Traveler Says Us Food Is Making Them 'Sick,' Internet Has Strong Opinions
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An American traveler's viral Reddit post about the stark contrast between food in the United States and Italy has ignited widespread discussion about diet, health and food quality in the U.S.
The post, titled "Travel made me realize US food is making me sick," was shared by u/Temporary-Night-275 in the r/Vent subreddit. The post, which details the traveler's experience after returning from a trip to Italy, has amassed 30,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments since it was posted on June 4.
The poster, who is in their 20s but did not share their name, told Newsweek that they live in the Midwest and work in health care.
"I'm just so mad at the food in the US," the poster wrote. "I left for two weeks to Italy. My mood was better, my awareness was better. I could eat wheat (I'm extremely gluten intolerant and it messes with my autoimmune disease if I eat it among a multitude of other symptoms) with gluten pills with minor bloating.
"I had some of the best food, best health feelings—other than muscle soreness from walking so much—I've ever had in my life. It's made me have so much resentment for U.S. food. I mean even my skin cleared up quite a bit overseas."
Dr. Sandip Sachar, a New York City dentist with a background in nutrition studies, told Newsweek: "It is quite possible the Reddit poster's experience was accurate and has validity."
Sachar explained: "Italy does not add fluoride to its public water supply. Unlike countries such as the United States, where water fluoridation is a public health measure to prevent tooth decay, Italy has never implemented artificial water fluoridation programs.
"Despite not adding fluoride to its water supply, Italy does not have significantly higher caries [tooth decay] rates compared to the U.S. within similar socioeconomic populations."
She added that diet and culture likely play a role: "Food isn't rushed or eaten on the go."
A 2018 study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine highlighted broader concerns about American dietary habits. The study said "that most chronic diseases that afflict Americans are predominantly lifestyle induced; and the belief is that the vast majority of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented if people were willing to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors."
The study noted: "Over the past 50 years, the health of Americans has gotten worse, and now 71 percent of Americans are overweight or obese…today, eating processed foods and fast foods may kill more people prematurely than cigarette smoking."
Stock image of a table spread with various American-themed foods, including hot dogs, burgers and potato chips.
Stock image of a table spread with various American-themed foods, including hot dogs, burgers and potato chips.
Getty
The traveler explained in the viral post: "I eat pretty healthy—I love snacking on veggies. It just makes me so mad that having any kind of sugar is just too much here [the U.S.]. Sugar and wheat and whatever else is just so much harder on my body here than Italy."
The poster told of how was initially "too nervous" to try gluten while abroad, after not having had it in 10 years. However, when they did, the reaction was mild.
The poster told Newsweek: "I didn't wake up the next day feeling like I got hit by a bus. I didn't have the skin irritation. I didn't have massive weight gain, just bloating and cramping.
"When I took my gluten enzymes, it basically resolved the effects in a couple hours. And this was after eating pizza, bread and pasta. Everything I ate just tasted not only better, but just better quality. It's really hard to explain. I just could tell it was cleaner."
Reflecting on life back in the U.S., the poster said: "Overall, since [my travels], I have adopted some foods from overseas and try to buy organic and imported [foods]. I have continued to feel better, but there's only so much I can do when organic costs more…all I can say there is definitely a difference in quality, taste and overall feeling from the foods I had [abroad]."
Food in Italy vs. the US
Sachar told Newsweek: "Italy's traditional Mediterranean diet is low in added sugars. It is high in fiber, healthy fats, like olive oil, and antioxidants. Generally speaking Italian food is based on more real, minimally processed food."
She added: "In the U.S., high sugar and salt is found in everything from cereals to sauces. Sugar is fuel for Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria most responsible for tooth decay. Sugary foods also cause rapid glucose spikes, triggering a strong insulin response.
"Over time, this can contribute to insulin resistance, fat storage, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and increased inflammation. Excess sugar also disrupts the gut microbiome."
Comparing breads, Sachar said: "Italian bread is usually made with just three to four ingredients—flour, water, salt, and yeast." In contrast, much of American bread contains dough conditioners (e.g. azodicarbonamide), emulsifiers, added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives to extend shelf life and synthetic vitamins (fortified), she said.
Sachar noted that traditional Italian and European breads often undergo long fermentation (12 to 48 hours), making them easier to digest and reducing the glycemic index. "Most commercial breads in the U.S. do not go through this long fermentation process because speed is prioritized."
Cultural attitudes toward food also differ significantly. "Meals in Italy are slower, social, and often cooked at home. Food isn't rushed or eaten on the go. Lunch breaks are usually one to two hours long. Children grow up learning better eating habits. Portions are smaller too. In the U.S., convenience and speed is considered a priority. Processed foods and takeout are therefore widespread," Sachar said.
'The Quality of Our Food Is Garbage'
Reddit users responding to the viral post shared their own experiences of struggling with American food.
"When I first moved to the U.S. I gained 60 whole ass pounds," wrote u/Ok_Profile_9278. "My habits didn't actually change much, but everyone I know who's come here from a different country has a similar story to tell."
U/Platypus_31415 echoed this: "I spent three weeks in the U.S. and it took me three to four months to recover. It's the land of the free: free to sell crap to the customers."
Another commenter, u/SureAd5625, pointed to a deeper problem: "The issue isn't even the type of food. It's what's in our food. Other countries have diets that are extremely carb heavy and you'll still see people that are skinny…and relatively healthier. The quality of our food is gaaaaarbage."
Another noted that lifestyle plays a role. "It's also our very sedentary and car-dependent lifestyles," said u/Corguita. "When you walk and move more to get to places naturally, there's a whole lot of things that come with that. When you just drive from one place to another, you don't burn as many calories, you don't digest as well."
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