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Italy has the healthiest population in the world. Our country is ranked first position of 163 countries examined in the Bloomberg Global Health Index, with a health grade of 93,11 out of 100. The Global Health Index consider variables such as life expectancy, causes of death and health risks: from high blood pressure to tobacco use, from malnutrition to availability of clean water.
The ranking continues with Iceland at second place, with a health grade of 91,21 out of 100 and Switzerland at third place, with 90,75. In Middle East the highest score is reached by Israel (88,14, at ninth place on the list); in East Europe top score is reached by Slovenia (80,81, at twenty-seventh place); while in South America is reached by Chile (77,18, at twenty-ninth place). Is interesting to point out the U.S. at thirty-fourth place, with a health grade of 73,05 out of 100, mostly because of the prevalence of overweight people.
Bloomberg confirms Italian record in health and alimentation areas: the healthiest population in the world lives in our country. Data show that a baby born in Italy can expect to live more than eighty, while in countries like Sierra Leone the average newborn will die by 52. Among the reasons pointed out: Italy has an abundance of doctors and prevention and, most of all, Italians are in good shape.
The Italy real secret seems to be the Mediterranean diet that, with its daily consume of fresh fruits and vegetables, the use of extra virgin olive oil, cereals, legumes, meat, fish and dairy products, guarantee a varied and balanced diet. Bloomberg quotes Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, who has written about the importance of consumers having easy access to fresh produce, fruit and fish.
Despite economical problems that since years strike our country, the Mediterranean diet, recognized in 2010 by Unesco as intangible cultural heritage of humanity, confers to Italy another first place in nutritional and food sector, and contributes to make Italy the favorite destination to well live.