10/19/2024
Italy had me falling in love…with carbs! 🍝 It’s wild how different Italian culture is from the U.S., ESPECIALLY when it comes to carbs.
Wellness circles often villainize carbs (guilty as charged). But after spending time in Italy, I’m starting to rethink my stance—with a few exceptions.
🥐BREAKFAST:
🇮🇹 in Italy a quick breakfast consists of light, freshly baked pastries.
🇺🇸 in America? highly processed /sugar cereals (w/ artificial dyes), breads, Pop-Tarts, Eggo waffles
🍝 LUNCH/DINNER:
🇮🇹 going out to eat consists of fresh bread & pasta, olive oil, meat, and homemade dessert.
🇺🇸 the menu is mostly deep fried, drenched in seed oils, sugary sauces
🚶♀️ LIFESTYLE:
🇮🇹 walking is baked into their culture (burning up the quick carbs/sugar as energy!)
🇺🇸 we sit A LOT.
STRESS
🇮🇹 stress, but let it go, they’re big on community and live for the moment
🇺🇸 we hold onto stress, and live in the past and future (causing anxiety & depression)
🍷 INDULGENCES:
🇮🇹 enjoy wine and smoking as part of a lively, balanced, social culture.
🇺🇸 turn to substances in unhealthy, abusive ways—to escape our trauma.
🥖 WHEAT, DAIRY, & MEATS:
🇮🇹 wheat, dairy, and cured meats are staples—and made from scratch high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.
🇺🇸 the same foods are highly processed, produced in factories and linked to serious health issues. 🧀🍞🍖
💡 THE VERDICT:
1️⃣Carbs aren’t the devil if you’re eating the right ones (homemade breads, pasta, vegetables, fruit) AND get your walking in.
2️⃣American culture is NOT designed for health. It’s designed to convenience.
That’s why we have to go the extra mile to prioritize exercise, stress management, balance blood sugar, eat protein, and make conscious healthy choices.
It’s not built into our culture, so we have to create it ourselves.
Do the Italians have it all figured out? Not at all. But I think there’s a lot we can learn from them. 🙌🇮🇹
