The French Concept of Healthy

In America we live in a society of the low-fat obsessed. It seems everywhere you look in the states today, food is low-fat, high fiber, whole grain and mineral enriched. In France however, the health focus is entirely different. Food is designed to be good for digestion, full of vitamins, no pesticides, all natural. In fact, the most common French foods defy, almost blatantly, all of the American "wisdom" concerning food. Cheese is always full fat, everything is made with cream and/or butter, milk only comes in full fat or demi-ecreme (half cream) and bread is never whole grain. Yet, the French are some of the thinnest and healthiest individuals in the world.

I recently read a Time article that discussed the correlation between exercise and weight, specifically, how gym exercising, which stimulates hunger, may cause people to overeat, and not loose weight. Rather than short bursts of intense exercise, the article seems to recommend that people just move more throughout their day. Walk more, take the stairs, such simple things may hold the key to weight loss. This perhaps, is where the French secret lies, they walk, bike, skate and otherwise self-propel themselves everywhere. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but it allows them to eat their cheese, wine, bread diet rotation with far less fat causing effects.

Now I happen to know there is a book written by a French ex-pat, that says most all of this, though perhaps in much stronger language. The truth is, while we may hate them for it, the French seem to have a better handle on this "being healthy" thing than we do. So, perhaps the moral is, get off your butt, eat that eclair, and go give the dog a couple of extra walks a day. Or, if you work in a cubicle all day, take your lunch for a walk, or drink the recommended eight, eight ounces of water everyday, and get in your exercise running back and forth from the bathroom every twenty minutes. (extra points if you use the bathroom on the floor above you) Somehow that seems less French.