How Italians stay healthy and live longer (WITHOUT dieting)

From better physical fitness to increased longevity, Italy has long been considered one of the healthiest nations on earth. One of the secrets to their superb health? Their food. No, we’re not talking about expensive juice cleanses or kale smoothies. You won’t find Italians breaking the bank for any new fad diets. The basis of Italian cuisine is much less flashy, and has remained largely unchanged because, well, it works! The primary focus of the Mediterranean diet are fresh, locally sourced and unprocessed foods: olive oil, plenty of vegetables and fruits, healthy carbs, and a low intake of non-fish meats and animal fats. In this article, we take a look at some of the health benefits of Italian food, from their contribution to a longer lifespan and significantly reduced risk of heart disease or stroke to their positive effects on mental health—who knew the Tuscan lifestyle could help you achieve your wellness goals?

At Terra & Tu, we place an emphasis on cultural immersion. Unlike most standard wellness or yoga retreats, we set out to incorporate the well-being practices of our destination into our trips. On our culturally immersive wellness and yoga retreats in Tuscany, you won’t find us cutting out traditional Italian cuisines or dieting. Instead, we choose to adopt the Italian way of eating--Enjoying our meals and embracing a healthy relationship with food.