There are as many ways to lose weight as there are countries and cultures on the planet. From Antarctica to Zanzibar, people throughout the world have developed their own unique ways to eat right and stay healthy.
Here's a look at 10 of the most interesting:
Thailand brings the heat. The hot and spicy food can boost your metabolism. More importantly it slows your eating, which is a good weight-loss strategy.
Poland stays home. Eating at restaurants—especially fast-food joints—usually means you're eating more calories and fat. Eat at home and you'll eat healthier.
Brazil is all about the rice and beans. Eating a diet based primarily on rice and beans has been clinically proven to lower your risk of becoming overweight by 14 percent.
Germany always gets off to a fast start. A whopping 75 percent of all Germans eat breakfast every day, which is an important tool to giving your body the energy it needs to start the day right—and fight off cravings.
Switzerland and something called "muesli." For 100 years, the Swiss have been eating muesli, a slow-digesting porridge of oats, fruit and nuts that keeps you satisfied for long periods of time, which means you won't be craving a snack.
England eats less.It's pretty simple in the U.K.: They eat smaller portions.
France is slow and steady. Although it sounds counterintuitive, longer mealtimes actually encourage less eating. In France, each meal lasts more than 30 minutes.
Russia eats what it grows. A lot of Russians have gardens, which encourages them to eat more vegetables, which are healthy, low-carb and low-calorie snacks.
Mexico loves its lunches. Eating the bulk of your daily calories at lunch gives your body more time to burn excess calories. That's how they do it in Mexico.
Hungary is hungry for pickles. Food that is pickled—cucumbers, bell peppers, cabbage and tomatoes—can reduce fat formation.
South Africa loves its tea. In South Africa, people love their rooibos tea, which has a robust flavor and is naturally sweet. They drink this instead of coffee, which usually requires sugar and other flavors. This saves them hundreds of calories a day and thousands a year.
