My health is pretty rubbish… We were here on holiday after my operation. I knew I was never going to get better. I wanted to travel, I wanted to sail. I was full of plans. But those plans had to be parked. A nice house, where I would have a good bed and could lie in the sun, that was actually rather appealing. Buying a house made sense for us, because then we could rent it out and start building a pension straight away.
Contents
- My own story: the health benefits of the Costa Blanca North
- Scientifically proven health benefits of the Costa Blanca North, I do like a bit of evidence 😉
- A favourable climate for rheumatism, airways and nerves
- A unique microclimate on the Costa Blanca North
- Clean sea air and good air quality
- Sunshine, vitamins and minerals make the food extra tasty and healthy
- The local food here is wonderful: fresh fish, good-quality meat and vegetables
- Natural power spots and sources of energy
- Why living in this region feels healthier
Emigrating to Spain is a dream for a lot of people. Sun, sea, living outdoors. But did you know that the climate on the Costa Blanca North can genuinely have a positive effect on your health?
In this blog we take you through it honestly: what the climate does, why so many people feel fitter here, and how our own experience confirms every single day that we made the right choice.
My own story: the health benefits of the Costa Blanca North
I live with fibromyalgia and ACNES (a trapped nerve). On top of that, my body is genetically not great at producing serotonin. For years I took heavy medication, and in the Netherlands I still do. It took the sharpest edges off the pain, but I am always living with the handbrake on. Constantly hunting for the balance. The side effects of all the medication and the treatments were brutal. In the end it led to depression. My illness has no way out. The pain is destroying me. My leg often gives way and I am always tired.
In the Netherlands that felt suffocating. Sitting indoors a lot, being incredibly limited. Barely seeing any daylight. Life was sometimes just a bit too heavy for me. Driving in the city centre means tensing your stomach muscles the whole time. I could not do that any more. Parking right outside your door in Utrecht is difficult. So I often had to carry things. I always cycle in Utrecht and that is hard too. But I still love Utrecht. So we still live in Utrecht as well. And I enjoy our lovely, homely little city. With friends around us and everything within walking distance.
Here on the Costa Blanca North it is different. Even on a bad day, when I have to lie down, I do it outside. In the sun. Looking out over the sea or the mountains. Nature is right there. The sun warms my body. And the sun makes me less low. My symptoms have not gone completely, but my quality of life has improved beyond anything I expected. Less pain. More energy. And above all: more happiness. When I was here I genuinely started to wonder, is it the stress of the Netherlands after all? Is it not simply because I take things more slowly here? Am I really in that much pain all the time? Do I really walk that badly? Then I spent another two months in the Netherlands. Dragging my leg. Crying a lot again. Talking it all through with my psychologist, because this was no way to live.
I came back to Spain. Still crying a lot and still in a lot of pain. Here too I often talked through what my options still were. A friend came to stay, a client slept over at ours. We celebrated King’s Night and King’s Day. I almost started doubting it all again. Because yes, I was tired. Yes, I got pain now and then. But it was not that bad, was it? But now I know. The food, the weather, the climate, it really does affect how I feel.
The funniest part? I am horribly homesick. I am really attached to my parents. I do not like the heat. I hate sweating. But the benefits here are big. I have to go to hospital every 3 months. We still have work in the Netherlands. Utrecht is still ‘home’. But my word, what benefits. I would wish that on anyone who is ill.
Scientifically proven health benefits of the Costa Blanca North, I do like a bit of evidence 😉
I am a bit of a nerd. I am not really into the floaty spiritual stuff. I find spirituality interesting, but at the same time I really want proof. I want everything backed up by science. Although by now I have dived pretty deep into alternative medicine. I go to yoga here. I watch what I eat. I know most of the hormone-balancing cookbooks and the other books about eating for energy. I have worked my way through all the Ayurveda literature and I swear by acupuncture and massage. But it is not just a feeling, and it is not just my case, that I have less pain here and feel better. The science supports the benefits of life on the Costa Blanca:
- Microclimate: the mountains shelter you from the cold, the sea moderates the heat. That gives a stable and pleasant climate.
- Sun and vitamin D: even in January you can make enough vitamin D here, which is essential for strong bones, a good mood and a strong immune system.
- Clean air: with no heavy industry and a constant sea breeze, this region is one of the cleanest in Europe.
