A recent air pollution survey conducted by Airport Parking and Hotels warned that many popular holiday destinations may be harmful to visitors' health due to the quality of their air. Dubai's air quality ranking, based on data gathered during October 2015, was considered 'very unhealthy,' while Beijing was considered 'hazardous.' Indeed, according to a study by Berkeley Earth, every hour of exposure to air pollution in Beijing can reduce an individual's life expectancy by 20 minutes. Globally, air pollution kills more than 3 million people every year and the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that just 12% of the world's population is living in cities with clean air.
But not all is lost for those looking overseas in search of a cleaner and healthier lifestyle. Many destinations offer an enhanced quality of life and/or health benefits when considered as the location of a second home.
"If you want to breathe some of the purest air in the world, you have to head to Brazil," claims Luiz Fernandes, CEO of award winning Brazilian developer Ritz-G5. "The quality of the air here is just beautiful - it's like giving your lungs a holiday from the moment you arrive, so it's a great place to own a property!"
It's a claim that is backed up by data from the WHO. According to a report issued in 2014, the city with the cleanest air in the whole of South America can be found in Brazil. The OECD Better Life Index also notes that Brazil ranks above average in subjective well-being, work-life balance, and social connections, having made substantial progress in recent years.
Closer to home, Portugal has also made progress when it comes to quality of life, which has been following an upward trend for more than a decade, based on newly released data from Statistics Portugal. The Mediterranean diet also has an array of health benefits.
With its emphasis on vegetables, fruit, olive oil, beans, fish, chicken and red wine, the Mediterranean diet has been proven to reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer and heart disease, amongst others.
"Buying and regularly using a holiday home in Portugal can certainly have a positive impact on your health," comments Chris White, Founding Director of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, "And of course there's the added benefit that the cuisine here is not only absolutely delicious, but far healthier in general than that of the UK."
The price of property in Portugal also seems designed to reduce stress and thus benefit general health - a three bedroom apartment in the stunning Lagos Marina complex costs just €150,000. The property is just 1 km from the beautiful golden sands of Meia Praia and comes with large balconies and a shared pool.
In neighbouring Spain, the Mediterranean diet certainly seems to be having a beneficial effect. According to the WHO's 2015 ranking, Spain is one of seven countries tied for enjoying the second longest life expectancy in the world, at 83 years (Japan enjoys the longest life expectancy, at 84 years).
The health benefits of a holiday home in the sunshine are certainly not insignificant when it comes to buyers' decisions to purchase in Spain, according to Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España. He explains,
"A lot of our buyers are looking to engage in healthy pursuits during their time in Spain. We've got buyers who wanted a second home by the beach, so that they can swim in the sea or go running along the sand, like they can at La Recoleta III, and we've got others who spend their time playing golf, based in a golf property like those at Brisas de Alenda Golf. Spain offers some wonderful opportunities for healthy living when it comes to holiday home ownership."
Sufferers of asthma, arthritis, eczema and psoriasis are known to particularly enjoy the benefits of the 320 days of sunshine Costa Blanca climate. Further along the coast, the town of Adra in Andalusia enjoys an even more impressive 360 days of sunshine per year. Property in Adra is also excellent value, according to Martin Dell, Director of Spanish property portal Kyero.com. He comments,
"The climate in Adra has a number of health benefits and it makes a great location for a second home or as a destination to live on a more permanent basis. Sea views for under €100,000 are easily achievable, which is fantastic value for Andalusia."
As winter brings rain and high winds to much of the UK, along with the annual proliferation of coughs, colds, sneezes, flu and other maladies, it might be just the right time to turn to that healthy holiday home overseas.
For more information please contact:
Ritz-G5: +44 207 183 7565 | www.ritz-g5.com
Ideal Homes Portugal: 0800 133 7644 | +351 289 513 434 | www.idealhomesportugal.com
Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 | www.taylorwimpeyspain.com
Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.
Kyero.com: www.kyero.com
