E222 ¿Por qué puedes vivir más años y mejor en España? - Intermediate Spanish Podcast

Student, do you imagine being able to add 5, 10 or even 15 years to your life just because of the fact of living in a specific country? Well, it may seem like an exaggeration, but the truth is that life expectancy varies a lot according to the country you live in. And today in this episode we are going to discover why in Spain you live so much and above all, you also live. And in case you don't know, it is not just about the Mediterranean diet or the parties or the beaches. There are many factors, some very evident and others not so much, that make Spain one of the longest and most healthy places on the planet. In addition, I already tell you that in Spain you do not only live more, but you live better. We talk about quantity and quality. And first of all, I remind you, as always, that you have available the free transcription of this episode, the translation to English, the vocabulary cards and an understanding exercise on the website SpanishLanguageCoach.com. All free, all thought so that you can take the maximum advantage of this episode, so I recommend you download it. And also, I take the opportunity to tell you that this week the inscriptions are open to all my online courses, high beginner, intermediate, advanced, the course of pronunciation, all. The inscriptions close on Sunday, July 27th. And if you sign up now, you can start whenever you want and you will have access forever. So you can go to your rhythm, without pressure and with all the material available at any time. So if you have time thinking about taking one more step with your Spanish, well, this can be a good moment. And I want to thank each one of the people who have signed up for a course since I opened my online school in Spanish. And we are about to beat the 5,000 students. Right now we are specifically 4,984 students. Many of them, you have done several courses and you are tremendously participating. So if you are one of those people, thank you for continuing to do possible Spanish language coach, thank you. But let's go to the topic today. Why can you live more years in Spain? It's all so idyllic, as it seems, or there are hidden details that mark the difference. Let's start with a little context. Spain, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Statistics, has a life expectancy of half of 83.9 years. So that you get an idea, this means that half of Spanish people live almost 6 years more than, for example, the United States. And about 3 years more than the European half. Only countries like Monaco, Japan, Switzerland or Hong Kong surpass us. And normally, because of very little difference. In Europe, yes, we are leaders. And the most important thing is that, in addition to living more, the quality of life during those years is quite good. As I said before, it is not only about quantity, but about quality. And now the question is, how do you get this? Many people attribute it to the famous Mediterranean diet, and yes, it has a lot of weight. The diet in Spain is based on fresh products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, como lentejas, olive oil, fish. And although globalization has brought new ways to eat, the base is still very healthy. There are studies by Harvard University and the National Health Institute of the United States that show that Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular diseases by up to 30%. This translated means that the way of eating in Spain protects the heart, reduces cholesterol, bad, and prevents diabetes type 2. And it is not a coincidence that in many families, like mine, there is always salad on the table, dessert fruit, olive oil everywhere, and little pre-cooked food. In my case, I remember that, as a child, my mother used to prepare me to marinate bread with oil and tomato. Something so simple, but delicious and healthy. And today, years later, I'm still doing it. And, in fact, when I lived in London, what was the worst was the tomato from my land. And if we talk about food, well, we also have to talk about alcohol, because the relationship that the Spaniards have with alcohol is quite different from that of other European countries. Here you drink wine, you drink beer, but almost always accompanied by food and in moderate quantities. It is not so common to drink to get drunk, as can happen in other countries. And the culture of wine and beer is more social, but more paused. And this is also health, so drinks like wine appear in special meals, in celebrations, but ideally with moderation and, of course, never to forget the problems, but to accompany a good conversation on the table, something that we also love the Spaniards. The table is to stay talking after the food for a good time. And another secret is the public health system. Spain has a health system that is public, universal and free at the point of access. What does this mean? That any person, regardless of their economic situation, can go to the doctor, do tests, receive treatments and medicines without worrying about astronomical medical factors. And this is not the case in all countries. In fact, many foreign people who live in Spain highlight this as one of the most positive. And not only is it a matter of access, but of prevention. Spanish health is very opposed to preventive medicine, regular checks and early detection of diseases, which is again translated into a longer and healthier life. I have only lived in countries that have this type of public health systems that, although better, in many cases gives you the security that you will be covered. And that is not only good for your physical health, but also for your mental health, I would say, not to live with fear of not paying a doctor's insurance, a bill or even a treatment. And now we are going to change subject, but let's continue connected. The climate. Spain is known for its sunny and tempered climate, especially in the Mediterranean coast and in the south. There are areas where the sun rises 2500 hours a year and the sun, in addition to raising the spirit, makes us feel happier, has very positive effects for health. For example, it helps the body to produce fundamental vitamin D for bones and immune system. And the good climate invites you to go out, to walk, to socialize, to be on the street. Can you imagine living in a place where you can go out and walk almost every day of the year? This, in the end, affects physical health and also mental health. And there are