- Healthy food: fish landed the same day, vegetables and fruit that ripen in the sun, together with olive oil and nuts, form the basis of the Mediterranean diet. Research shows that this diet lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
The Costa Blanca North is known for its mild, sunny climate and clean surroundings. Many northern Europeans notice that they feel fitter and healthier here. In this article we look at the scientifically supported benefits of this climate, from relief for rheumatism and respiratory complaints to the effect of sunlight and food.
A favourable climate for rheumatism, airways and nerves
The Mediterranean climate of the Costa Blanca (mild and dry all year round) has positive effects on all sorts of health complaints. Plenty of people benefit from the excellent climatic conditions on the Costa Blanca A few striking examples:
- Rheumatism and joint pain: Warmth and stable high air pressure can ease joint pain. In this area the temperature rarely drops below 16°C in winter, with very little rainfall. This dry, mild weather leads to less joint stiffness than the cold, damp north. Many people with rheumatism feel more supple and get fewer stabs of pain on a sunny day.
- Asthma, bronchitis and lung problems: The pure sea air, rich in oxygen and iodine, and the absence of extreme cold make breathing easier. In the south of the Costa Blanca, salt lakes create a microclimate that is ‘widely regarded to be beneficial for sufferers of rheumatism, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems‘. In the north too, people benefit from clean, dry air that irritates the airways less. Coughing fits and breathlessness often ease off in this climate. There is an estate agent here who moved to the Mar Menor for exactly that reason. That is supposed to be the very best spot. But we think it is prettier and more fun here.
- Nerve conditions and neurological complaints: Sun and a constantly mild climate can also help indirectly with conditions of the nervous system. Multiple sclerosis (MS), for example, is far less common in sunny regions close to the equator, probably thanks to higher vitamin D levels. People with muscle diseases or nerve pain say they feel more energetic here, possibly because of the combination of warmth, relaxation and better vitamin levels. And yes, I am one of them ;). On top of that, the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle can help reduce stress and tension (which often make symptoms worse). The book ‘Weg van de pijn’ also has theories about tension.
A unique microclimate on the Costa Blanca North
You have a microclimate when the weather conditions on a local scale differ from the surrounding climate. The geography of the Costa Blanca North, with mountains inland and the Mediterranean on the coast, creates exactly that. Mountains catch a lot of the rainfall, for instance, so the other side sits in the rain shadow and is far drier. At the same time the warm sea moderates the temperature, so it stays milder in winter and a little cooler in summer.
A well-known example is the Montgó mountain near Jávea, which holds back colder northerly winds. As a result Jávea has very mild winters and its own climate bubble. In total, the Costa Blanca enjoys an average of 310 sunny days a year, considerably more than the Netherlands. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) this area is even one of the healthiest climates in the world. That combination of plenty of sun, low humidity and little rain demonstrably makes for a more pleasant living environment for residents.
Clean sea air and good air quality
It is not only the temperatures, the air quality on the Costa Blanca North is exceptionally good too. You would not always think so when your neighbour is burning his rubbish. Honestly, the smell ;) There is barely any heavy industry (think Tata Steel) or traffic like in the Randstad, and constant breezes off the sea refresh the air continuously. Measurements show that the provinces of Valencia and Murcia are among the areas with the cleanest air in Europe. The sea wind and the mountain air mix here naturally, so pollutants are carried away quickly.
In practice you notice it in the fresh, salty air you breathe in on the coast. People with sensitive lungs or allergies experience less irritation. The night sky is often clear too, a sign of little dust and smog in the atmosphere. In short, here you literally breathe cleaner air: good for your lungs and your general wellbeing. Yesterday, during the power cut, that clear sky was beautifully visible ;).
Sunshine, vitamins and minerals make the food extra tasty and healthy
One of the biggest benefits of Spanish sunlight is the vitamin D your skin produces. All year round there is enough UV-B sun here to stimulate your body’s own vitamin D production. By comparison, in northern Europe (the Netherlands and Belgium, for instance) people can go months in winter making virtually no vitamin D from sunlight, because the sun sits so low. On the Costa Blanca that is not a problem: even in January you can catch a few rays on a terrace in the afternoon for your vitamin D.
