According to the Bloomberg 2019 index on the World’s healthiest nations, which analyzes factors that contribute to the overall health of citizens, out of 169 economies analyzed, Israel is the tenth healthiest nation.
Israel surpasses many Western countries such as France, the Netherlands and Finland. This year Spain skipped five places and ranks first making it the world’s healthiest nation. Furthermore, United Nations data shows that the Spanish are expected to have the highest life expectancy in the world by 2040, of 86 years, followed by Japan, Singapore and Switzerland.
What do the world’s healthiest countries have that others do not? Researchers from a study led by University of Navarra Medical School say that eating habits may provide clues to the health levels of the Spanish. The research proved that a Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than those assigned to a reduced-fat diet. A diet filled with humus, shakshuka, tomato and cucumber salad, roasted cauliflower, zaatar and parsley, could be the reason for Israel’s favorable ranking.
A survey conducted by the Volcani center, Israel’s government-sponsored Agricultural Research Organization, investigated the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Israel. While 10,9% of respondents answered that they eat fresh produce only two to three times a week, the big majority of around 80% of the 499 surveyors testified that they eat fruits and vegetables on a near daily basis.
Sub-Saharan countries counted for 27 of the 30 unhealthiest nations in the ranking. Surprisingly, the United States comes 35th in the ranking with the life expectancy significantly lower compared to other Western Countries. This is not due to unhealthy eating and fast food habbits, but due to deaths from drug overdoses and suicides.
Healthy diets filled with lots of fruits and greens lead to higher life expectancy. Indeed, Tel Aviv is ranked as the second most Vegan – friendly city in the world.