Have you ever wondered how your day to day life would look different if you were in another country? Well if you have ever wondered about how it could benefit your life to live somewhere else, I can provide you with answers! The country in mind is not only one of the most beautiful and flourishing countries on earth but also one of the most historic: Italy.
There have been so many studies done about the lifespan of someone who is born and raised in a country foreign to us as to if they were born in the United States and it is truly horrific. Out of every country, we are the least likely to survive past the age of 79. That means that we would reach middle age around 39. There are so many factors that contribute to this like the cost of living in the US, overall health, chronic illness, and also the decline of stable mental health as a population.
How does activity and mindfulness differ in Italy than in America?
If I were to ask you how many steps you take in a day, how many would you estimate? Well I can tell you that the average Italian is taking at least 1,000 more than you. Italians often travel on food everywhere they go because of the accessible sidewalks and architecture that was designed to make traveling on foot more convenient. Whereas in America, we are heavily dependent on the transportation of cars and also not to mention the increased amount of pollution here. There is an Italian mantra that goes like this “Il dolce far niente” which transparently is translated to “the sweetness of doing nothing” which shows that Italians live life slowly and can be present. Sometimes Americans can get lost in the bustle of their nine to five, financial stability, and looking forward to the next best thing but I don’t think the Italians would mind if maybe sometimes we shared the mantra.
The Cost of Living
The average American household spends approximately $61,334 annually on expenses, with housing, food, and transportation as top costs. A single person generally needs around $2,924 per month, while a family of four averages roughly $7,101 monthly. Honestly, what is most shocking to myself and also probably most of Americans is the money that we spend on groceries. The money that Americans spend on groceries exceeds $10,000 a year, while on the other hand, Italy spends around $2,000 to $5,300 USD per year. Not only will you be saving money on groceries but the total cost of living in Italy can be expected to have a median price of $13,000 annually. But depending on your situation and you are living comfortably in one of the great cities, you are looking at more like $20,000.
Some of the main reasons for a lower cost of living in Italy is their public healthcare system, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), which provides almost free coverage to resident, lower salaries and taxes, and their rent and property taxes which are around 25-60% lower than the US.
Food and Nutrition
If you were to look up in your search browser right now: “What is the food and nutrition like in America?”, there would be a blue highlighted sentence that says “high consumption of ultra-processed, calorie dense food, contributing to widespread obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.”… Not a good look guys, right? So yes, as Americans we lead a very unhealthy life with the amount of “bad” food that we eat but there is also good to our country in nutrition if you choose the right path for you that can benefit your health and contribute to your overall quality of life. You see, in America, we have this chemical in our food that goes by Red 40 (Allura Red AC), which is a food dye derived from petroleum, in which Italy, along with pretty much all of the other European countries, do not include in their diet.
Italians abide by strict food and safety regulations and health concern to better protect their citizens. Instead of banning this chemical they do still allow it but include a warning label on the product containing in so that they know what they are putting into their body. Most Italian also follow a diet of Mediterranean food, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients, whole grains, vegetables, and healthy fats. Italy also balances their portion control so that while some of their heavier food, like pasta and pizza, doesn’t produce that awful sluggish feeling you feel after a greasy American pizza. So examples of foods in their diet are fresh olive oils, pasta, seafood, fruits, wine, and fish.
While I may not be an expert on this kind of stuff, I have certainly spent a lot of time researching about our country and really realizing how a lot of the stuff we have access to is maybe not the best choice for us in the long run. So yes, Italians will outlive us and for that reason, I will side with the Italians on this one not only because of the freshness of a new and slower life but also because of the food, the cost, and the scenery. Which will you choose?
