Cardiovascular disease has long been an epidemic in our country but not in some european countries, even though they have a diet high in fat, alcohol, and many of them smoke (the french being the best example). what explanation can you provide for that?

There are two significant factors that contribute to Americans having significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease than Europe which can be attributed to diet and lifestyle. Although there is the presence of fat in the diet in Europe, the U. S. diet contains significant amounts of processed foods and fast food. The lifestyle in the U. S. also has more life stress. The counter example to this is the longer amount of vacation times in Europe and a more relaxed pace towards working, exemplified by the Spanish siesta or after lunch rest/nap.