A “Death Map” of Europe Shows Living in Costa del Sol and Spain can Provide a Longer Life.
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| Life expectancy longer in the Costa del Sol. |
Studies have been proving for a long time the health
benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet and local
cuisine in Spain, but it’s only now that a “Death Map” has been compiled by
the British Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. This map shows that
the people living a Mediterranean lifestyle really do live longer than other
European people especially it seems with the climate of southern Spain that has
w an average all year temperature of 20C and have less environmental
concerns in Spain than other parts of Europe.
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| Death Map |
The study shows that people who live in the warmer climates
of Spain, Italy, Andorra and the southern and western parts of France can
expect to have longer and healthier lives than people living in the UK,
Scandinavia and the Netherlands.
One of the main causes for this longevity is thought to be
the diet of these southern countries. People in Spain, Italy and France eat far
more fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil in the restaurants
in Spain. They also eat less processed foods and less red meat.
Combining this diet with warmer climates in Spain
and great healthcare systems means that these people enjoy not just longer
lives overall, but healthier lives too. The Mediterranean countries have far
higher percentages of people aged over 75 and considered healthy than anywhere
else. The NHS might be keeping British alive for longer but it’s not keeping
them healthier.
The study showed that in the ten years leading up to 2011,
the Mediterranean countries saw the largest rise in the number of people aged
between 75-84. There was also a rise in the 85-94 age bracket.
