Mon, 28 May 2012
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Robert Bullock shares his insight on why the French are healthier and fitter than the English despite their love of wine and lack of enthusiasm for jogging.
Red wine has long been thought to have health-giving properties. My first French neighbour, Guy, assured me it strengthened the heart, before his heart gave in temporarily! He assured me later that a couple of dodgy oysters were to blame and that the red wine had given his heart the strength to restart! His sombre advice to me about staying healthy: Don’t drink wine when it’s young! Leave it to mature. And watch those oysters!
The French’s love for robust red wines and their culture of taking ample time to digest food may make the French healthier, but are they also fitter than their English cousins? 
Robert Bullock is a British children's writer. He lived in the Poitou Charente area of South West France for seven years. His first book is Noah Ramsbottom and the Cave Elves. His second book Sam Marsh the Viking King was released at the end of 2009. His website is www.ninnylizard.com .
Robert,
I would wager that you haven't walked past a town centre Quick on a Saturday afternoon recently, as the queues show that the French like their burgers and fries just as much as the Brits do.
And perhaps you don't work in an office in France either, because although my colleagues (all French) and I do generally try to go out for an hour's lunch break to sit down to eat, there are also many occasions when we grab a sandwich just like the British. And sad to say, we never drink a carafe of wine at lunch time.
On the fitness side, my local park is full of joggers every weekend and many of my colleagues run to keep fit.
I think life in a French city (I live in Nantes) has got many similarities to life in a British city. I work similar if not longer hours in France, office culture is on the whole pretty similar to the UK although more hierarchical (I work for a French company, not a multi-national), people my age in France have very similar lifestyles to my friends in the UK, and even my parents' generation isn't so different (comparing my French in-laws and their friends to my parents).
The lifestyle you portray may reflect life in rural France, but in the cities it's not so different from the other side of the Channel.
Perhaps it is the long holidays...
I think it's less what they eat and drink than that they eat in moderation and they enjoy life. They don't agonize over calorie counts or fat percentages, and they have fun with friends and family. Their lifestyle has far less stress than ours because they have different priorities. I know plenty of Americans who obsess over diet and exercise...not particularly happy people. I have decided that I'd rather live 80 years happily than 90 grimly.
I was a guinea pig in the Monica Project, it was one source of the view of the fitness of the French, however stats of what the french die from seems to disprove that the french are fitter than others.
Robert,
I would wager that you haven't walked past a town centre Quick on a Saturday afternoon recently, as the queues show that the French like their burgers and fries just as much as the Brits do.
And perhaps you don't work in an office in France either, because although my colleagues (all French) and I do generally try to go out for an hour's lunch break to sit down to eat, there are also many occasions when we grab a sandwich just like the British. And sad to say, we never drink a carafe of wine at lunch time.
On the fitness side, my local park is full of joggers every weekend and many of my colleagues run to keep fit.
I think life in a French city (I live in Nantes) has got many similarities to life in a British city. I work similar if not longer hours in France, office culture is on the whole pretty similar to the UK although more hierarchical (I work for a French company, not a multi-national), people my age in France have very similar lifestyles to my friends in the UK, and even my parents' generation isn't so different (comparing my French in-laws and their friends to my parents).
The lifestyle you portray may reflect life in rural France, but in the cities it's not so different from the other side of the Channel.
Perhaps it is the long holidays...
I think it's less what they eat and drink than that they eat in moderation and they enjoy life. They don't agonize over calorie counts or fat percentages, and they have fun with friends and family. Their lifestyle has far less stress than ours because they have different priorities. I know plenty of Americans who obsess over diet and exercise...not particularly happy people. I have decided that I'd rather live 80 years happily than 90 grimly.
I was a guinea pig in the Monica Project, it was one source of the view of the fitness of the French, however stats of what the french die from seems to disprove that the french are fitter than others.
This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes information on business hierarchy, negotiations, and etiquette.
A listing of organizations in the Paris area that cater primarily to Americans living in France. Updated April 2011.
Our handy guide to the British community in Paris, from cricket clubs to Scottish country dancing lessons to where to find a jar of Marmite.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in France, from how to open a bank account to Islamic banking and investments.
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