5 Healthy Habits of Women Around the World

Women in other countries are healthier, and now, we know their secrets! Photo: Cavan Images, Flickr

We get a bad rap here in America, and with some of our unhealthy habits, it's at least somewhat well-deserved. Our portions are big, we drive everywhere and most of us do lots of things that don't help our waistlines (or our overall health).

Women's Health magazine took a look at some of the healthy things women in other countries do and came up with great, easy ways for us to incorporate some of those habits into our lives. No, we're probably not all going to suddenly become faux-Norwegians, eating vegetable soup with a bit of fresh fish for the majority of our meals or walking for our main mode of transportation. (There's a reason Norway is approximately 20 years behind the States on the obesity curve.)

But, taking a few tips from foreign lands could make a big difference.

• Japan -- Women in Japan live the longest, and, according to the mag, "At least 40 percent of the Japanese population eats miso soup made from soybeans for breakfast every day." So, add a little soy to your diet!
• France -- French women rarely suffer heart attacks. Their healthful trick? Drinking wine! One glass of wine each day could reduce your heart attack risk by a whopping 40 percent. Bottoms up, ladies.
• Italy -- You snooze, you lose. Weight, that is. From 1 to 4 p.m. each day, shops in Italy shut down so everyone can rest. That extra rest translates to extra energy, which means no calorie-laden snack in the afternoon. Nighty-night!
• Switzerland -- Walk off the weight like the Swiss. Hey, if they can stay slim with all the cheese and chocolate there, we should take note. Nearly 30 percent of their trips are taken on foot, and 10 percent by bike. In America, just 1 percent get around by foot, and 9 percent cycle. Lace up your walking shoes and get to it!
• Iceland -- Something's fishy about women in Iceland -- they're really, really happy, even though their winter is longer and darker than most of us can imagine. Their good mood stems in part from their diet, which includes 225 pounds of cold water fish per person each year.