French Twists On Living Well and Looking Great
By Sandy Schroeder
Whenever people think of France, beauty and cuisine come to mind. Now, mindbodygreen.com has extracted some French tips to tell us how they do it.
Much of it seems to be about living simply, not wasting time or money on artificial efforts. See what you think.
Walk everywhere – The French walk to the market, to work, to meet their friends. Constant walking replaces intensive exercise, working to keep them healthy. The average person in France easily walks 10,000 steps, which is considered a daily walking goal.
Drink your coffee black – The French choose great coffees and use a French press to get the most flavor. Then they enjoy the flavor without milk or sugar.
Simplify skin care – Gentle daily skin care is used to create glowing skin that needs little makeup. Too many cosmetic chemicals can be hard on the skin, creating peeling, wrinkles, and dry skin.
Rethink family activities – In Paris, children adapt to the adult schedules on the weekend. In New York, weekend schedules tend to revolve around activities for kids. The best answer may be a mix of the two.
Embrace your age – Striving to look younger can go awry with too much artificial intervention. People come out looking as if they tried too hard. Parisian women say they want to be the best possible version of themselves. Think about your best assets. Then strive to keep them naturally beautiful.
Secrets to satisfaction – Completely denying your urge to eat sweets never works. But eating small bites of chocolate, honey or fruit, instead of huge pastries or lavish desserts, may help you stay slim and satisfied.
Shop carefully – The emphasis in France on fresh foods without preservatives works to improve the quality, and reduce the number of, processed foods. Following their lead, farmer’s markets can be used for fruits and vegetables, and local butchers or fish markets can supply the best fresh choices. Gradually healthier foods will replace junk food, hotdogs, and frozen pizza, reducing calories and lowering the fat and chemical content.
Take time to relax – Warm baths, natural facials and massages help us let go of tension to look and feel better.
Mix the old and the new – The French tend to avoid fads, but always want to know what is new. Then they mix the new in with their traditional approaches to beauty and health. We may not agree with everything, but it is interesting to consider.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.