sweden outdoors

WELLNESS BLOG | APOTEUM

Hello, and welcome to our Wellness blog, that will be dedicated to learning and exploring more about health and wellbeing in the Nordic style! With our more than 30 years long experience in the field, we believe that we have a lot to offer. And would be delighted if we got to share our knowledge and thoughts with you through the Apoteum Wellness blog.

Understanding Swedes’ Healthy Lifestyle

In the Nordic countries, outdoor activities have always been popular. A typical Swedish summer consists of camping, cross country bicycling, hiking and swimming in lakes or the ocean, while long distance skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating are just a few of the sports that the Swedes frequently participating in during winter, ending with an outdoor sauna to warm you up again. In the spring we take walks to look at the rejuvenation of the lands, and during the autumn we venture into the forests to pick wild mushrooms and berries. With more than 50% of Sweden being covered in forests and lakes, there is plenty of room for everyone to find their own spot. Truly, the Swedes love for venturing out into nature has lead to the creation of a law known as โ€œAllemansrรคttenโ€, or โ€œFreedom to roamโ€, which gives you permission to enter land that does not belong to you, such as forests and plains, as long as you use common sense and show respect to the nature.

And even though we Swedes are rumoured to be cold and isolated people, more often than not, all of these activities are done together, either with the family or friends, as these activities are perfect opportunities for bonding between loved ones. We believe that wellbeing is achieved not only through a healthy body, but also through a healthy social life. Happiness only grows bigger when you share it.

There is a saying in Sweden, that goes: โ€œThere is no bad weather, only bad clothesโ€, indicating that there are no excuses to stay indoors, you just need to be properly prepared. Even in school, the children will be sent out for breaks between classes to get some fresh air and clear their minds, no matter if itโ€™s sunny or rainy outside. It is believe that this will heighten both their performance in class, as well as their natural defence against illness.

The link between physical and mental health

As for how to stay healthy mentally as well, we consider it to be linked to a healthy body. Itโ€™s no secret that our bodies are built for movement, and has the best overall performance when we keep a regular schedule of exercise. It doesnโ€™t even have to be anything strenuous like crossfitting or running marathons (but those are perfectly fine exercises, too), just a simple quick paced walk or a bike ride for half an hour can make a huge difference in your daily life, and your mood. The release of endorphins will help lighten your mood, and the brain has an easier time to find solutions to problems that might have clouded your mind when your body moves. If you then combine all of this with a healthy meal, you have the complete recipe for how to stay healthy in the Nordic style!

Here are a few words about what wellness means for people of Scandinavian countries. In turn, in our blog, we are going to share not only the most relevant information, such as useful tips, recipes for products that you can make at home, but also general news in the field of health and well-being.