Why does this matter? Vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb minerals such as calcium, and therefore for strong bones and teeth. A chronic deficiency can lead to bone loss and muscle weakness. Here in this sun-drenched region your vitamin D levels stay topped up more easily, which helps prevent bone loss. Sunlight is also linked to a better mood and fewer seasonal dips in winter, because it stimulates serotonin production. So the sun is a kind of free food supplement that contributes to stronger bones, better resistance and a good mood.
The local food here is wonderful: fresh fish, good-quality meat and vegetables
Health is not determined by climate alone, but also by what you eat. Luckily the Costa Blanca is rich in fresh, healthy food. The region offers an abundance of Mediterranean food, praised worldwide for its health benefits. Think freshly caught fish full of omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil packed with antioxidants, and locally grown fruit and vegetables ripened in the sun. At the weekly market you pick up oranges, tomatoes, avocados and almonds straight from the land, bursting with flavour and nutrients. There is a fresh market somewhere every day. Or you go to the covered Mercat. I really do love that. Or an organic stall or little shop by the roadside, like in Pedreguer or Javea. Or even picking oranges in Ondara. I get so much pleasure out of the fresh herbs and vegetables from our own garden.
The traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruit, pulses, wholegrains and fish, and moderate in red meat and dairy, has demonstrably positive effects on health. Research showed that people who follow this way of eating have up to 24% less chance of cardiovascular disease and 23% lower mortality than people who eat less healthily. The risk of type 2 diabetes and certain forms of cancer is lower too.
Why is the quality of the fish, meat and vegetables so high here? First, the freshness: the fish comes out of the Mediterranean the same morning, the meat often from small farms nearby, and crops grow in fertile soil under the sun. Second, local people and the local kitchen use few artificial additives; olive oil and herbs give flavour instead of butter or salt. This pure, Mediterranean diet makes living in this region not only a treat for your taste buds, but an investment in your health as well. I do have to be honest and say that some fish in the Netherlands really is better and tastier.
Natural power spots and sources of energy
Ibiza is famous for its mystical power spot Es Vedrà, but what about the Costa Blanca North? Although no official “energy spots” have been documented the way they have on Ibiza, plenty of people experience a particular energy and calm in certain places in this region. Nature itself plays a part in that. The imposing Montgó mountain near Jávea, for instance, is affectionately called the ‘sleeping elephant’ by locals, and it is said to watch over the microclimate like a guardian. Walkers on the Montgó often feel a calm and a connection with their surroundings. The Peñón de Ifach, the iconic rock of Calpe, and the waterfalls at Algar radiate a unique kind of peace too.
Whether these places genuinely give off supernatural energy we will leave open, but they certainly offer beautiful views and a sense of escaping the crowds. Many people notice that spending time in unspoilt nature, whether on a silent mountain top or at a remote cove, improves their mood and wellbeing. That experience of a power spot often comes down to the combination of silence, natural beauty and the awareness of being completely away from stress. The Costa Blanca North is full of idyllic little spots like that to recharge your soul.
Why living in this region feels healthier
All in all, life on the Costa Blanca North leads to a healthier lifestyle almost without you having to make any effort. The surroundings invite you to live outdoors. A walk along the beach in the morning, perhaps a siesta in the afternoon, dinner outside in the evening. Yoga on the beach, cycling in the valleys and kayaking on the water. But also swimming lengths in the pool. That means more movement and more relaxation in the fresh air, which is good for your heart and your blood pressure. Stress levels are generally lower; life here is more mañana, in other words more easy-going and less rushed than back home in the Netherlands.
What matters is that all these factors together have a synergistic effect on your health. The mild climate reduces physical complaints, the sun provides vitamins and good spirits, the food is nourishing, the air is clean, and the social food culture and the natural surroundings give mental balance. It is hardly surprising, then, that Spain is among the countries with the highest life expectancy, in 2023 average life expectancy here was 84.0 years, the highest in all of Europe. Although that figure depends on many factors, the healthy Mediterranean way of life certainly plays a big part.
For Dutch buyers looking for a house in Spain, the Costa Blanca North is attractive not only because of the beautiful surroundings, but also because of the beneficial effect on your health. Whether you come to breathe more freely, move more easily, let go of stress or simply enjoy the sun and fresh tapas, this region offers a climate and a rhythm of life that body and mind both thrive on. Do you already know where you want to live? Check out the nicest places here.
