The Swiss diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world – far outranking neighbors Germany and France, according to the Bloomberg Global Health Index. The bi-annual study of 169 countries found that there must be something to regularly eating foods like cheese, wine and chocolate.

But the Swiss do not simply consume food; their diet is also integral to their daily structure. Let’s take a closer look.

Zmorge (breakfast) is a fast and easy meal typically eaten around seven in the morning. Bread, cheese, fruit and coffee are traditional choices. Birchermüesli (oats soaked in milk with shaved apples) is also popular. Zmorge is meant to be a high-fat meal for a morning hike, although the typical Swiss person may only be commuting to the office. Healthiest countries in the world

“You will find milk, cheese and butter in almost every meal in Switzerland,” Caroline Hostettler said, owner of Quality Cheese. The former food journalist began importing her native Swiss cheese to Florida after moving there in the 1990s. She says Swiss cheese is not only superior in taste, but also in health benefits – something food researchers call the Alpine Paradox.

While a diet rich in butter, cream and cheese is usually linked to a higher incidence of strokes and heart attacks, the Swiss suffer from these causes of death far less than those in other countries. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that Switzerland ranks only second to Japan when it comes to life expectancy and a traditional Japanese diet is almost completely devoid of dairy.

According to a study led by Jürg H. Beer, milk from alpine grazing cows is high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fat – a combination which contributes to good heart health. Additionally, alpine dairy products contain a very high concentration of conjugated linoleic acid, which has been linked to halting the spread of cancer.

“There are more than 150 types of herbs, flowers and grasses in just a small portion of Alpine land that the cows graze on,” Hostettler said. “This biodiversity, paired with how much exercise the cows are getting in that thin, high altitude air (the equivalent of a professional athlete) is why this cheese has an ideal fat versus protein ratio.” Swiss health products

Znüni is a Swiss German word that is short for zu neun, which literally means “at nine o’clock.” The mid-morning snack is generally a croissant with a second cup of coffee. In many Swiss companies it is even encouraged for employees to take a short break and socialize as it is believed to improve productivity.

Zmittag (lunch) is not only a hot meal served midday, but also an hour for relaxation. It is not uncommon for children to go home from school and employees to leave the office. It is even considered disrespectful to create noise during Zmittag, therefore all construction ceases at lunchtime. A vegetable soup or meat dish are popular choices.