Eat Like a Viking: How the Icelandic Diet Can Keep You Healthy and Depression-Free During the Winter

People suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) will often experience depression, decreased libido, social isolation, loss of appetite, and feelings of hopelessness — among other symptoms — during the long winter months. However, despite the prevalence of SAD in North America and much of Europe, the opposite seems to be the case in Iceland.

Despite being one of the coldest countries in the world — and having the name to prove it — Icelanders are some of the happiest people in the world, according to a ranking published by Bloomberg. But why is that? Well, according to many nutrition experts, the secret to Icelanders’ happiness lies in what they eat.

Icelanders make up for the decreased sunlight by eating plenty of fish

At first glance, the Icelandic diet might be off-putting for many foreigners — after all, local delicacies like fermented shark, sour ram’s testicles and cod tongues aren’t your everyday meal. Yet, a closer look reveals a population fed with fresh products, healthy fats, and lots of fish that provide plenty of fodder for the long winter days.

Throughout the centuries, Iceland’s short growing season and small surface have forced its people to eat whatever they can, with fishing providing many needed calories and proteins. In fact, Icelanders love fish so much that they eat about four times more than the average found in the cuisine of any other country! The prominence that fish has on Icelandic cuisine might explain why locals seem so happy despite the gloomy weather.

Low levels of vitamin D and depression go hand-in-hand. In normal conditions, the human body can generate most of the vitamin D it needs when it’s exposed to the sun. However, since winter forces people to cover up their skin, it’s usually the time of the year when depression spikes up.

Icelanders don’t have the same trouble since their fish-heavy diet is rich in vitamin D, which more than makes up for the loss of sunlight and keeps them healthy and cheerful even during the toughest winters. Furthermore, the locals’ preference for fatty fishes like cod, salmon, herring, and bluefin tuna — which are packed with iron and omega-3 fatty acids — as well as their love of cod liver oil (Lýsi), which they take every day, also helps them regulate their blood pressure, prevent cardiovascular diseases and prevent depression.

Icelanders eat fresh products that come straight out of the farm and ocean

Unlike most developed countries, where people prefer processed foods because they can be prepared and consumed on-the-fly, manufacturing or importing processing foods to Iceland is incredibly expensive. A fact which has helped Icelanders to remain true to their Viking culinary traditions of only eating fresh food which comes straight out of the farm.

Icelandic meals tend to be big, low in sugar, and high in fiber. Fresh seafood, quality meat from cows and sheep grazed on moss and wildflowers, and dairy products all feature prominently in any Icelandic dinner table.

Skyr, a type of local yogurt which is sweet and very fluffy, is credited by many Icelanders as the source of their good health and optimistic attitude. Made with the milk from grass-fed cows, skyr’s high beta carotene content can regulate blood sugar, reduce obesity, and promote heart health.

The Icelandic diet is rich in zinc, potassium, magnesium, and other minerals the body needs to stay healthy. Puffin jerkin, berries, and fermented shark are all rich in minerals. However, seaweed is particularly noteworthy because it has high levels of iodine, which is a mineral needed to maintain nervous and cognitive functions.

The Icelandic diet is more than an antidote to depression, though. Many critics believe that the Icelandic diet (as well as other Scandinavian-inspired cuisines) compares well to its more well-known competitor: the Mediterranean diet.

However, while following a Mediterranean diet will give you the calories and healthy fats you need without compromising your hearth’s health or sugar levels, it won’t do much to fight off depression. So, you might as well save your olive oil and pasta for the spring and give a northern twist to your winter meals!

Although the Icelandic diet is relatively unknown outside of the country of its origin, it has helped locals to survive and thrive in one of the toughest environments in the world for more than a thousand years, without losing their good humor in the process.

So the next time you feel the winter blues, try this unique Viking style of eating and see how quickly your depression fades away!