How to live to be 100 in Marbella.
If you want to become a centenarian then Spain is the country to be in! What was once an unusual occurrence has become far more commonplace, with Spain alone boasting 14,487 people alive today who have reached the 100-year-old mark. This is up from 5,760 in the year 2000, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute, and it is predicted that the figure could rise by ten per cent a year, which extrapolated would mean 372,000 centenarians living in Spain by 2064. Only Japan has a longer-lived population, so if you want to see your 100th birthday what can you learn from the Spanish? Be a woman It may not be what half the population wants to hear, but it definitely helps to be a woman. Roughly 80% of those celebrating their centenary in Spain are female. Spain’s oldest woman is Ana María Vela, who was born in Cordoba and will be 115 on October 29th. She is also the ninth oldest person in the world, whilst the oldest man in Spain is 111-year-old Francisco Núñez, who has a good chance of being declared the longest-living man in the world by Guinness World Records. Have a (healthy) heart There has been a sharp decline in deaths from heart disease in Spain since 2000. The country now ranks behind only Portugal, the Netherlands, South Korea, France and Japan for mortality rates due to heart disease. Part of this can be attributed to a fall in the number of people smoking, from 32% of the population in 2000 to 24% in 2013, but bearing in mind that figure is still higher than the OECD average of 20% it cannot be the full story. The prevalence of olive oil in the diet may help explain this, with numerous reports showing uncooked olive oil as having a beneficial effect for healthy hearts. Some reports have also stated that the Mediterranean diet—olive oil, fish, fruit and vegetables—can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by nearly a third. Have a little tipple Red wine is good for you too! Again, there have been numerous studies that show a glass of red wine a day is beneficial, although the key is moderation in order to minimise the risk of liver disease. The Spanish are known to enjoy a glass of red wine or two and are also known to avoid drunkenness in general. Mind you, Antonio Docampo García from Vigo, who died recently at the age of 107, swore he never touched water, getting by on wine instead. His son claimed he drank up to a litre-and-a-half with his lunch. Then again he did own a vineyard! Good quality health care There has been much negative publicity about cuts to the Spanish state health system, but the principle of universal health coverage ensures quality medical care in the country is available to all, and it continues to rank high. Avoiding too much stress The lifestyle available to those living in places like Marbella is conducive to relaxation and de-stressing. Lazy days in the sun and evenings on the terrace with a glass of wine help calm the nerves. And it must be said, Spaniards are not known to bottle up the stress—they let it all out by telling you exactly what they feel. Maybe those of us from more restrained countries should take note. Should you be planning on moving to Marbella—and maybe living to be 100—please contact us at Altavista Property. We have a selection of villas and apartments for sale that can help you enjoy the Spanish lifestyle.
