Question

Cardiovascular Disease has long been an epidemic in our country but not in some European countries, even though they have a diet high in fat, alcohol, and many of them smoke (the French being the best example). What explanation can you provide for that?

Answer 1

In some European countries, cardiovascular disease is not an epidemic for they have healthy diet and lifestyle especially the French adult who have an average of 30 to 60 minutes a day of moderate activity compared to Americans. Another reason of the lower incidence of both obesity and heart disease is the eating patterns of French where their portion size of food is relatively much smaller, unlike Americans that does not have portion control habits and often go for big sizes meal. 

Moreover, the French people has a healthy eating habits, consuming natural food by eating more than an average amount of vegetables and beans and less of fast food and frozen foods. Lastly, they consume wine that may have antioxidant effects and help keep bad cholesterol in a less-damaging form.

Answer 2

A contributing factor in the scarcity of cardiovascular diseases in the European countries is physical activity. An average French adult can attain to have at least 30-60 minutes of physical activity per day as opposed to an average American adult. 

The obesity percentage of European countries is far lower than that in the United States. Being overweight predisposes a person to cardiovascular diseases. 
 
Also, the diet of European people does not always contain fast food, processed food and the like.