Dietary sodium and health: more than just blood pressure. Cultural influences on the regulation of energy intake and obesity: A qualitative study comparing food customs and attitudes to eating in adults from France and the United States. Red wine consumption and cardiovascular health. Mercury toxicity and neurodegenerative effects. Satiety effects of psyllium in healthy volunteers.

Vitamin retention in eight fruits and vegetables: a comparison of refrigerated and frozen storage. Heavy metals in marine fish meat and consumer health: a review. Look for low sodium canned vegetables and choose fruit packed in its own juice. And don’t forget that canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh, but last longer and are often way more affordable. Try to stick to whole foods and meals that you prepare yourself. Read nutrition labels carefully - in general, the shorter the ingredient list, the better. Processed foods are loaded with chemicals designed to make them tastier, more shelf-stable, more colorful, or a certain consistency. Ingredients you can’t pronounce or have never heard of. Since fruits and veggies start to lose some of their nutrients after harvest - particularly antioxidants like vitamin C - produce grown nearby may be more nutritious than produce that must travel long distances from farm to table. Bay Area residents are known for chowing down on locally grown food. The “Standard American Diet” (SAD) is indeed sad, but some regional dietary patterns offer healthier alternatives. Share on Pinterest ErimacGroup/Getty Images Stick with more nutritious options like oatmeal or yogurt most days, and save the pastry for an occasional treat. A chocolate croissant, like many buttery breakfast pastries, is loaded with refined carbohydrates, sugar, and fat (not a great start to the day). While you can’t outrun your fork, that higher level of physical activity can certainly help keep the croissants from going to your hips. in 2018, between 60 to 66 percent of adults in France met national physical activity requirements, while that same year only 54 percent of adults met the minimum for aerobic exercise and only 28 percent met the minimum for muscle strengthening activity in the U.S. People in France tend to be more physically active than those in the U.S. And while you’re at it, make like the French and walk or bike where you need to go. So rather than eating a large portion of a “healthy” dessert like frozen yogurt, try a small portion of a treat you love (a rich, dark chocolate truffle fits the bill) and savor the sensory experience. Ironically, Americans are more concerned with the how healthy their food is and they get less pleasure out of eating. One study found that while the French associate food with pleasure (as opposed to health), the country has lower rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease than the U.S. By incorporating some of these habits into your lifestyle - while leaving some less-wholesome practices on foreign soil - you can reap the delicious benefits of global eating and perhaps pick up some of the health and weight management benefits along the way. Let’s embark on a culinary health adventure to pick out some of the healthiest eating and lifestyle habits from countries with lower rates of obesity and chronic disease around the globe. While scientists don’t yet fully understand all of the factors that lead to obesity, diet and lifestyle play a significant role, along with genetics, environment, and even gut microbial balance.Īnd while people come in all shapes and sizes, being overweight or having obesity puts people at higher risk for other diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and premature death. Why the difference? Obesity is a complex issue. However, some countries have significantly lower levels of overweight and obesity. Indeed, nearly a third of the world’s population has a body mass index classified as overweight or obese. will have obesity, while most will have overweight. Researchers predict that by 2030 about half of those living in the U.S. In 2016, around 40 percent of adults had obesity and around 70 percent were overweight.Īnd these eye-opening statistics aren’t expected to decline anytime soon. Since the turn of the millennium, the percentage of people in the United States who are overweight or have obesity has risen consistently.

Eating habits