Where Are The Healthiest Places to Live?

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some of the Australian winter in Europe. It’s great to travel and wonderful to escape the cold, not that I have much to complain about. In Australia I live on the Gold Coast, where the winters are mild. I wonder if it is better for your health to live in a warm climate or a cooler climate. Is it better to live close to the beach? Where are the healthiest places to live in the world? That’s what I want to explore today.

The BBC website had a good article recently about the virtues of living in the country compared to a city. But the truth is there is only a limited amount of evidence on how geographical environments influence health. Studies have proven that time in natural environments does reduce stress. Just by walking in a park or sitting under trees, our heart rate and blood pressure go down. Our bodies also release more health cells when we have time in nature. Whenever we are in a natural environment more lymphocyte cells go to work in our body destroying cancerous and virus-infected cells. Health geographer from Michigan State University, Amber Person said green spaces are calming. “From an evolutionary perspective, we also associate natural things as key resources for survival, so we favour them,” Dr Person said. This makes moving to the country very appealing, but hold on a minute!

City versus country living

There are advantages to living in the city and advantages to living in the country. City people suffer more asthma, allergies and depression than country people while regional people are more likely to be obese and commit suicide. Regional people are also more likely to die in a car accident. Overall city people live longer than country people.

The mountains versus flat land

There is also data that indicates other geographical features can impact on your health – even the altitude you live at matters. Research shows that people living at high altitudes, about 2,500m or higher, have lower mortality rates from cardiovascular disease, strokes and some types of cancers, but before you head to the hills be aware that research also indicates that people living at high altitudes suffer from more lung diseases like respiratory tract infections. This is probably because cars operate less efficiently at higher altitudes and release more carbon dioxide. Scientists have concluded that living at a moderate altitude of 1,500 to 2,500 meters, is probably the best choice.

The sea versus inland

Yet more research shows that living near the sea or a large body of water is good for your health. In Australia and Britain, people living near the ocean are healthier than those living inland, and that’s even after scientists have made allowances for people’s age and wealth status. Mathew White, an environmental psychologist at the University of Exeter Medical School, says people are naturally attracted to the abundance of plants and animals that live around water. As hunter gatherers we would have had lots of food sources!

Water views do wonders for your health

A 2016 New Zealand study has found that people with ocean views have low levels of stress. For every 10 percent increase in how much blue space people see, the researchers found a one-third point reduction in the population’s average Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (measuring anxiety and mood disorders). You might think that it’s mainly wealthy people who live on the water, so of course they are going to have lower stress levels than the general population, but this is even after the researchers factored in socioeconomic status. Basically a 20 to 30 percent increase in blue space visibility can cure moderate psychological distress! Studies on people living near the Great Lakes in the US and on the harbour in Hong Kong also found water views lower stress.

Simon Bell, chair of landscape architecture at the Estonian University of Life Sciences and associate director of the OPENspace Centre at the University of Edinburgh, and his colleagues are testing whether restoring neglected, polluted bodies of water can help the mental health of the people living nearby. They have rehabilitated a rundown beach outside of Tallinn, Estonia and an industrial canal near a Soviet bloc-style apartment complex in Tartu, Estonia. They have also cleaned up beaches and lakes in Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. In all, they are working on 200 redeveloped water sites. They are researching how things like climate, weather, pollution, smells, seasons, safety and access to water impacts people’s mental health. Their aim is to find out what makes the perfect blue space.

Once the research has finished, Prof Bell and his team want to come up with measurements and markets to help town planers best restore urban canals, lakes, docklands and rivers. This will mean healthier, less stressful lives for all the people living nearby! Poorer people have been shown to get more benefits out of natural spaces than wealthy residents. That is probably because richer people enjoy other privileges, like taking holidays. The work Prof Bell and his team are doing is incredibly important.

The Top Five Healthiest Places in the World

Every year the magazine, International Living, put out a list of the healthies places in the world to live. Researchers have told us that ideally we need to live near water and at a higher altitude and have access to nature. Let’s look at the top five healthiest places to live according to International Living and see if they line up with what the scientists have told us.

1. New Zealand

International Living says the Kiwis live longer. They have a clean environment, affordable healthcare, and an outdoorsy lifestyle. Their diet is also ideal – organic products, healthy whole foods, and fresh seafood.

2. Panama – the Volcan Region

The Volcan area in Panama is called the Shangri-La Valley, and the people there live longer than other Panamanians. The thermal springs may have something to do with it, but the abundance of fresh local fruit and vegetables (much of it organic), and slow pace of life contribute as well.

3. Costa Rica – The Nicoya Peninsula

According to the magazine, the Nicoya Peninsula on the country’s northwest coast is one of the world’s Blue Zones, places where people seem to live longer and more healthy lives. Inhabitants live into their 90s and 100s. They have a diet of high-fibre fortified corn and beans. The water is extremely hard and full of calcium which we know builds strong bones and teeth. The people there focus on family – the support system and family ties are strong. The air is dry and good for keeping food fresh. Much of the work there is physical.

4. Sardinia

Sardinia is off the Italian Mediterranean coast. Its 1.3 million people are family oriented and lead simple and active lives. Their diet is whole grain flatbread, fava beans, tomatoes, greens, garlic, various fruits, olive oil and pecorino cheese, which is high in Omega 3.

5. Vilcabamba, Ecuador

In Ecuador's Vilcabamba’s ‘Valley of Longevity’, people live longer. The mountain air is clean and the water is abundant with natural minerals. The mild climate means people can be outdoors breathing that air all the time. The good weather means constant access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The laid-back valley lifestyle is also stress-free.

But before you pack your bag and move to Ecuador, you might want to consider that many other factors (aside from location) influence our health and well-being. Our life circumstances – how much we earn and the quality of our relationships – have been shown to have greater impact on our happiness than where we call home.