Yes, Don, I am sure you are right.

It may also be related to the way they eat. I have listed a number of
differences below, but perhaps the most significant difference may be that
meals around the Mediterranean aren't eaten on the run, under stress. (The
various differences below are to be read together -- Mediterranean 1 with
British 1, and so on)

Mediterranean Eating Pattern
1. The average Mediterranean diet comprises natural, unprocessed meat,
vegetables and fruit, which are usually bought fresh daily.
 2. Meat plays an important part in the diet,
3. Meals are taken slowly, without hurrying. Lunch usually takes up to two
hours -- and is followed by a siesta.
4. Fats eaten are butter, olive oil and unprocessed animal fats
5. Over 60 percent of energy intake is before 2.00 pm
6. Wine (believed to be protective againt heart disease), is drunk during
meals as part of that meal.

British Eating Pattern
1. The average British diet is composed of packaged, highly processed foods,
high in concentrated carbohydrates, hydrogenated vegetable oils and
chemical additives.
2. We are told to eat less meat
3. Food is rushed. Lunches are eaten on the run or combined with work.
Often, they are junk food snacks.
4. Fats eaten are highly processed margarines, low fat fat substitutes, and
hydrogenated vegetable oils.
5. The largest meal is eaten in the evening
6. Beer, wines and spirits are drunk in the evening after the evening meal.


Barry Groves
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wiss" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 12:37 AM
Subject: French Paradox


> When people look for reasons for the French Paradox they look for what
they
> are adding to their diet to get protective benefits. Todd Moody suggests
> they are eating more organ meats and root vegetables. Recent news article
> suggest it comes from their drinking red wine. This focus on what to add
> probably comes from a marketing mentality. If we can just find what it is
> we can sell it to everybody else.
>
> I, on the other hand, have the theory that it comes from what they don't
> eat. So my theory is the paradox comes from their consuming less trans
> fats. They use real butter, not margarine. They tend not to deep fry
foods.
> French fries are pan fried in oil. In general they eat real foods, not
fake
> ones. Does this makes sense to anyone else?
>
> Don.