Its official Spain IS the healthiest place to live in Europe.

March 20, 2019

The world renowned medical journal “The Lancet” recently published the results of a ten year long survey on life expectancy and the effect environmental factors around the world are having on health.

The results show that Spain is most definitely the healthiest country to live in, in Europe and possibly the world. Life expectancy is 81.4 years compared to 79.9 years in the UK. Furthermore the general population have an average 70.9 years of healthy living compared to 68.6 years in the UK.

So what does Spain have that the rest of Europe doesn’t have?

Healthy Diet

The famous ” Mediterranean diet” is widely believed to be an important factor. The fruit and vegetables are fresher and cheaper which means that everyone can afford their 5-a-day. People of all walks of life eat more fish and shellfish, nuts, pulses and grains. Olive oil is used for cooking, dressings and replaces butter or margarine on toast in the morning. It is undoubtedly a much healthier option.

Warmer climate

Here is Spain we have average winter temperatures of 18 degrees and summer temperatures of 28 degrees. The days are brighter and longer. With an average 320 days of sunshine people spend more of their lives outside. Whether it is an outdoor activity, socialising with friends or long leisurely days at the beach. Better for your health, heart and soul. Ex pats from all over the world report noticeable health improvements from the dry micro-climate. In conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis, asthma and heart related problems.

More walking

One could say this is also a result of the better climate, nobody wants to walk to work in the rain on a winters day. However it is no hardship to rise early in the sunshine and stroll in to your local plaza for your morning coffee. Walking an extra 15 minutes a day can make huge changes to your health. https://cbmwalkers.org/come-walking-with-cbmw/

Families look after each other

Elderly or ailing relatives are looked after and cared for by their families. It is a part of the culture and there can be no doubt that people stay healthy and happy longer when they are with family rather than in residential or care homes. Premature deaths from falls are low in Spain.

World class healthcare

Spain has recently seen a notable decline in deaths from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This has direct links with a change in public health policies based on screening and prevention. Which means that heart problems and cancer are discovered at an earlier stage, hence, treated earlier and less likely to terminal.

Less stress

It is a long standing joke that when it comes to getting things done the word “mañana” (tomorrow) is often used. Its a cliché but there is some truth in it, and the Spanish don’t take it personally. They find it very hard to understand why everything has to be done yesterday. The message here is “relax, don’t panic, it will get done eventually”!

When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing – just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?     

Ralph Marston

Lower energy and utility bills.

The prices of electricity and gas are slightly higher. However you just don’t need such a big carbon footprint. Although temperatures can drop to below zero winter is only cold and dark for a few short months!

Golf and sports facilities

The golf courses along the Costa Blanca North are world renowned and you could literally play every day of the year. https://www.clgolf.es/ Sports facilities are great and there is now an outdoor gym on most street corners and parks. You can get fit on machines that don’t need electricity to make you sweat. If none of that interests you, how about a four legged friend? It is a joy to walk in the sunshine, especially with a furry friend for company.

Head for the beach and walk your way to good health.

A ready supply of Vitamin D

If you have a healthy diet you will get all the vitamins and minerals you need in your daily consumption. Nevertheless, you can still be experiencing a drastic shortage of the vital vitamin D! It is found in oily fish e.g. salmon, mackerel, some dairy products, soy milk, eggs and one of the main sources of this vitamin is the sun.

Why is Vitamin D so important for your health?

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium for bone and muscle health. Also known as the “sunshine vitamin”. A deficiency can lead to diseases like rickets, widely believed to be an old fashioned disease! Its fast making a comeback thanks to a culture that encourages children to stay indoors during daylight hours.

It is perhaps, one of the most underrated of all the essential nutrients our bodies need to be healthy and live longer. Yet it is widely available at no extra cost. Never easier to top up your supply than here in beautiful, sunny Spain.