July 16th 2024.
There's been a bit of a stir amongst Americans lately, with some claiming that Europe has a strange aversion to water. Yes, that's right – water. Of all the differences between the US and Europe, from air conditioning to taxes, cheese in a can, and oversized portions, it seems that water is the one thing causing the most confusion and disbelief.
It all started with a few posts on social media, with some Americans expressing their shock at the lack of water consumption they witnessed during their European travels. One post read, "Someone explain to me how all of Europe isn't dehydrated. They don't drink water." Another declared, "I was so dehydrated in Europe. USA for life." These sentiments were echoed on Reddit, with one user asking, "Do Europeans drink less water? I'm loving my trip to Ireland, but it seems like they don't drink as much water as we do in the US."
But it doesn't end there. On TikTok, videos are circulating of American tourists chugging bottles of water whenever they can find a place to refill them in Europe. And people are complaining about the cost of bottled water in European restaurants, where large glasses of ice water are always provided for free before you even order your meal. Some have also been surprised by the fact that they rarely saw Europeans walking around with water bottles, a common sight in the US.
Of course, Europe is a diverse continent with many different countries and cultures, each with their own customs and habits when it comes to drinking water. But it seems that many Europeans are finding this American belief about their lack of water consumption a bit ridiculous. And in response, they've been poking fun at Americans, sharing humorous ways they manage to stay hydrated without constantly chugging water.
One Scottish Reddit user joked, "I live in Scotland, water just falls out of the sky all the time. If you want a drink, just look up and open your mouth." And an Italian user quipped, "Listen...we make the Aperitivo...we are always hydrated." Others pointed out the abundance of drinking fountains throughout Europe and the fact that tourists are likely to be more dehydrated from all the walking and sightseeing.
But in all seriousness, the obsession with drinking lots of water is a cultural phenomenon in the US. Americans are known for consuming more water than any other country, not just Europe. Health classes in schools often stress the importance of drinking eight 8oz cups of water a day, which is just over two liters. And this belief is so ingrained that even TikTokers who now live in Europe are surprised by the difference in attitudes towards water.
But where did this idea come from? Surprisingly, it can be traced back to a 1945 food and nutrition report that recommended drinking 2.5 liters of water a day. However, people seemed to ignore the fact that this recommendation included the water found in food. And even though this myth has since been debunked, many Americans still believe that they need to drink eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy.
Some experts in the US believe that the high levels of thirst amongst Americans may be due to their diet and lifestyle, with many consuming more than the recommended limit of sodium and processed foods. And the obsession with drinking water has been taken to new heights with the popularity of trendy water bottles like the Stanley Quencher Cup and Hydro Flask. Let's not forget the 2019 Golden Globes, where the focus was more on Fiji Water Girl than the Hollywood elite.
But it's not just plain water that Americans are consuming in excess. Last year saw the rise of the #WaterTok trend on social media, with creators sharing recipes for flavored water using syrups and powders. While there were some concerns about the health implications of these additives, many fans of the trend saw it as a fun and delicious way to stay hydrated.
However, experts recommend adding fresh ingredients like lemon, orange, lime, or cucumber to water for a healthier option. And in the UK, the NHS advises drinking enough water so that your urine is a clear pale yellow color. The recommended amount is six to eight glasses of fluid a day, which can include water, milk, sugar-free drinks, tea, and coffee.
So, it seems that the US and Europe have different attitudes towards water consumption, with Americans being more conscious of their intake and Europeans taking a more relaxed approach. But one thing is for sure – staying hydrated is essential for our health, no matter where we are in the world.
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