With its temperate climate, touching the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, France stands in the middle of European cultures. France also stands in the middle of the mosaic of European drinking cultures, as a bridge country between the social and cultural habits of Europe. The French cuisine consists of almost four times more butter and three times more lard, and they have higher cholesterol levels and blood pressures, than do Americans. Yet just 7 percent of the French population is obese and relatively heart disease free, compared to the 22 percent of Americans who are obese and the highest levels of heart disease are present in the world (University of Pennsylvania). Their diet is rather indulgent by American standards, yet they seem to maintain a healthy, balanced, slender lifestyle. The result of the phenomenon is termed the French Paradox. The French Paradox is the perplexing connection between France's rich cuisine, their slender population, and their good health from the drinking of red wine.
France is currently in the midst of a debate whether the French paradox is actually to be considered a paradox. According to Paul Rozin, Professor of Psychology at Penn "The French Paradox is only a paradox if one assumes that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease." The French overall consume slightly less calories but yet have higher fat content in their foods than Americans. Over the years a higher calorie count would cause substantial weight gain in Americans but is not the cause for the high incidence of heart disease. Over looked by Rozin was the French's consumption of red wine during meals causing the incidence of cardiovascular disease to be less than that of Americans. The French Paradox is the drinking of red wine that is attributed to the low incidence of heart disease in France (The French Paradox ). The benefit comes from both the alcohol content and the polyphenols found predominately in red wine.
