2496: Living Healthier in Europe by Chalene Johnson on Unlocking the Secrets to A Healthy Lifestyle

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[00:01:42] This is Optimal Health Daily Episode 2496, Living Healthier in Europe by Shaline Johnson of Shalinejonson.com

[00:01:51] and I'm Dr. Neomaly. Hey there happy Monday and welcome back to Optimal Health Daily where I

[00:01:57] act as your narrator at the best health and fitness blogs all for free and always with a bit of my

[00:02:02] commentary at the end and don't forget we have a bunch of shows covering different topics.

[00:02:07] Just search for Optimal Living Daily in any podcast app to find all of them.

[00:02:12] But for now let's get right to it and start optimizing your life.

[00:02:21] Living Healthier in Europe by Shalinejonson of Shalinejonson.com

[00:02:27] Bonjour my partner and I are on our third trip to France, something we only dreamt about doing

[00:02:33] and I can't get enough. It's so gorgeous here, I should know I literally got so caught up in the

[00:02:38] beauty and mystique of this ocean front gem that I literally got lost. What was supposed to be a

[00:02:44] 40 minute walk, turn into two and a half hours with no cell phone service and just a few sentences

[00:02:49] from my freshman French class. It's crazy how much healthier the food is here. Even processed foods

[00:02:55] have so few ingredients compared to the very same product sold on the shelves in America.

[00:03:01] It just doesn't make any sense. America, we have to do better. I'm not exaggerating when I say

[00:03:07] everything tastes different. Olive oil, omelets, even the salads hit different here and it's true

[00:03:14] you literally walk everywhere. This healthy European lifestyle really suits us. Now why does

[00:03:20] everything taste better in Europe? Compared to the convenience driven restaurants we often

[00:03:26] experience in the US, the European countries we visited clearly appreciate slowing down and

[00:03:32] savoring life's simple pleasures and we are here for it. Overall lifestyle. In terms of everyday

[00:03:39] life, France and the US have some pretty distinct differences. In France, for example, people walk

[00:03:46] and bike around town enjoying leisurely activities. Their diet is all about fresh, whole foods

[00:03:52] and reasonable portions. And they really know how to balance work and play, taking time to enjoy

[00:03:58] life's little pleasures. Meanwhile in the US, sedentary behaviors and processed foods are more

[00:04:05] common. The focus is often on productivity and long work hours and convenience and efficiency

[00:04:11] sometimes supersede leisure. Potential explanations for lifestyle differences.

[00:04:18] 1. Culinary traditions and ingredient choices

[00:04:22] Many European countries have strong culinary traditions that prioritize quality,

[00:04:28] flavor and traditional cooking techniques over processed or fast food options.

[00:04:33] This emphasis on fresh ingredients can contribute to a healthier dining experience.

[00:04:39] 2. Smaller portion sizes

[00:04:42] Portions served in European restaurants are often smaller compared to those in the United States.

[00:04:47] This can help with portion control and preventing overeating as smaller portions tend to contain

[00:04:52] fewer calories. 3. Local sourcing

[00:04:57] European countries tend to have a stronger tradition of sourcing ingredients locally

[00:05:01] and supporting local farmers. This focus on local and seasonal produce may result in

[00:05:07] fresher and higher quality ingredients compared to the extensive industrial farming practices

[00:05:12] sometimes found in the United States. 4. Limited use of additives

[00:05:19] Food regulations in Europe generally have stricter guidelines on the use of artificial

[00:05:23] additives such as preservatives, flavor enhancers and artificial sweeteners. This can contribute to

[00:05:29] reduced consumption of processed foods and potentially lower exposure to certain additives.

[00:05:35] We can pretty easily adjust our daily pace and shift the way we view socializing meals,

[00:05:41] controlling our portions when dining out or limiting processed foods at home in the U.S. is easier

[00:05:46] said than done. Let's take a look at some of the differences in regulations surrounding those

[00:05:51] obstacles and how to overcome them. The FDA versus the EFSA

[00:05:57] Food additives

[00:05:59] The EFSA or European Food Safety Authority has a strict authorization process that establishes

[00:06:06] maximum limits for additives. The FDA or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

[00:06:12] permits certain substances to be added to food without undergoing pre-market approval.

[00:06:18] GMO approval

[00:06:20] The EFSA requires comprehensive scientific assessments to ensure the safety of any genetically modified

[00:06:27] organism or GMO before they can be introduced to the market. The FDA's approach to GMOs

[00:06:34] is more focused on the voluntary consultation process which doesn't involve mandatory safety

[00:06:40] assessments, transparency and public access. The EFSA allows the public to review the basis for

[00:06:47] their decisions. The FDA has faced criticism for its handling of public access to data.

[00:06:55] Implement a healthy European lifestyle by trying the following tips.

[00:07:00] Prioritize whole foods by focusing on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins,

[00:07:05] whole grains and dairy products. Pay attention to serving sizes and aim for moderation.

[00:07:11] It's about quality, not quantity. Slow down, enjoy the flavors and make meal time a relaxed

[00:07:18] and enjoyable experience. Walk or bike whenever possible and find ways to be more active throughout

[00:07:25] the day. Spend quality time with family and friends whether it's through shared meals,

[00:07:30] outdoor activities or having meaningful conversations. And create solid boundaries between work

[00:07:37] and personal life and make time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

[00:07:42] All in all, it's about making small changes that work for you. If you can, travel to Europe and

[00:07:48] see firsthand how much easier it can be to live a healthy lifestyle.

[00:07:55] You just listen to the post titled Living Healthier in Europe by Shaline Johnson of Shaline

[00:08:02] Johnson.com and I'll be right back with my commentary. Dr. Neil here for my commentary.

[00:08:08] A number of large population-based studies have been conducted looking at the lifespan,

[00:08:13] disease risk and even happiness levels between those that live on or around the Mediterranean sea

[00:08:20] and those that live elsewhere in the world like the US. What studies have repeatedly found is

[00:08:25] that those that live on or around the Mediterranean sea like France, Greece and Italy for example

[00:08:33] tend to live longer, healthier and happier lives when compared to the rest of us.

[00:08:38] Maybe they have good genetics? Well, that would only explain why a small percentage of those living

[00:08:44] in these countries live longer, healthier and happier lives. This is because it's not possible for

[00:08:49] every single person living in those countries to have the same exact genes for long-life health

[00:08:54] and happiness. Plus, researchers have found that when individuals move from these countries to say

[00:09:01] the US so they move from the Mediterranean to the US their lifespan decreases. They are more likely

[00:09:08] to suffer from a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes and then they tend to be less happy.

[00:09:14] So, all of this to say that it may have something to do with their lifestyle, not genetics.

[00:09:21] Just as today's author Shaline said, they tend to eat more nutritious foods in smaller portions.

[00:09:27] They move more. They experience less stress. All of the things we've already known help improve

[00:09:33] our quality of life. So to quote Shaline directly, yes, let's learn from those living in France

[00:09:39] and around the Mediterranean and do better. All right, that'll do it for today. I hope you have a

[00:09:45] great start to your week and I'll see you back here tomorrow as usual where your optimal life awaits.