American bread has 30 ingredients.
French bread has 4.
The US allows 3,000 food additives.
Europe allows 300 of them.
I visited both places. The differences are insane.
Here's why Europeans stay thin, strong and healthy whilst American are fat and depressed: 🧵
1/ First, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
• France: 17% obesity rate
• Italy: 19% obesity rate
• Spain: 24% obesity rate
• USA: 42% obesity rate
They eat pasta, bread, and cheese daily.
Americans diet on salads and still get fatter.
What the hell is going on?
2/ The answer isn't WHAT they eat.
It's HOW they eat.
In Europe, I never saw anyone:
• Eating while walking
• Scrolling while eating
• Snacking between meals
• Drinking calories
• Eating alone regularly
Food is an event, not fuel.
3/ The typical German lunch shocked me:
2-hour break minimum.
Multiple courses.
Wine included.
Followed by espresso.
Sometimes a 20-min walk.
Then back to work, energized.
Meanwhile, Americans eat sad desk salads and wonder why we're exhausted.
4/ European portion sizes aren't "small."
They're NORMAL.
• US small drink = European large
• US medium fries = European family size
• US restaurant entree = 2-3 European meals
We've normalized absurd portions and wonder why we're overweight. See it for yourself
5/ Here's what really blew my mind:
Europeans walk 8,000-12,000 steps daily WITHOUT TRYING.
• Walk to bakery for bread
• Walk to market for produce
• Walk to meet friends
• Walk after dinner
Americans drive to the gym to walk on a treadmill.
Make it make sense!!!
6/ The ingredient difference is criminal:
McDonald's fries in US: 19 ingredients
McDonald's fries in UK: 4 ingredients
US Subway bread: Classified as cake in Ireland due to sugar content
European Nutella: Less sugar, more hazelnuts
Same brands.
Different standards.
7/ Food additives allowed:
USA: 3,000+
EU: 300
Banned in Europe, legal in America:
• Brominated vegetable oil
• Potassium bromate
• Red dye 40
• BHA and BHT
• Recombinant bovine growth hormone
We're literally eating chemicals they consider toxic. This is insane: ↓
8/ The meal timing difference:
Americans:
• Skip breakfast or grab sugar
• Eat lunch at desk
• Massive dinner at 6pm
• Snack until bed
Europeans:
• Proper breakfast
• Long lunch (biggest meal)
• Light, late dinner
• No snacking
Your metabolism thrives on their schedule.
9/ Europeans don't drink their calories:
Water, wine, or espresso.
That's it.
No 400-calorie Starbucks drinks.
No 64oz sodas.
No protein shakes.
No juice cleanses.
Just real beverages in normal amounts.
10/ The social aspect changes everything:
Eating alone in Europe = weird
Eating alone in America = normal
When you eat with others:
• You eat slower
• You eat less
• You enjoy more
• You digest better
Loneliness literally makes you fat!
11/ They shop differently too:
Europeans: Daily for fresh items
Americans: Weekly Costco hauls
Result?
Europeans eat fresh food that spoils.
Americans eat preserved food that doesn't.
Your body knows the difference.
12/ What about exercise?
Europeans don't "work out" like Americans.
They have active lifestyles:
• Bike to work
• Take stairs
• Walk to shops
• Play sports socially
We've separated movement from life.
Then wonder why the gym feels like punishment.
13/ The "French Paradox" isn't paradoxical:
They eat saturated fat → Low heart disease
They drink wine → Live longer
They eat bread → Stay thin
This video blew my mind:
14/ Supplements
Europeans barely use supplements.
Because real food has nutrients.
Novel concept, right?
Liver pâté > B12 shots
Aged cheese > calcium pills
Fresh vegetables > green powders
Fermented foods > probiotics
Food first. Always.
Americans turned eating into a problem to solve.
Europeans kept it simple:
• Real food
• Eaten slowly
• With people you enjoy
• While moving naturally
We made it complicated.
They kept it human.
Maybe it's time to admit our way isn't working.
This is exactly what the best coaches teach their clients.
Stop chasing the latest American diet trends and start eating like humans did for thousands of years.
The weight comes off naturally when you fix your food environment and habits.
No apps, no tracking, no stress.
So if you want to:
• Lose 20lbs for summer
• Naturally boosts T and muscle
• While only working out 3 days a week
DM my partner @FitFastCoach "FIT ME 2025" to get your free full-body consultation with a custom game plan ↓
x.com/messages/compo…
If this made you rethink "healthy" eating, share it.
The diet industry profits from confusion.
The solution isn't another app, meal plan, or superfood.
It's returning to how humans ate for thousands of years.
Follow @The_Healthy_Man for more uncomfortable truths about health.
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