Spain beats Italy and Iceland to be world's healthiest country

The UK was placed 19th on the list of 169 countries

Tuesday 26 February 2019 10:38 GMT

Sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks 'fuelling obesity epidemic among children'

Spain has officially been named the healthiest country in the world, beating nations such as Italy and Iceland to clinch the top spot.

Researchers carried out a study for the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index to determine the overall health of 169 economies across the globe.

They analysed data from the World Health Organisation, United Nations Population Division and the World Bank, considering lifestyle factors such as tobacco use and obesity, and environmental factors such as sanitation and access to clean water.

All of these factors provided each country that was assessed with an overall health grade.

After weighing up the findings, the index confirmed Spain as the healthiest country in the world, with a health grade of 92.75.

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

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1/6Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

You will need: 1 onion, 1 red pepper, 1 stick of celery, 1 cup of mushrooms, 4 to 6 eggs, 1 habanero chilli (optional), 1 tablespoon of oil, 25g of grated low-fat cheese, 150 ml of skimmed milk, 50g of turkey breast. Add some spinach for an extra boost.

Method:

1) Cook your turkey breast so that it’s ready to add to the mix later on. Best to grill it and then chop it up as it’s healthier than shallow frying. 2) Meanwhile, heat the oil and add your onion, pepper, chilli, mushrooms and celery to your pan. Cook these for around five minutes until your veg is nice and soft. 3) Whisk your eggs and milk together in a separate bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. 4) Add the egg mixture, veg, cooked turkey and cheese to a high-sided baking pan or tin and cook in your oven for around 15 minutes at 170C.

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Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Be careful when you buy your porridge, as some brands will cram a lot of sugar in there. Porridge is a good breakfast option as it is renowned for releasing energy slowly, which means you can get to lunch without suffering from a lull. A great source of fibre, potassium and vitamins, bananas are always a good accompaniment to your morning oats.

DW Fitness Clubs

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Ingredients: 2 full eggs, 3 egg whites, asparagus, peppers, 50g of smoked salmon

Method

1) Boil your asparagus in water for around five minutes. 2) Meanwhile, mix your eggs and egg whites in a jug, and add a splash of skimmed milk. Chop some peppers up and throw them in too. 3) Once your asparagus is cooked, drain it and chop into smaller chunks. Add these to your egg mixture. 4) Whisk your mixture and season with salt and pepper. 5) Pour the mix into a hot pan with a small knob of butter or a teaspoon of quality olive oil. 6) Cook the omelette for around 90 seconds to two minutes. 7) Once the bottom is cooked, take the pan off the hob and place under the grill for another 30 seconds to a minute in order to cook the top. 8) Serve with your smoked salmon.

DW Fitness

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Greek yoghurt has vast nutritional benefits. Regardless of where you stand on the superfood debate, Greek yoghurt’s credentials speak for themselves. A good source of potassium, protein, calcium and essential vitamins, this food forms an ideal base for a healthy breakfast, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

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Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Eggs Florentine is not only a tasty breakfast, it also carries a hefty nutritional punch, particularly when you throw some spinach into the equation.

DW Fitness

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

So fast and easy to make, yet so effective. Wholemeal toast can be a good breakfast choice, as long as you are sensible with your toppings. Peanut butter is perfect. A good source of “healthy fats”, as well as protein and Vitamin E among other nutrients, a liberal spreading of peanut butter can set you up for the day.

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According to data collected by the United Nations, Spain has the highest life expectancy among countries in the European Union, falling behind Japan and Switzerland when assessed on a global scale.

In the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, Spain was closely followed by Italy in second, with a health grade of 91.59, and Iceland in third, with a health grade of 91.44.

The UK placed 19th on the list, and was awarded a health grade of 84.28.

Previous research has found that following a Mediterranean diet, consisting of foods such as olive oil and fish, can have health benefits, such as reduced risk of mortality in elderly people.

Research conducted by University College London in September 2018 also claimed that people who follow Mediterranean diets may be less likely to develop depression.

Of the other nations assessed for the study, Australia came in seventh, Canada placed 16th, the US came in 35th and China was placed 52nd.

The Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index was last conducted in 2017.

Since that time, Japan, now in fourth place, has moved up the ranking by three places, making it the healthiest Asian nation.

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According to a study published by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in October 2018, Spain is expected to have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world by 2040, with a predicted average lifespan of 85.8 years.

Japan, which had the highest life expectancy in 2016 with an average lifespan of 83.7 years, is predicted to drop to second place in 2040, trailing Spain with an estimated average lifespan of 85.7 years.

Here are the top 20 healthiest countries in the world, according to the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index:

Spain
Italy
Iceland
Japan
Switzerland
Sweden
Australia
Singapore
Norway
Israel
Luxembourg
France
Austria
Finland
Netherlands
Canada
South Korea
New Zealand
UK
Ireland

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Spain beats Italy and Iceland to be world's healthiest country

The UK was placed 19th on the list of 169 countries

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Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Six healthy breakfast recipes to try

Join our commenting forum