1. France – good advice
Always take your time: French women always eat with their families – never in front of the television. That means plenty of conversation and laughter over meals, which helps you eat much more slowly. The benefit: you notice sooner that you are full.
Comment: it takes 15-20 minutes after you start eating for the feeling of fullness to register in your brain. (Janika Jürgenson)
2. Sweden – incomplete advice
A white breakfast: yogurt, sour milk and quark are on Scandinavian tables from breakfast onwards. A good choice, because their high protein content makes you feel full quickly, and the calcium you absorb helps you lose body weight.
Comment: breakfast should contain protein, carbohydrates and fat. Have quark alongside porridge (with ground flaxseed), wholegrain bread with a slice of cheese alongside a boiled egg, and some fresh fruit on the side.
3. Brazil – good advice
Beans are excellent for filling you up and keeping your blood sugar levels within the normal range. Black beans grown in South America, which have a very sweet taste and are usually simmered in stews, are popular.
Comment: enrich your diet with beans by adding them to lentils and salads, or serving them alongside your main course.
4. Japan – mediocre advice
Cooking without fat: in the Land of the Rising Sun, food is usually steamed or cooked using the absorption method, and people also eat plenty of raw food. These cooking methods are very waistline-friendly because they use no fat.
Comment: you should avoid reusing fat that has already been heated, as well as using excessive amounts of fat. Still, we live in a northern climate, and we must not be afraid of fat. Eating fried meat (red or white) once a day at lunch poses no problem as part of a balanced diet.
5. Hungary
Sour foods help you slim down: pickled vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and mixed vegetables are very popular among Hungarians. They help you lose body weight because vinegar stabilizes blood sugar levels and reduces appetite.
6. India – mediocre advice
Following Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, Indian women prepare for meals with a pungent, lemon-flavored ginger drink. This brew stimulates metabolism and digestion. To make it, boil one nut-sized piece of ginger with a quarter of a lemon in half a liter of water for 10 minutes, then leave it to steep.
Comment: drinking tea does not make anyone slim. Review your diet to ensure it is varied and balanced and provides the vitamins and minerals you need. If you need help, turn to a [url=http://www.fitness.ee/veebitreener]personal trainer[/url], who can guide you.
7. England – poor advice
Skip dinner now and then – this is not only effective against aging but also helps reduce body weight. Going without dinner triggers the release of growth hormones during the night, slowing fat storage and increasing muscle mass.
Comment: in a balanced, structured diet, every meal is crucial. You need to eat; skipping meals should be strictly off limits. Consult [url=http://www.fitness.ee/veebitreener]knowledgeable professionals[/url] if you need help. The [url=http://forums.fitness.ee/index.php?/forum/70-toitumine/]Fitness.ee forum[/url] also has pages of useful advice on nutrition.
8. China – mediocre advice
Chinese women’s slimming secret is fermented oolong tea, also known as red tea. This tea promotes fat burning, while substances it contains also help remove waste products released when fat tissue breaks down. The ideal amount: spread 5-6 cups throughout the day.
Comment: once again, tea does not make anyone slim. You need to drink plenty of water every day. The recommended 5-6 cups of tea already provide enough fluid to help you feel better, but that fluid could just as well be plain water.
9. Turkey – poor advice
Snack variety: sunflower seeds are Turkey’s favorite snack. With their many vitamins and minerals and high protein content, they are much better than pastries. Buy seeds in their shells and shell them yourself to make them last longer.
10. South Africa – mediocre advice
Hoodia, the desert flower: South Africa’s indigenous peoples already knew that this cactus-like plant helps reduce appetite. Here in Estonia, you can buy hoodia powder in shops and dissolve it in yogurt, a protein shake or a smoothie.
Comment: you develop an appetite when you are hungry or have taken your diet to extremes. Consult your trainer. If you do not want to do that, review your vitamin intake instead to make sure it meets your daily needs.
11. The Caribbean – mediocre advice
The power of enzymes: exotic fruits such as pineapple and papaya are ideal diet companions because they contain large amounts of enzymes that help break down and digest carbohydrates, protein and even fat.
Comment: physical activity helps break down carbohydrates, protein and fat. If you eat more calories in a day than you need, you will obviously gain weight. Eating extra fruit will not solve the problem.
12. United States – questionable
Plenty of protein: New York women “melt” their fat stores with protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and eggs. These are accompanied by vegetables and salads, but carbohydrates such as noodles, potatoes and bread are virtually absent from their diets. Protein-rich foods keep you full for longer, and stable insulin levels keep your appetite under control.
Comment: when you think of Americans, McDonald’s, ice cream, doughnuts and excess weight come to mind. And only physical activity combined with a balanced diet “melts” fat stores.
Author: Janika Jürgenson
Come and train! ArtGym
