Life
6 Healthy Eating Habits We Should Steal From Other Countries
Here in America, we unfortunately aren’t very well-known for our healthy eating habits. Between our overload of fast food restaurants, processed and packaged foods, and growing obesity rates, we lag far behind many countries when it comes to public health. Despite our growing awareness of health concerns, the Standard American Diet (appropriately abbreviated SAD) is really nothing to brag about.
In our attempts to eat healthier, we could definitely take a lesson from the rest of the world when it comes to their eating habits. To help kickstart our country’s quest for better health, we’ve come up with a list of the best eating practices from countries around the world that we all should adapt.
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Japan: Eat more fish
The Japanese diet is abundant in fish, and because of this, they have a lower risk of heart disease, better mental health, and live longer overall. Japanese people get a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids from the average of three ounces of fish they eat daily, so take their lead and go ahead and load up on that sushi.
India: Spice up your life
Typical Indian food is filled with spices such as turmeric, cumin, curry, and cinnamon, which all have their own health benefits. These range from increased immunity, inflammation reduction, DNA repair, and blood sugar regulation. Spicing your food not only adds flavor, but helps keep your body function better as well.
Greece: Eat your fats
These Mediterranean-dwellers don’t shy away from fats, instead opting for heart-healthy choices such as nuts, olive oil, and avocado. This increased intake of monounsaturated fats leads to a longer life expectancy, reduced blood pressure, and lower risk of heart disease.
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France: Drink more red wine
Studies have found that despite French people’s higher intake of saturated fats, they have a low rate of coronary heart disease overall. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the country’s high wine consumption; red wine contains antioxidants that help lower cholesterol and prevent artery damage. Cheers to that!
Holland: Load up on those veggies
Yes, even potatoes count. Traditional Dutch meals typically contain a high amount of vegetables as well as a side of potatoes along with their main course. According to a recent study, The Netherlands was even ranked number one in the world when it came to healthy eating measurements, likely because they have such great access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Israel: Increase your beans and legumes
Like Holland, Israel has been found to be one of the healthiest countries in the world when it comes to food consumption. A typical Israeli diet is high in grains, beans, and legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, and couscous, which are great plant-based sources of protein and fiber.
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