{"id":281999,"date":"2025-07-22T08:11:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/281999\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T08:11:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:11:25","slug":"french-health-expert-says-women-dont-get-fat-when-they-eat-with-their-five-senses-what-does-that-mean-health-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/281999\/","title":{"rendered":"French health expert says women don\u2019t get fat when they \u2018eat with their five senses\u2019, what does that mean? | Health News"},"content":{"rendered":"

French people seem to enjoy all the things that are usually blamed for weight gain\u2014bread, cheese, wine, even dessert\u2014yet somehow they rarely look overweight. Is it magic, or just a different way of living?<\/p>\n

During a Health Harbour interview, a French health expert listed out the possible reasons why: \u201cFrench women eat for pleasure, and they eat with their five senses. No counting calories \u2014 because that\u2019s boring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

According to her, they eat slowly, take the time, and put the knife and fork down between bites. \u201cIf you eat slowly and not in a stressful situation, your tastebuds will be satisfied after a few bites, so you don\u2019t need to eat much,\u201d she further explained, adding: \u201cWe don\u2019t like low fat, sugar less this and that because it doesn\u2019t taste good. I mean, butter is not something that\u2019s bad for you. Chocolate too. Eating duck fat is not bad for you, but not if you are eating it three times a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s no guilt around food<\/strong><\/a>, just a natural rhythm that keeps things in balance. Portions aren\u2019t huge, but they\u2019re satisfying, and people don\u2019t graze all day.\u00a0And walking is a part of daily life.<\/p>\n

Portion control<\/p>\n

\u201cConsciously managing the amount of food and drinks consumed in each sitting, individuals naturally reduce their calorie intake without feeling deprived. This leads to gradual and sustainable weight loss or maintenance, making it easier to achieve fitness goals,\u201d said Dt Deepali Sharma, clinical nutritionist, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"eating The French like to eat together (Source: Freepik)<\/p>\n

According to Sharma, it encourages mindful eating habits, allowing the body to recognise hunger and fullness cues more effectively. \u201cNutrient intake becomes more balanced, reducing the risk of nutrient deficiencies or excessive consumption of unhealthy foods. As a result, energy levels improve, and individuals often experience better sleep, enhanced mood, and reduced risk of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity,\u201d said Sharma.<\/p>\n

Portion control also supports heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Beyond physical changes, people often report improved energy levels, better sleep, and enhanced focus. \u201cEmotionally, it promotes a healthier relationship with food, reducing guilt and stress around eating. Importantly, it encourages mindful eating habits, learning to listen to hunger cues rather than eating out of boredom or habit.<\/p>\n

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Eating slowly<\/p>\n

Eating slowly, on the other hand, offers numerous health advantages. When food is chewed thoroughly, digestive enzymes can work more effectively, ensuring better absorption and fewer gastrointestinal issues. By consuming food at a leisurely pace, there\u2019s a steadier release of sugar, aiding in better blood sugar control.\u00a0However, keep in mind that while slow eating is beneficial, exceedingly deliberate consumption has its drawbacks. \u201cIngesting food too slowly can lead to swallowing more air, which might result in increased gassiness post meals,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Notice your food thoroughly, including the colours, smells, sounds, textures, and flavours, and appreciate the nutritious meal placed in front of you, and be thankful for being able to consume it without any interruption. \u201cBe it physically or emotionally, understanding how the food is making you feel helps build a deeper connection with it,\u201d said Sharma. Actively listen to physical hunger cues and eat until you\u2019re full and practice distinguishing between true hunger and non-hunger triggers for eating.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"French people seem to enjoy all the things that are usually blamed for weight gain\u2014bread, cheese, wine, even…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":282000,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4318],"tags":[10453,105981,12272,105980,105977,105975,105,16588,1549,23118,105979,81913,4434,105978,88112,105976,16,15,734],"class_list":{"0":"post-281999","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-blood-sugar-control","9":"tag-clinical-nutritionist","10":"tag-digestion","11":"tag-dt-deepali-sharma","12":"tag-french-diet","13":"tag-french-paradox","14":"tag-health","15":"tag-healthy-eating-habits","16":"tag-metabolism","17":"tag-mindful-eating","18":"tag-no-guilt-food","19":"tag-nutrient-absorption","20":"tag-nutrition","21":"tag-pleasure-in-eating","22":"tag-portion-control","23":"tag-slow-eating","24":"tag-uk","25":"tag-united-kingdom","26":"tag-weight-loss"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114895879247825342","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281999\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}