EXPLAINER: How to obtain your Andalucía health card

Published

2 weeks ago

April 12, 2025

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THE medical card (tarjeta sanitaria individual) is the document that identifies the individual before the Public Health Authorities of Andalucia.

Each person should possess one, including expats.

It is important that even children have one from birth.

If you don’t have your card yet this is what you need to do to obtain one for you and your family.

The first step is including other members of your family under your benefits as user of Social Security.

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This is done in the offices of Social Security, in the information desk (Centro de Atención e Información de la Seguridad Social CAISS).

The necessary documentation is: passport and Residencia of every member of the family and proof of family relationship, such as birth certificate, marriage certificate.

No translation is needed, though you have to show the originals.

At that moment, if everything is correct, you will be given an accreditation document that you will need for the following step at your local health centre.

(Essentially this document is enough to receive medical care in all Spain. But having a personal card for each member allows you, for instance, to choose a doctor different to that of another member)

In order to obtain your medical card you have to fill in the application form (one per card) and submit it in your local health centre.

Along with the form you need to present originals and copies of:

• Passport and Residencia Certificate of Social Security Contributor.

• Certificate of Beneficiaries

Make sure you provide a valid address.

The card can take weeks or even months to arrive. In the mean time you can use the slip they give you.

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EXPLAINER: How To Obtain Your Andalucía Health Card – Olive Press News Spain

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New Study Reveals That Walking Every Day Can Add 10 Years To Your Life Expectancy – Olive Press News Spain

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2025

Tom Ewart Smith

new-study-reveals-that-walking-every-day-can-add-10-years-to-your-life-expectancy-–-olive-press-news-spain

A NEW study has revealed that something as simple as going for a daily walk could dramatically extend your life – by up to a decade.

The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shows that people who walk regularly, even at a moderate pace, could significantly boost their life expectancy compared to those who lead sedentary lifestyles.

In some cases, the increase in lifespan could be as much as 10 or 11 years.

The findings are the result of a detailed analysis using data from the US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey and mortality records from the National Centre for Health Statistics.

Researchers focused on adults over the age of 40 and used device-measured physical activity to evaluate its long-term health impact.

Their model found that if everyone were as active as the most physically engaged 25% of the population – those walking nearly three hours a day at around five km/hour – life expectancy could rise to 84 years on average.

That’s a gain of over five years compared to current population norms, and in some lower activity groups, benefits may be even greater.

One striking finding revealed that individuals in the lowest quartile of activity could gain around six extra hours of life expectancy for every additional hour of walking they do.

Even those walking just under two hours a day – around 111 minutes – could gain up to 11 years of life, researchers estimated.

But the researchers were keen to point out that exercise is only one piece of the puzzle.

A well-rounded lifestyle, including a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and effective stress management, plays a complementary role in achieving healthy ageing.

The authors call for greater investment in policies and environments that promote physical activity, noting that boosting physical activity levels across the population could translate into substantial gains in national life expectancy.

The takeaway is clear: walking might be the simplest path to a longer, healthier life.

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Spanish Nutritionist Suggested Adding THIS To Your Breakfast In The Morning – Olive Press News Spain

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2025

Dylan Wagemans

spanish-nutritionist-suggested-adding-this-to-your-breakfast-in-the-morning-–-olive-press-news-spain

WHEN we think about a healthy start to the day, we rarely consider that it could be as simple as drinking a glass of water.

Yet, making small changes to what we drink in the morning could have a significant impact on our mood, according to experts.

Adding just a pinch of salt to a glass of water can be an excellent way to begin the day, as it helps replenish the body’s minerals after a night of sleep, according to nutritionist Paloma Quintana.

Adding salt to a glass of water could be a good start to your day. (Photo: Unsplash)

Paloma emphasised that this method is not recommended for everyone, but rather for those who practise intermittent fasting or delay eating their first meal of the day.

During fasting, your levels of sodium and other electrolytes can drop, so a small amount of salt diluted in water may help your body maintain a healthy balance of minerals.

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Spain bans junk food in schools: Drive towards nutritious lunches comes as a third of kids considered ‘overweight’

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2025

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THE Spanish government has taken a big step towards healthier lunches for children in schools to combat overweight and obesity in children.

Under new legislation passed this week, schools are banned from selling soft drinks, processed pastries and overly processed foods.

All schools, public and private, from preschool to high school, have to provide five nutritious meals in a new move that seeks to use the school cafeteria as a tool to teach healthy habits and close the wealth-inequality gap for lower-income families.

Spanish schoolchildren will start getting healthier meals from now on

As many as 36% of Spanish schoolchildren are overweight, with that number almost reaching 50% for low-income families, according to a study by the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition.

School cafeterias will now serve more fresh produce, whole grains and fish, while avoiding high-sugar and high-fat foods.

Certain allocations have been put in place to ensure that the menu offerings are well-balanced.

The new decree states that 45% of fresh fruits and vegetables need to be seasonal, one to three servings every week should include fish and that there needs to be at least one serving of whole-wheat pasta and bread a week.

The decree also states that a maximum of five grams of sugar is allowed in a single container, meaning that all soft drinks, juices and energy drinks are banned from being sold in school.

The new rules also limit the sale of pre-cooked foods such as pizzas, fried foods and croquettes to one serving per month.