The 2019 edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index saw four other European nations land among the top 10: Iceland (third), Switzerland (fifth), Sweden (sixth) and Norway (ninth).
Australia also featured at the top of the index, coming in seventh place.
The global index grades nations based on variables including life expectancy while imposing penalties on risks such as tobacco use and obesity.
It also takes into consideration environmental factors including access to clean water and sanitation.
Spain received a final score of 92.8 out of 100, while Italy scored 91.6.
Italy came in first place in the previous index, published in 2017, and it’s clear the Belpaese is doing something right.
Based on the daily consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grains (unrefined pasta, bread and rice), legumes and “good” fats, such as extra virgin olive oil and dried fruit, the Mediterranean diet has been proven to prevent cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.
In 2010, the Mediterranean diet was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, which described it as “a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, processing, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food”.
Top 10 countries in 2019 Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index:
- Spain
- Italy
- Iceland
- Japan
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Australia
- Singapore
- Norway
- Israel
