Why Italian women don't get fat: the main secrets of slimness

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Italy is a country of pizza and pasta, where the cult of food is more developed than in any other part of the globe. Despite this, Italians maintain good health and enviable slimness until old age. The great Sophia Loren repeatedly said: “Everything you see, I owe to pasta.” By the way, at 85, the actress looks great and even became the face of the Barilla pasta advertising campaign. This Italian “magic” is not magic at all, but a few simple rules that anyone can follow.

Natural products

The Italian diet is based on the rules of the Mediterranean diet (more precisely, the diet is based on the rules of the Italian diet). This popular food system around the world is more like a feast of hedonism than a diet. The mandatory set of products includes fresh vegetables and fruits, fish, poultry, olive oil, from dairy products – yogurt and cheese, red wine, pasta and baked goods. Nevertheless, experts have found that the Mediterranean diet not only does not allow weight gain, but is also able to reduce it.

But there are a few points that are worth paying attention to. The Mediterranean diet practically excludes added sugar, saturated fats, red meat, convenience foods and artificial products. Pasta is made with whole grain flour, tomato sauce for pizza and pasta is made with tomatoes grown in Italy, and fruit is a better alternative to desserts.

Lunch as a ritual

Lunch with an Italian family

When it's lunchtime, you're unlikely to meet an Italian on the street. For the inhabitants of this sunny country, lunch is a sacred ritual, for the sake of which you can put off all your affairs and forget about all your worries. Italians eat lunch at the same time, they never rush through their meals, they enjoy every bite of food and don't overeat. A plate of pasta is always accompanied by a glass (but only one) of red wine and a pleasant conversation. You'll never see an Italian who quickly devours their lunch and at the same time watches a show on YouTube. Such slow, thoughtful consumption of food allows it to be digested well and eliminates the possibility of overeating.

Not just pasta

Yes, pasta is indeed a dish from the daily Italian diet, but it is by no means the main one. Italians eat a huge amount of fresh vegetables, rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, which improves digestion and cleanses the body of toxins. A hearty lunch is compensated by a modest breakfast and dinner. Italians start the morning with a cup of espresso and some small bakery product, and for dinner they do not eat carbohydrates at all – instead, they have a small portion of dietary fish or poultry and a vegetable salad.

Active lifestyle

No one has canceled the role of physical activity in maintaining slimness and health. According to statistics, Italians are one of the most active nations in the world. They walk, run, swim, ride bicycles, dance and go to fitness. This is something they have been accustomed to since childhood, which has long become a way of life, and therefore is not perceived as an effort on themselves.

Surely, if you have been to Italy, you have noticed that even elderly residents of the country necessarily walk through the streets of the city or along the beach. Such continuous activity not only helps to burn more calories and keep yourself in shape, but also significantly improves health indicators.