthy fusion, boosting body and mind. As these hikes often take place during Sundays, people often also stop by ‘an open church’ in nature, a ‘mountain church’ or a simple sports churches. That way, TUR, is also good for your soul.
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Ut på tur, aldri sur - Hiking with a smile
TUR is a Norwegian expression for Hiking, but also so much more. TUR in Norway is a being-thing, where we walk for the sake of walking without a destination. Ut på tur means going for a hike, and aldri sur, means you should be in a good mood. Therefore, go hiking with a smile. If you happen to be in a bad mood, hiking will make you smile. So, no sad faces! Off you go to the woods, mountains, or to the beaches. Norway is a green country and Oslo (the capital) is ranked #1 as the greenest capital in the world.
Kids in Norway grow up with the concept of TUR, regardless of how the weather is. Through rain, wind and snow: the TUR was obligatory. Based on this ‘mandatory urge for a TUR’, there is yet another expression. ‘There- is -no- such- thing- as- bad- weather, only- bad- clothing’. So, off we go…for the sake of going.
In Norway we have the All Man’s Rights (Allemannseie), meaning that the nature is a rights for people to use, whether it is to swim in the ocean or lakes, go skiing in the mountains, pick berries or mushrooms in the woods etc.
To get closer to nature, many Norwegians have HYTTE (cottage), where they escape to for weekends and holidays. It is a retreat itself and brings calmness to the mind and stamina to the body. People use the nature (mountains or oceans), and often use their bodies for…surprise, surprise….TUR.
A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress and promoting healing. TUR is a healthy ‘phenomenon’ of moving and enjoying a MATPAKKE (bread from home wrapped in paper with some sort of spread or BROWN GOAT CHEESE). The result of all this is health and happiness. Ut på tur, aldri sur!
Nugget: No one seems to know how long Norway’s official coastline actually is, but despite the uncertainties, Norway is ranked #2 in the world after Canada. According to National Geographics, the coastline is one of the most intricate land edges on the planet. Norway's fjords, beaches, and island coasts would circle the globe at least two and a half times if laid out in a straight line. Throughout the entire coastline, there are spread 239,057 officially recognized islands, making Norway #1, ahead of Sweden. Based on the coastline, the Viking heritage, and the oil, Norway is ranked #6 as a maritime super-power, with special focus on green shipping, transparency, safety and the wellbeing of the global seafarers.
