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Eat, Drink and Be Marry
Is there a country-specific secret to eternal health and slenderness?
Football fans, and those who pretend to be, are stocking their fridges with game friendly finger food in preparation for the looming World Cup. From crisps to beers, the options are limitless. Most markets even have special displays beckoning customers to buy the special snacks, special because their packaging now includes the FIFA logo. The fever of the tournament can easily cause a few impulse purchases, but with the worldwide phenomena of obesity on the rise, the snacks reached for are indicative of a bigger problem.
Children once played football wherever there were a few meters of space and something vaguely resembling a ball to kick around. Contemporarily, this is beginning to sound like a fairytale of days gone by as more and more youngsters plop themselves alongside their gaming console. Instead of imitating their favourite players on the schoolyard, they pretend to be Fernando Torres in the EA Sports FIFA 10 for their Xbox. Potentially robbing the world of the future Pele, the lifestyle also encourages consistent munching and children are even less likely than their adult counterparts to reach for baby carrots or apple slices when engrossed in a football match.
The problems associated with the sedentary and rich in junk food lifestyle include obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The rate of occurrence for each varies greatly between countries and its specifics have long puzzled researchers. In the United States, 48.3% of women and 44.2% of men are very overweight as indicated by the Body Mass Index measure of the World Health Organization for 2010. Japan, on the other hand, hardly feels the problem with only 1.1% of women and 2.3% of men falling into the category. Coincidentally the Japanese are also known for their very active older population, bringing forth the question - what are they doing right and how can others imitate it?
As in most of Southeast Asia, rice is the basic staple of the Japanese diet. Other common ingredients include soy, fish, local fruits and vegetables. Using these when cooking is just part of the secret of how not to get old, fat or sick the Japanese way. Processed sugars and chocolates are supplemented with green tea infused desserts or dried edamame mixed with wasabi. Both aid in digestion and surpass the standard Western choices of M&M's or Doritos on every consideration of what is healthier. Portion control and daily activity further contribute to the fact that the island nation also enjoys the longest lifespan and can easily expect to be free from any debilitating diseases well into their seventies.
Not all European countries are far behind the Japanese model. The French, Belgians, Danish and Dutch are also considered to have a relatively tolerable percentages of the population classified as having high-risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Mireille Guiliano, author of the bestseller "French Women Don't Get Fat", depicts the French diet as being based on eating mindfully and seasonally. By favouring fresh, local produce and squeezing in daily exercise, she actually repeats some of the same ideas that have helped keep the Japanese healthy. The Danish consume the praiseworthy fish oils, while the notorious bicyclists of the low countries focus on exercise and an occasional balansdag to make up for a gluttonous day. Known for their French-style cuisine and German portions, the relatively low rates of obesity in Belgium are still somewhat baffling.
What seems to save the majority of continental Europe, including the Belgians, from reaching US levels is the joie de vivre that has become part of the wider European food culture. Amidst the chaos, there is still a presence of ritual preparation associated with meals and even in the rushed lunch between meetings, the idea of taking a moment break and actually enjoying a sandwich on a park bench is still feasible. Taking the time for a breather saves the midsection from expanding and gives the cardiovascular system a break from the high pace, high stress environment that has become a fait de vivre, both of which are healthy habits to keep.