studies that show that the regular exposure to sunlight reduces the risk of depression and improves general well-being. But if there is something that really marks the difference in Spain and I would say that it is something quite Mediterranean, it is the value of social and family life. Here it is very difficult to feel alone. The family occupies a central place in the life of the majority and the family meetings, meals, celebrations are constant. And no matter how old, from young children to grandparents, they all participate and feel included. Even in big cities, the elderly tend to live near their children or have grandchildren. And if for some reason they are so alone, then there is a social network that in most cases works, neighbors, friends, acquaintances. And there are many studies in psychology that show that chronic loneliness cuts life and increases the risk of serious diseases. And in Spain, although there are cases of loneliness, it is less frequent than in other countries. And in the end, that feeling of being accompanied, of being part of something, gives a lot of life. And speaking of social life, we have to talk about the rhythm of life in Spain. That in Spain, although work is important, free time, leisure and rest have a lot of weight. You don't live alone to work. The famous siesta exists, although not everyone practices it, and I would say that it is more a symbol of respect for rest and well-being. And also, holidays are long. The European media is around the 22 days of paid holidays. And in Spain, they are easily surpassed by the 25, without counting the days of festivals. And this is not just a legal issue, it is a cultural issue. And it is that there is an expression that I love and that I think sums up very well this point. Not only bread lives man. Or what is the same, life is not just work and obligations. You have to enjoy, disconnect and take care of yourself. And another important detail is daily physical activity. And here I want to make it clear, not everyone goes to the gym in Spain, but almost everyone walks. It is normal to go shopping, to a friend's house, to take something. Cities and people are designed to walk, to live on the street. And the fact of being in motion, even if it is at a calm pace, adds up years of life. And in recent years, too, the passion for sports has grown. There are more and more people running, going on a bike, doing hiking. But the basic thing is to walk, it is still key. And since we are talking about walking, we return to the issue of food and healthy habits. In Spain, despite the fact that fast food or garbage food and ultra-processed products are increasingly present, most people continue to cook at home, buy in the market, choose fresh products, prepare traditional recipes. That is still part of daily life. The Ministry of Health publishes every year data on the consumption of ultra-processed and Spain, still being below the European average. And this is translated into less obesity, less diabetes. And, of course, more years of life. And if we talk about inequality and access to housing in Spain, even if there are economic problems and access to housing, and now there are, it is true that the family and social network continues to work. Grandparents help children, children take care of parents, and it is common that several generations live close. And this protects more vulnerable people from loneliness and insecurity, which are factors that also shorten life in other countries. And it is also important to talk about genetic factors. It is true that the Mediterranean population seems to have a certain resistance to some especially cardiovascular diseases. But I also think that the most important thing is the culture of good living, right? Here it is important to talk, to laugh, to community, to parties, to enjoy the little pleasures. And even if it sounds simple and it sounds like a self-help book, I think it does make a difference. And it is that studies confirm optimism, the sense of humor, the feeling of a community, all that, lengthens life and improves mental and physical health. But be careful, student, because not everything is perfect, in Spain there are also problems, right? The tobacco is still very common in some groups, childhood obesity has increased in recent years, and sedentaryism, especially with the advancement of technology, begins to be worrying among the youngest. In addition, globalization has brought new habits that may be harmful, but in general it is true that the cultural base is very strong and it continues to protect the health of the population. I'm going to tell you an anecdote, when I was little, my grandmother had an incredible energy. My grandmother, being very old, cooked, cleaned, walked, and always had a smile. And when they asked her what her secret was, she always said, "Don't stop, don't stop, you have to move and laugh a lot." And now, looking at the data, I think I was right, many of the longest-lived people in Spain are full of hundreds of people who are still active, who are still taking care of the garden, talking to neighbors and going to the market. In short, if you want to live more years, you can copy many of these Spanish habits, even if you don't live here, cooking at home, walking all day, prioritizing social life, taking care of the rest, and enjoying the little moments. You don't need to move to Spain to add quality to your life, but if you ever have the opportunity, you will see that the reality is that all this lives naturally, without too much effort. And now, student, I would love to know what Spanish habit you would like to incorporate in your life, or is there any in your country that you think is even better? Leave it in the comments, as you practice your written expression, and share ideas with other people. And well, we have reached the end of this episode, so vitalist, I would say, right? And I remind you that this week the inscriptions are open to all my courses, so that we can improve together in Spain, and also an important news. The podcast is off summer vacations, like all the years, after all this season full of episodes, stories, and learnings. We have to rest for a few weeks, we will return with renewed energy, and many ideas, at the end of August, approximately, so if you also have vacations, I wish you to rest a lot, have fun, disconnect from work, and take care of yourself. If you don't have vacations, I encourage you with what you are doing. I wait for you here in a few weeks. A big hug.