As was reported two weeks ago, Israel’s life expectancy has risen once again. We are now at 83.8 years, the fourth-highest in the developed world, just behind Spain (84), Japan (84.1), and Switzerland (84.3). What? Wait a minute!
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and like the entire world, Israel was affected. In 2023, a year included in the statistic, Israel was at war, sustaining unimaginable losses. Yet Israel’s life expectancy continues to climb on a steady basis, even as that statistic in the United States is less favorable.
US life expectancy has fluctuated over the past decade, declining from a peak of around 78.8 years in 2019 to a low of 76.1 years in 2021. However, it has since begun to rebound, reaching an estimated 78.4 years in 2023. The pandemic and the American obesity epidemic are two of the main factors holding longevity back in the United States.
Israel keeps rising
In the OECD group of nations, life expectancy usually rises somewhat each year. But in the last year, Israel went up almost one whole year. Women do particularly well, with a life expectancy of 85.7 years.
Now, here is something entirely counterintuitive. The United States spends 17.6% of its GDP on health care. Germany spends 12.3%, France 11.5%, and Sweden 11.3%. One might think that there is a direct correlation between the amount of money spent and the health and longevity outcomes. However, the United States sits way down the longevity list, always ranking below 30 in the OECD nations. Israel is spending a mere 7.6% of its GDP on healthcare, and here we are in fourth!
So, what goes into having a great life expectancy? There are many elements that seem to gain focus, such as the quality of health care, economic status, and gender – women always do better. Genetics and education are also important factors, as is infant mortality, and Israel’s rate of infant mortality is very low at 2.7 deaths per 100,000 live births.
But lifestyle is probably the biggest determinant. What is your diet like, and do you smoke? Are you active or sedentary? How are your social connections, and can you keep your stress managed well? It all matters. So, given all of these factors, how in the world can a country like Israel manage such a high life expectancy?
Israel may not spend as much money on health as most other countries, and its medical system certainly has its quirks. But all in all, we happen to have a really good health care system. It’s affordable, and it doesn’t turn people away. That being said, I hypothesize that the reasons our longevity continues to get better are primarily due to other reasons.
Diet, exercise, and doing better
First, let's look at diet. The Israeli diet has become less healthy and more Westernized. However, Israelis consume an amazing amount of fruits and vegetables. Let’s compare: In the United States, the average consumption is one fruit a day and about a vegetable and a half per day. Israel has the highest fruit consumption in the world, and most people are eating at least 2-3 servings of vegetables a day. So, as much as fast food and ultra-processed food have crept into the Israeli diet, fruits and vegetables are a staple. But what else?
Israel has half the number of cars per capita as a country like the United States. So, that means more people are relying on public transportation or walking. Even using public transport causes a person to take many more steps per day. Contrary to perception, one doesn’t have to spend time in the gym or do high-level workouts to get great health benefits. Walking and getting sunshine are extremely valuable.
As much as we would all love to live in peace with all of our neighbors, we don’t. That is a negative for stress. However, it is a plus for building resilience and relying upon one another. Israel is a country where people care. They might yell and scream in the Knesset, and Israelis love to protest and demonstrate, but when push comes to shove, Israelis are like family in every way.
Can Israel do better? Yes, it can! The first thing is that too many people in Israel smoke cigarettes. Somewhere between 16% and 18% of Israeli adults are still smoking. That in and of itself is responsible for 8,000 yearly deaths.
One really big improvement is that the rate of death from heart disease has fallen to 49.4 people per 100,000. That is considered low. Those of you who have read my previous columns already know that with the proper diet and other lifestyle habits, we could also just get rid of about 90% of the disease.
Healthgevity
Of course, life expectancy isn’t the only thing to look at. What has become known as “healthgevity” is just as important. How is the quality of our health during all of these extra years we are getting? That is why it is so important to pay attention to our health and do everything we need to do, not just to live long but to live well.
To make it between 90 and 100 is one thing. Can you be active and integrate with friends and family during that time? Can one maintain some independence? We know from the study of societies with very long life expectancies that the answer is unequivocally yes!
Congratulations to the State of Israel. Well done. Now, let’s do even better. By refining the diet even more and getting rid of the tobacco, we will do even better and “add hours to our days, days to our years, and years to our lives.”
The writer is a wellness coach and personal trainer with more than 25 years of professional experience. He is a member of the international Council of the True Health Initiative and of the board of Kosher Plant Based and is director of The Wellness Clinic. alan@alanfitness.com