It's no secret that the United States is not a very healthy country. While so many other countries in the world are suffering from mass malnutrition, we seem to have the opposite problem with over consumption. Perhaps if the United States looked at the following countries and their lifestyles and diet then perhaps the Americans could take the first steps into becoming a healthier culture.
1.) Greece: The Greek island of Crete is known for its peoples happiness and long lived lives. Their secret? A diet full of different kinds of fish, a glass of white wine with dinner, and always eating with your family for dinner. The people of Crete have a saying of 'not eating too fast so you can enjoy the food God has given you,' which also means they eat very slowly to savor each bite to not get too full.
2.) Japan: The Japanese like to see their meals as works of art, rather than something you briefly look at before you devour it. They too are big on eating lots of fish as well as soy and seaweed. Another factor into the healthfulness of this culture is their love for green tea which has endless health benefits.
3.) Iceland: As for a country that is so cold, you would think that this culture would not get out and exercise much. However, Iceland is one of the most active populations ever. Icelanders take advantage of all the snow and love to participate in winter sports.
4.) Sweden: As a country that dominates in the winter Olympics, of course they love to exercise. And on top of all the skiing, the people of Sweden are known for their methods of cooking, avoiding sautéing in oil they use methods like smoking, poaching, and drying.
5.) New Zealand: For such a small populated country, the people all live similar lifestyles of lots of hiking, camping, and outdoor activities. New Zealanders are known for eating lots of locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, which are shared among the community creating a unique bond between the people.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
