What in US food supply causes weight gain and inflammation?

[Anonymous]

I have family and work in Europe and have to go to Europe for work and family regularly. Many years ago, I noticed that whenever I went to Europe I lost a few pounds effortlessly every time, even if it felt like I was eating all the time there. And that has happened every single time I’ve gone: I go to Europe, I lose 5-10 lbs effortlessly (depending on length of stay), I come back and gain it back immediately. I also noticed that I felt less bloated and had less aches and pains. So I started tracking things more rigorously. At first I thought maybe it was portion sizes, but I don’t eat huge portions in the US and have a pretty healthy diet here. When I tracked food it became clear, I eat MORE food in Europe and it’s less healthy (more restaurants, etc.). Then I thought it was more walking, but I have a fitness tracker and while I walk slightly more in Europe, I also don’t do my hard workouts when I am there so I think that’s a wash.

I just returned a week ago and after a few days back in the US, I felt bloated and I noticed a lot more aches and pains, even though I’m now eating healthy home cooked food I prepared myself. I lost seven pounds on this last trip but have already regained two. I’ve come to the conclusion there is something I eat here that my body doesn’t react well to. I eat a reasonably healthy diet here (proteins are fish, poultry, and tofu, for instance). I don’t do anything strict like low carb or vegan. I don’t eat sweets often.

How do I figure this out? As I get older, the difference in how I feel is becoming more and more noticeable. I’ve been back a week and I just feel kind of low-grade worse, especially the stiffness. I think it must be something in my diet but how do I figure this out?

[Anonymous]

Is alcohol intake a variable?

[Anonymous]

Sugar, wheat and corn by products, chemicals. Stick to whole foods nothing processed. Organic meat, fruits and veg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is alcohol intake a variable?

I definitely drink more when in Europe, by which I mean I have a glass of wine at dinner on weekdays in Europe but I don’t do that here. I drink maybe a a glass of wine a week here in the US. I hate beer and rarely drink hard alcohol (half strength gin and tonics when I do).

[Anonymous]

-Our flour is highly processed.
-Our pasta is also highly processed, not made of the same durum wheat as Italian pasta.
-Our soil is extremely depleted of nutrients.
-There's hidden sugars in everything

[Anonymous]

GMOs
Addiction to alcohol and sugar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-Our flour is highly processed.
-Our pasta is also highly processed, not made of the same durum wheat as Italian pasta.
-Our soil is extremely depleted of nutrients.
-There's hidden sugars in everything

+1

Also the unchecked pesticides are killing our gut bacteria and cause chronic inflammation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have family and work in Europe and have to go to Europe for work and family regularly. Many years ago, I noticed that whenever I went to Europe I lost a few pounds effortlessly every time, even if it felt like I was eating all the time there. And that has happened every single time I’ve gone: I go to Europe, I lose 5-10 lbs effortlessly (depending on length of stay), I come back and gain it back immediately. I also noticed that I felt less bloated and had less aches and pains. So I started tracking things more rigorously. At first I thought maybe it was portion sizes, but I don’t eat huge portions in the US and have a pretty healthy diet here. When I tracked food it became clear, I eat MORE food in Europe and it’s less healthy (more restaurants, etc.). Then I thought it was more walking, but I have a fitness tracker and while I walk slightly more in Europe, I also don’t do my hard workouts when I am there so I think that’s a wash.

I just returned a week ago and after a few days back in the US, I felt bloated and I noticed a lot more aches and pains, even though I’m now eating healthy home cooked food I prepared myself. I lost seven pounds on this last trip but have already regained two. I’ve come to the conclusion there is something I eat here that my body doesn’t react well to. I eat a reasonably healthy diet here (proteins are fish, poultry, and tofu, for instance). I don’t do anything strict like low carb or vegan. I don’t eat sweets often.

How do I figure this out? As I get older, the difference in how I feel is becoming more and more noticeable. I’ve been back a week and I just feel kind of low-grade worse, especially the stiffness. I think it must be something in my diet but how do I figure this out?

The exact same situation happens with me when I visit relatives in the Middle East over the summer. I have no idea what’s driving it but I’m just validating what you have experienced!

[Anonymous]

OP, while your memory is fresh, write a food journal of a few days or the entire trip. Everything you ate. Restaurant food, food that you or someone else cooked, snacks, everything.

Then write a food journal for this weekend and next week. You'll be able to compare directly. Is it the wheat (bread, pasta)? Different types of vegetables, or the preparation? The proteins? Compare side-by-side and see what is the same or similar and what is different.

[Anonymous]

There’s tons of sugar in everything in the US— everything. And hidden sodium. Most cultures use both salt and sugar in their dishes, but it’s taken to an extreme here.

[Anonymous]

It says a lot that every comment on this thread has no sources...

[Anonymous]

It’s anecdotal, but I’m right there with you. I went to the Netherlands in March, ate whatever I wanted, walked maybe 1-2 miles a day, and lost five pounds in a week. I have to skip meals and seriously restrict my portions to lose weight in the US.

[Anonymous]

Industrial bread products in the US are forced to rise quickly and contain significantly more added gluten.The flour also contains more gluten to being with.

There is more high fructose corn syrup in everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GMOs
Addiction to alcohol and sugar

Good and processed snacks with chemicals that stimulate appetite.

[Anonymous]

Agree and they just looks SO MUCH BETTER.