The Reasons why the French Stay so Thin

The French people are known for eating well. They partake in rich foods, drink a lot of wine, and they smoke. Yet, they are on a whole, thin and fit. This doesn’t seem to be something that should work based on what we (think) we know about food, dieting, calories, and so on.  There are many diet plans that come out of the French idea, such as the Dukan diet, and some of them seem really good, some of them not so much. It is undeniable though that French people are on the whole thin and fit, and many who go to live in France for a time lose weight, so what exactly is going on there?

Part of the reason why the French can eat the way they do may be the fact that they actually revere food. We live in a very busy world and we don’t really have a lot of time to sit and eat long meals. We eat quickly and simply do not take the time to truly enjoy our food. However, the French do not do this. They take the time to savor every bite of food. They take their time and eat at their leisure. In the end, that may make a huge difference. Instead of eating what’s in front of them so fast that their stomach cannot signal it is full, they might eat more than they need. However, slowing down gives the stomach and brain a chance to communicate and therefore they eat only as much as they need, keeping them thinner.  Also, something that makes a difference is portion size.  The French generally eat rich foods, but they keep their portions rather small.  Of course, there are lots of reasons why the French stay thin, which may explain the popularity of diets like the Dukan diet, that are based on the French eating philosophies.   The simplest ways perhaps to get some of the benefits are to enjoy food, eat smaller amounts of whatever you are eating, and be active in whatever way you can. The French, after all, are rather famous for their love of love, and are quite active in pursing that activity.