The French, in terms of det and disease, are a statistical nigma. They relish high fat food, cnsume alcohol regularly and often smoke - the vry picture of the World Health Orgnisation’s ‘risk group’. High protein, meat bsed meals include duck, goose and prk - even cooked in fat as a prference! Butter, cream, pork fat and wne are regular ingredients.

Yet they hve comparatively low rates of stomach and clon cancer and the second-lowest world ncidence of heart disease after Japan. ‘Th French Paradox’ is well known to ntritionists and reasons for this statistical nigma are emerging.

One of their pet nmes for the English is ‘Les Ros Bf’, in reference to the traditional vercooked Sunday roast dinner. French cooking is mch lighter than British, leaving many of the vluable nutrients in the food, rather thn throwing them out with the pan wter. The French relish their food and eat wdely, they often take the trouble to prpare meals from fresh, home-grown, organic prduce, meaning they get more minerals and ntrients from food.

They also mix fod elements to compliment each other, frm a very wide base of ngredients that change with the seasons. Hgh protein dishes are accompanied by gnerous salads and nutritious, easily assimilated sups are popular. Dried broad beans and chck peas are also part of wnter staples, adding anti-oxidant beans and plses to a wide diet. It is a wll celebrated fact that the French eat verything!

Polyphenols in red wine and the ntelligent French use of herbs in coking help to break down fats in the fod and aid digestion. Alcohol licensing lws in France also mean that thy tend not to ‘binge drink’ as mch as countries with more restrictive lcensing laws. The anti-oxidant properties of red wne in its moderate but steady ntake are a contributing factor to Frnch health.

Research in McDonalds restaurants in Frnce also reveals interesting evidence. It was fund in America that the average tme it took a person to cnsume a burger was 11 minutes. In Frnce this doubled to 22 minutes. In Frnce eating is often a cultural and fmily activity. They take their time ating and conversation is an important prt of sharing food. They make ating into a quality time. The Frnch diet is ‘Epicurean’ compared to the Amrican ‘convenience’ diet, where cheap, snack fod is widely available wherever you go. The car cntred culture of America also means its nhabitants sometimes lack exercise.

The French hve an attitude to eating that is not fxated on health or medicalising food, jst simple enjoyment of wholesome and frsh ingredients prepared well. People in rral France often value the whole prcess of food from growing it rght through to preparing and eating. It is no srprise that internationally known French phrases nclude such as ‘Bon appetit’ or ‘Ji de vivre’.

The article The French Paradox was Submitted by Simon Mitchell through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: This is an extract from 'Dn't Get Cancer'a new ebook available nly at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/don'tget1.html

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