Living a Mediterranean lifestyle with good food, good friends and adequate rest may cut your odds of dying prematurely by 29 percent. A study suggests people can live longer by copying the habits of those in countries like Italy and Spain, even if they don’t live there. Researchers looked at 110,799 people in the UK, aged 40 to 75, who were asked questions about their diet, eating habits and lifestyle.
Having a Mediterranean lifestyle was defined as getting six to eight hours of sleep, socializing with friends and family, not spending too much time sitting around, getting exercise, doing sports with other people, and taking naps. Having a Mediterranean diet included eating lots of fruit, vegetables, seafood and nuts, while having Mediterranean dietary habits includes limiting consumption of salt.
