Why You Can Eat Freely in Europe (and Beyond) and Still Lose Weight—But Struggle in the U.S.

By Dr. Amy Gueye-Weinstein,

 Visionary Women’s Health

Have you ever traveled abroad—maybe to Italy, France, Greece, Mexico, or even parts of Africa or Asia—eaten to your heart’s content, moved less, worried less, and somehow lost weight or felt amazing?

Then, you come back to the U.S., eat “healthy,” restrict your carbs, exercise harder… and feel bloated, inflamed, and exhausted?

You’re not imagining it. This is a very real pattern I see in my patients again and again.

Let’s break down why your body thrives outside the U.S.—and how to recreate that healing environment right here at home.

The Global Wellness Paradox: It’s Not Just About the Food

This isn’t just an “Italy effect.” Many countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America share certain powerful commonalities that support health—without obsession.

Here’s what’s different outside the U.S.:

1. Cleaner Ingredients

   
   

   • Most countries ban or limit synthetic food dyes, additives, and hormone-disrupting chemicals that are common in U.S. food.

   • Wheat is less processed and grown without glyphosate (a chemical widely used in American agriculture).

   • Dairy and meats are often hormone- and antibiotic-free by regulation.

   
   

2. Food is Real, Not Engineered

   
   

   • Meals are made from scratch with a few simple ingredients.

   • There’s very little ultra-processing, even in packaged foods.

   • Labels are shorter, and you can pronounce everything.

   
   

3. Eating is a Ritual, Not a Race

   
   

   • Meals are slow, social, and pleasurable—not rushed or multitasked.

   • There’s no shame around bread, wine, or dessert—they’re eaten with presence and joy.

   
   

4. Daily Movement is Built-In

   
   

   • People walk—to markets, schools, and cafes.

   • Elevators are skipped for stairs. After dinner walks are cultural norms.

   • You move more without even trying.

   
   

5. Lower Stress, Higher Nervous System Regulation

   
   

   • Even in busy cities, life rhythms often include pauses—long lunches, café breaks, evening walks.

   • People take time to enjoy. This calms cortisol (your stress hormone), which affects weight, digestion, and hormone balance.

   
   

Why the U.S. Makes It Harder—Even When You’re “Eating Healthy”

In contrast, here’s what happens in the U.S.:

• Our wheat and corn are drenched in glyphosate, leading to gut inflammation and bloating.

• Many “healthy” foods are loaded with emulsifiers, seed oils, and preservatives.

• We rush, snack constantly, and eat alone or distracted—dysregulating our digestion and metabolism.

• Chronic stress, hustle culture, and screen time keep us in a fight-or-flight state, which impairs fat loss and hormone balance.

Even when you’re eating less, your body doesn’t feel safe. It holds on to weight, struggles to detox, and loses its natural rhythm.

How to Recreate the European (or Global) Lifestyle—Right Here in the U.S.

You can enjoy pasta, bread, dairy, and even wine—if you create the right environment and choose the right foods.

Here’s how to start:

1. Upgrade Your Ingredients (Your Body Will Know the Difference)

Pasta & Grains

Choose:

• Jovial Foods Einkorn Pasta

• Rustichella d’Abruzzo

• Monograno Felicetti

• Banza (chickpea pasta)

Avoid:

• Enriched white wheat pasta

• Bleached or bromated flour

• Pasta with 10+ ingredients

Bread & Flour

Choose:

• Jovial Einkorn Flour

• One Degree Sprouted Bread

• Food for Life Ezekiel Bread

• Mestemacher Rye Bread

• Locally made sourdough (just flour, salt, water)

Avoid:

• Bread with corn syrup, preservatives, or “natural flavors”

• “Whole wheat” bread with a long ingredient list

Olive Oil & Healthy Fats

Choose:

• Graza

• Brightland

• California Olive Ranch (single origin)

• Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin (check for harvest date)

Avoid:

• Canola, corn, soybean, vegetable oil

• Olive oil blends labeled “light” or “pure”

Meats & Cheeses

Choose:

• Applegate Organics

• Force of Nature

• Belcampo (if available)

• Niman Ranch

• Imported Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano

• Goat cheese, fresh mozzarella

Avoid:

• Conventional deli meats

• American cheese

• Fast food meat products

2. Eat Like a Human, Not a Robot

• Sit down for every meal, even if it’s just 10 minutes.

• Use real plates and utensils.

• Light a candle, listen to music, or step outside.

• Take three deep breaths before your first bite.

• Chew slowly. Savor your food. No phones, no stress.

3. Move Like You’re Abroad

• Walk after meals—even 10 minutes can improve blood sugar and digestion.

• Bike to a nearby store. Take the stairs. Park farther away.

• Make movement part of life, not a punishment.

4. Protect Your Gut & Hormones from American Additives

Ingredients to avoid (legal in the U.S., banned in many other countries):

• High fructose corn syrup

• Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1)

• MSG

• BHT/BHA

• Carrageenan

• Emulsifiers (e.g., polysorbate 80, carboxymethylcellulose)

• “Natural flavors” with no source listed

When you remove these from your life—even without dieting—your body starts to release inflammation and weight naturally.

5. Make Meals Joyful Again

• Invite someone to eat with you. Eat outside. Share gratitude.

• Cook simply—3–5 ingredients is plenty.

• If you love bread or pasta, eat it with presence and balance, not guilt.

BONUS: GROCERY LIST TO EAT LIKE YOU’RE LIVING ABROAD

Pantry Staples

• Jovial einkorn pasta

• Rustichella d’Abruzzo or Banza pasta

• Organic canned beans/lentils

• Bianco DiNapoli or Jovial canned tomatoes

• Graza or Brightland olive oil

• Celtic sea salt or Redmond Real Salt

• Organic jasmine or basmati rice

Fridge

• Applegate Organics turkey or salami

• Organic Valley Grassmilk

• Vermont Creamery goat cheese

• Miyoko’s vegan cheese or butter

• Fresh herbs (basil, parsley)

• Arugula, spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes

Freezer

• Force of Nature ground beef or bison

• Ezekiel sprouted grain bread

• Organic frozen berries or vegetables

• Homemade broth or stock

Extras

• Olives

• Dark chocolate (Hu Kitchen, Alter Eco)

• Fresh fruit (seasonal, local if possible)

• Natural wine or dry red wine (if desired, in moderation)

Final Words from Dr. Gueye-Weinstein

You don’t need to move to Europe to live well. You just need to change how you engage with food, your body, and the world around you.

Your nervous system is your metabolism’s best friend. When you feel safe, nourished, and grounded—your digestion, hormones, and weight all respond.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about returning to something ancient, wise, and deeply human.

Real food. Real joy. Real presence.