Many of us these days are much more cognizant of what is good for us and what is not when we go out to buy ingredients for our family’s meals. Cutting out certain products and substituting them with others is clearly a good idea, and the ingredients we buy often have a significant impact on our family’s health.
If, on the other hand, you buy ingredients rather than ready-made meals, you’re likely to be off to a good start. However, one of the ‘facts’ you may have remembered while purchasing your materials may be incorrect.
When selecting meals and ingredients for recipes, you will frequently look for and avoid “saturated fat.” After all, medical evidence has conclusively established that saturated fat is connected to heart disease. So avoiding saturated fats will result in a healthier heart, which is obviously good news.
The French, on the other hand, are the issue. Allow me to explain. The French are known for their high-saturated-fat diet, which includes a lot of butter (they seem to cook everything in it! ), a lot of cheese (well, we already knew that!) and other dairy products. Nonetheless, the number of cases of coronary disease in France is substantially lower than in most other nations, notably the United States and the United Kingdom. So, what exactly is going on?
Nobody knows for sure because there doesn’t appear to be a single aspect that could explain the conundrum. However, there are a number of minor elements that are virtually certainly contributing to this healthier diet. So here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when shopping for ingredients for your brood.
First and foremost, red wine appears to be a solid choice. Of course, only in moderation, and certainly not for youngsters, but it is thought that resveratrol, a component of red wine, may help with longevity, cancer prevention, and even aging effects reduction.
Second, purchase fresh fish. Fish three times each week has such a great impact that it almost cancels out the puddings!
Finally, forget about avoiding high-fat and low-fat foods. The majority of these have a significantly greater sugar content. Full-fat products typically contain little or no added sugar, making them healthier.
Finally, consider your serving sizes. This is a crucial point since the French eat more courses but in smaller portions, and this appears to be a major element in explaining why, despite their fondness for cheese and wine, the French are substantially healthier as a nation!