Spain, now the healthiest country in the world.

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Maybe it’s something in the gazpacho or paella, as Spain just surpassed Italy to become the world’s healthiest country.

These Are the World’s Healthiest Countries

Six of the top 10 nations are in Europe.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[domigee]

 

[Lindsay53]

I find that hard to believe given the very large numbers of smokers in Spain, nor just older people but of all ages.

 

[Walkerooni]

I find that hard to believe given the very large numbers of smokers in Spain, nor just older people but of all ages.

No kidding! I have never seen smoking like that. I recently saw a graph showing them as having the longest life expectancy and was stunned.

 

[trecile]

I believe that report initially came out last year.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I find that hard to believe given the very large numbers of smokers in Spain, nor just older people but of all ages.

Thats not the only thing they look at...

Although Spain is known for smoking, drinking a lot of wine, and staying up late, their everyday diet and lifestyle choices sets them above the rest. Spain’s diet is a Mediterranean diet filled with healthy fats and legumes, and less red meat and processed foods. Spaniards also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and walk almost everywhere that they can. Spain has the highest percentage of walkers in Europe, with 37% of them walking to work instead of driving (only 6% of Americans walk to work). Additionally, Spain’s universal healthcare program is very successful, and they have managed to lower their rate of preventable deaths to 45.4 preventable deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I believe that report initially came out last year.

2019 and the US on place 37 I think.

 

[Walkerooni]

2019 and the US on place 37 I think.

And US life expectancy has been getting shorter year over year since 2015-ish apparently.

 

[Kanga]

It's walking everywhere. Taking time for family. Doing physical labour. Eating good food, slowly and in a relaxed way. Treating the job as a means to an end, and not an end in itself. Meeting friends every afternoon in the plaza. If you are old, still meeting friends in the plaza every afternoon (or the cafe each morning). Knowing your kids will receive an education equal to that of the rich family down the road. Universal health care. Good, affordable, dentists.

That's my totally unscientific assessment!

 

[gloria lowe]

I think it’s because there are not fast food places on every corner of towns.

 

[Deleted member 56069]

As noted, still a lot of smoker's in Spain, but you don't see anywhere close to the level of obesity that you see in Canada and the US. Yes, you see over weight people in Spain, but very few obese.
Even with the higher level of smoking, overall they seem very physically active. It seems to work for them.

 

[anthikes]

Actually surprising, not just from the smoking aspect, but also the cuisine. Spanish food is often very high in fat and many dishes only have patatas fritas as a vegetable.

 

[SYates]

..., but also the cuisine. Spanish food is often very high in fat and many dishes only have patatas fritas as a vegetable.

That is not the Spanish cuisine, that is the menu del peregrino/dia ;-)
BC SY

 

[anthikes]

I have lived in Spain a long way away from any pilgrim menu and I still see the food as generally high in fat and lacking in vegetables. Not saying you can't get healthier food of course. Maybe the Spanish eat better at home, but they do love their french fries and steak!

 

[Pelegrin]

Actually surprising, not just from the smoking aspect, but also the cuisine. Spanish food is often very high in fat and many dishes only have patatas fritas as a vegetable.

In rural Galicia caldo galego (grelos or berzas ) is still an every day food.
In this food the vegetables remain consistent after cooking. Nothing to do with caldos served at restaurants on the Camino where vegetables usually appear diluted and almost invisible. They do it that way to ensure more acceptance from non local customers.

 

[Bob P]

I saw more obese people at my first convenience store stop back home in the US than I saw in 5 weeks of visiting Spain.
Obesity is killing the US, maybe other countries as well. Fast food and sugar are the enemy!

 

[West Coaster]

I remember walking on the CF and following a group of elderly woman that had just gotten off a bus. They were carrying their heavy bags of groceries up the steep hill to home. They pushed to the top like there was no hill there. I never seen anything like that in Canada.

 

[Stivandrer]

I think it’s because there are not fast food places on every corner of towns.

slow food is the healthiest...

 

[Stivandrer]

I am still perplexed at all the shops with hats, because it means that there are loads of elderly gentlemen who buy them...and they are literally everywhere...shuffling their feet, yeees... but at their own accord...

 

[hikingpal]

I studied abroad for 10 months in Salamanca in 2010-2011 and lived with a Spanish family, and they always ate very well. The only fried thing I can think of is croquetas occasionally. There were always three courses including bread (Naturally, you can't have a meal without bread in Spain!), but the family members always took extremely small portions of each course. And dessert was always fruit (except on birthdays, we got little pastries or a small individual sized cake).

Also, back then I saw very few Spanish people exercising outside, and they were always men. I always felt conscious of that when I'd go out running. That is something that seems to have changed significantly. When I walked the Camino del Norte in 2018, I saw lots of women outside running in addition to men, so I think an exercise culture is also catching on in Spain. I have no surveys to back this up, of course!

Also, I think universal health care plays a huge role in this ranking--they have a low percentage of preventable deaths because no one needs to hesitate to go to a doctor or call an ambulance if they need help.

 

[Minnesota Camino Jim]

I believe that report initially came out last year.

Countries ranked by life expectancy

Life Expectancy by Country and in the World (2024) - Worldometer

List of countries and dependencies in the world ranked by life expectancy at birth, both sexes, males and females. World Population Life Expectancy with historical chart

www.worldometers.info

Spain is number 7 and the United States is number 46

 

[nathanael]

I find that hard to believe given the very large numbers of smokers in Spain, nor just older people but of all ages.

I agree and with all the nightlife and partying it's hard to believe, plus they eat too much.

 

[nathanael]

Thats not the only thing they look at...

Although Spain is known for smoking, drinking a lot of wine, and staying up late, their everyday diet and lifestyle choices sets them above the rest. Spain’s diet is a Mediterranean diet filled with healthy fats and legumes, and less red meat and processed foods. Spaniards also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and walk almost everywhere that they can. Spain has the highest percentage of walkers in Europe, with 37% of them walking to work instead of driving (only 6% of Americans walk to work). Additionally, Spain’s universal healthcare program is very successful, and they have managed to lower their rate of preventable deaths to 45.4 preventable deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

man you definitely haven't done many Caminos I saw the opposite they eat much red meat and a lot of potatoes and frying. Med. is a false. Mind you I love their beef very tender.

 

[trecile]

man you definitely haven't done many Caminos I saw the opposite they eat much red meat and a lot of potatoes and frying. Med. is a false. Mind you I love their beef very tender.

Possibly what's eaten at home is different than what we see on restaurant menus.

 

[Bumpa]

man you definitely haven't done many Caminos I saw the opposite they eat much red meat and a lot of potatoes and frying. Med. is a false. Mind you I love their beef very tender.

Not sure but...Peter may have done a reasonable number of Caminos