Laurence Dollimore
NEW figures have shown that Spain has the second-highest life expectancy in the world after Japan.
Newly released figures by the OECD have shown the country has more than 100,000 people aged over 100.
Average life expectancy in Spain is now 83.2, just 0.2 years lower than Japan’s 83.4.
Experts cite the country’s healthy Mediterranean diet which includes high amounts fish, fruit and vegetables.
The warmer climate is also attributed to better health.
Photographer Andrea Comas recently interviewed a handful of the centenarians to ask them what their secrets to longevity were.
The tips ranged from a spoonful of honey a day to regular intake of gazpacho, a traditional cold Spanish soup made from tomatoes and cucumber
Maria Josefa Guillen, 103, from Sevilla, (pictured above), swears by the soup, claiming its nutritional value has kept her young.
Francisco Nunez, 112, from Badajoz, says he dislikes old peoples’ homes as they are ‘full of old people’, and says maintaining a youthful outlook on life is the secret to staying young.
not at all surprised; the food the climate the care and respect for community, the ability to work hard, play even harder and the love of family all make it a smashing place x
Sadly, one cannot move to Spain just to receive greater longevity. All of the elderly expats in Spain are already worried to death about their homes and healthcare after Brexit, so they will doubtless benefit. My elderly aunt in the UK told me yesterday that she waits one month for a doctors appointment, and now they are talking about removing their bus passes as well. The UK hates the elderly. Spain has at least not got that particular problem, especially since its family support is so much stronger.
Now it becomes clear why former Spanish foreign minister Margallo recently claimed that the pension systems of all EU countries should be put together. Spain has a need for someone who pays for their centenarians.
This claim of longevity fails to mention that these elderly Spanish have spent a life eating healthy food and not in huge quantities – that has all changed. That it was frowned upon for women to smoke and that these elderly were used to hard physical work, walking, something that young Spanish will avoid if they can. Have you all noticed that the Spanish have played catchup in the obesity stakes, like the rest of Europe – all change in the future.