You are what you eat, so don’t be fast, easy, cheap and fake.
The French seem to follow this mantra very strictly.
Slim body figure might be the first thing which comes to your head when you think about
people of French origin.
But, once you start thinking, their hearty meat-based food with rich sauces served with
probably the best wine out there wil take over your mind..
Ahh!
Bon appetit!
It’s like eating all the butter in the world but still having an hourglass figure!
Today I will be listing down 6 healthy secrets from a French lifestyle to help you eat everything
you want without putting on weight.
Let’s dive right in.
Number 1: An Active Lifestyle
Walk that walk, baby!
Learn that from French people, guys.
They too have Uber in their country, but they prioritize health over discount coupons.
People in France have a tendency to walk or ride a bicycle a lot.
Even while using public transport, say a bus, they would prefer walking till the nearest
bus stand.
Most people here can tell at least one physical activity they love doing.
Be it yoga, biking, dance, soccer, or swimming.
Number 2: Small Portions
The French love their mayo and oil.
Way more than you or I do.
Don’t expect to find diet-friendly grilled chicken easily here.
Food will often be covered in thick cream sauces and cheese.
If you continue eating food like that, you’ll have more cream in your body than on the plate.
So what’s the hack?
Well, eliminating the word “Plenty” from your portions itself.
In other words, portion control.
The French tend to serve lesser quantities per serving.
So whatever they have on their plate they enjoy without distraction.
You won’t see a Frenchman reading newspaper on the breakfast table.
Another reason to call them ideal partners?
So, the point is, don’t deprive yourself of the best food your country has to offer.
Eat everything, but in small portions.
Number 3: High Quality
French eat 4 times more butter, 3 times more pork, 60% more cheese and around 180 grams
of fat from animal sources.
To give a reference, the U.S. eats around 72 grams of it.
That’s a MAJOR difference if you see.
But still, it doesn’t show in their appearance.
Why not?
That’s because, in America and most other countries, the focus is on eating more vegetable
oils, such as Corn oil and Soy oil.
Most of it comes from GMO sources which can lead to insulin resistance.
That, in turn, causes weight gain.
French take care of it by eating more of saturated fats.
Smart people!
They consume less added sugar.
To ensure this, they have very strict purity laws which are implemented with care.
Number 4: Keeping it Natural
This is an approach that is followed in French culture very judiciously.
The food here has less to no additives.
Who said the ideal meal is a myth?
If you live here for a long time, eating everything from bread, to cookies, to snacks, to microwaveable
meals, you’ll have a tough time digesting their counterparts your country has to offer.
It is because of the “real foods” you get in this country.
If you wish to know what it is and the benefits are, watch our video on “21 Reasons To Eat
Real Food” linked down below.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD0qSCV0iFo)
Back to keeping it a hundred.
French, in fact, prefer full-fat dairy and homemade bread.
Home fermented bread dough has lesser phytates and anti-nutrients.
This increases the bioavailability of nutrients.
They also love cooking.
Am I even surprised about it?
Nah.
But, they prefer making smaller quantities of food at once.
Now, that’s the hack.
A French household also would prefer re-stocking veggies about three times a week.
This ensures not only a freshly cooked meal but also freshly bought raw ingredients.
They also tend to keep traditional foods just the way they are.
No fiddling with authentic recipes ensures standard nutrition.
Most importantly, there is no fortification of food allowed here like in other countries.
Pay close attention to this one.
Most countries have mandatory laws to fortify supplied food with externally added iron and
synthetic vitamins.
Yes, it is done intentionally.
Added Iron can lead to health problems due to its high oxidative potential.
It can interfere with microbial life, a.k.a normal body flora.
It can also increase the risk of Alzheimer's and heart diseases.
Synthetic vitamins, like vegetable oils of GMO origin, can increase insulin resistance,
leading to Diabetes mellitus.
This can explain why people consuming European grain have far less health problems.
Number 5: Snack Control
Nowhere more than France is snacking taken more seriously.
Fast food and snack product manufacturers have to mandatorily run warning during advertising
their products.
Such warnings typically say things like “Snacking between meals causes weight gain,” or “It
is recommended to have at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.”
Imagine Macdonald’s having this written on their burger boxes!
To be frank, the French just don’t need a snack.
Why?
Well, because they are a snack.
Haha!
Kidding.
The truth is, as they have more fat consumption, they feel hungry between meals less often.
That’s what you call benefits of making smart food choices.
Take notes, World!
Number 6: Natural Detox
French’s obsession with hot water with lemon juice and yoghurt is another secret to good
health.
Even though they prefer being discreet about it, this obsession is key to their healthy
skin and physical well-being.
They prefer water at any hour of the day over sugary drinks like Soda.
These little but effective steps help them in flushing out waste.
Plus, having yoghurt on a daily basis help replenish the gut with probiotic organisms
which leads to better digestion
And, we know it very well.
A healthy gut means a healthy body.
So, what do you think is the correct approach to maintaining a healthy body weight?
Small lifestyle changes or sweating it out in the gym at the end of the day?
Let us know in the comments sections below.