According to the latest research the average European lives 2 years longer than the average American.
A baby born in the USA has a life expectancy of 78 years and 7 months, whereas the European baby can hope for 80 years and 4 months.
This is mainly the average in the axis Ireland-UK-Benelux-Germany.
In many countries in Eastern Europe it can drop to 77 years... and guess who makes the overall average go up again?
Yes, Spaniards and Italians, on average looking at 82-83 years.
Which propels them in the Top 10 of longest living people on the planet (admittedly, still overtaken by people from Andorra and San Marino).
Now that question... what is the reason?
Out of work and struggling with the economy... but beating the USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, and just about any other typical role model - how do they do it?
Digits are one thing, but to come up with that one and only answer is almost impossible.
Most scientists point to the Mediterranean diet. It's heavy on fruit, salads, fresh fish and olives, for cooking olive oil is used instead of butter - and Spain also has so much agriculture that even the food on the supermarket shelves can come straight from the land. (As opposed to the bags of lettuce in the UK often coming from Kenya).
Others assume it's related to more space and the fresher air. The air in southern Spain is said to be the healthiest of Europe - and do not forget that even air contains vitamins.
More space and lower stress levels are also said to be contributors.
Arguably the answer lies in a combination of many elements.
If there's one thing humans and societies all try to achieve, it's a forever higher life expectancy... so Spain must be doing something incredibly right.
This is mainly the average in the axis Ireland-UK-Benelux-Germany.
In many countries in Eastern Europe it can drop to 77 years... and guess who makes the overall average go up again?
Yes, Spaniards and Italians, on average looking at 82-83 years.
Which propels them in the Top 10 of longest living people on the planet (admittedly, still overtaken by people from Andorra and San Marino).
Now that question... what is the reason?
Out of work and struggling with the economy... but beating the USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, and just about any other typical role model - how do they do it?
Digits are one thing, but to come up with that one and only answer is almost impossible.
Most scientists point to the Mediterranean diet. It's heavy on fruit, salads, fresh fish and olives, for cooking olive oil is used instead of butter - and Spain also has so much agriculture that even the food on the supermarket shelves can come straight from the land. (As opposed to the bags of lettuce in the UK often coming from Kenya).
Others assume it's related to more space and the fresher air. The air in southern Spain is said to be the healthiest of Europe - and do not forget that even air contains vitamins.
More space and lower stress levels are also said to be contributors.
Arguably the answer lies in a combination of many elements.
If there's one thing humans and societies all try to achieve, it's a forever higher life expectancy... so Spain must be doing something incredibly right.
