Health Around the World

We're in the midst of our annual World-Wide Company Meeting, and people from all over the globe have traveled to spend some time together. Brazil, Sweden, India, Germany, Italy, France, and folks from all over the U.S. are represented.

I couldn't help but chat with people about health and diet, foods, etc. in their home countries. Universally, they all talk about the "portions" here in the U.S., and how overblown they've become. Breakfast is so huge, it's a big shock for many of them. And the quantity of food, over an extended period of time, is something they are not used to.

I delved a little deeper, talking with a friend that has lived in France for the past 15 years. I mentioned to him that French people seem so healthy, so much thinner than folks here in the U.S. He himself, a very fit guy, and smart to boot, as well as very friendly and kind. We talked about the French diet, how a Vegan like me probably couldn't make it in France, because there's an abundance of cheese, dairy, and different kinds of meats. He talked about the French day, and how the kids at schools are fed. Small portions, especially in the morning, frequent meals, no snacking in between, and the highest quality foods. Grass fed beef, small quantities. The freshest fruits and vegetables, with vegetables at every meal. Lunch is "big" but consists of lots of leafy fresh greens, and a small portion of meat and cheese. Wine daily, in small quantities. :)

I saw many people from Brazil. All of them are thin and healthy, with vibrant skin. They too, have small portions. The schools in Brazil have banned fried foods, and health for kids is very important. They eat lots of fresh fruits, and apples, bananas are available always. They have specialty produce markets, with the freshest fruits and vegetables, and extremely cheap. Beef there is always grass fed, in grand plains where they are allowed to roam. Like France, they are raised old-school. Beef tastes different in Brazil, much better, or so they tell me. They are happy and proud, and look amazing.

That posed some thoughts to me, and something I've been thinking about a while. Again, when people here close to me get sick, the first thing they ask me is, "Should I go Vegan?" And immediately, I say "No!" I explained that a while back, so I won't go into it. But, talking with my colleagues abroad have clarified this position. The equation for health is individual and complex. It does not universally apply. For me, maybe being Vegan is my best choice, and has worked well for me. For others, it may make them miserable. And that's no way to live. Look at the French and the Brazilians. They are not Vegan, but they are very healthy. Their lifestyle, their quality of food, is much different than ours here in the U.S. The way they eat, they way the emphasize certain foods, makes them (and their children) healthy. We could learn something from them.

Here's the bottom line for me. There is no right answer, it's always an ongoing experiment to see what works best for you. If you are struggling and unhealthy, take a look at what your eating, how much you're eating, when you're eating, how much or how little you exercise...look at it all. And make one small change. It could be as easy as this. You may drink Diet Soda by the buckets, maybe two cans a day, just because. Well, try drinking one can a day, and have water for the other time instead. And try this for 6 weeks, and see how you feel. Of course, go for a walk and do some exercise for 30 minutes a day, that will always help. But do that slowly as well. If you take a hard look at your lifestyle, make a small change, observe if it's good or bad for you, and do it for at least 6 weeks, then you can make your own lifestyle choices and decisions. Remember, we're all imperfect, we all struggle, so don't worry about it. Just sit back and observe the small change and it's rippling effect on how you feel. And then see what happens. Make another small change, heck have 1 diet soda every other day, and water for the rest. Do that for 6 weeks, and see what happens.

I'm with you on this. One of these days, I will probably visit Brazil or France, and sit down and sample some of that grass-fed beef just to see for myself. You nutty Vegans will think I'm blasphemous, go ahead, it's no big deal. For me, it's always an ongoing experiment and my personal choice.