Scarlet Macaw

BALTIMORE, MD (PRWEB) MAY 23, 2016 – When people consider retiring abroad, they most often cite as motivation the lower cost of living, escaping the worst of the North American winter, finding a more adventurous life, access to excellent, affordable healthcare.

But many expats report that, once abroad, they discover a benefit they hadn’t considered in advance: a healthier lifestyle. In many of the world’s best retirement havens, according to a new report from the editors at InternationalLiving.com, a healthier lifestyle comes naturally.

In many popular retirement destinations abroad, better weather, healthier food, cleaner air and water, and less stress add up to surprising benefits with little effort.

In Costa Rica, Robbie Felix found relief from the symptoms of her chronic lupus, including arthritis and skin allergies. “Since moving here I haven’t had arthritis in years,” Felix said. “The clean air in the rainforest, the ocean…it’s like breathing medicine. I’m very healthy for someone with a chronic illness. I surf. I walk on the beach. I exercise.”

Robbie, in her early 60s, has the chronic illness Lupus. But she found relief from her symptoms (including arthritis and skin allergies) after arriving in Costa Rica. And she’s not alone. Robbie is just one of the many expats who no longer needs a raft of medications since moving down here.

Nicaragua is another healthy destination in Central America for U.S. expats:

Before she moved to Nicaragua, Elizabeth Bastian’s doctors put her on medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, asthma, and to thin her blood. “One by one, I chucked my meds because I felt so good in Nicaragua. Now I’m prescription-drug free and all my readings are normal,” she said.

Pamela Wise got rid of her car when she moved to the beach town of San Juan del Sur. “I walk everywhere,” she said. “I eat more fruits and veggies than I ever did back home, and much less processed food. There’s almost no stress in my life now. I lost 30 pounds in less than one year without doing anything extra.”

Armand and Joyclyn Brodeur said they dropped weight after they moved to Las Tablas, Panama. “And we’re not even eating as healthy as we ought to,” said Armand. Joyclyn said, “With the hot, sunny weather, we don’t eat as much. I’ve dropped a whole size.”

Steve and Pat Turney refer to Medellín as “a city with a built-in weight-management program,” due to all the walking they do. As an added bonus, Steve is convinced that the fresh, non-radiated food he gets from the farmers’ market has actually reduced his PSA level (and his likelihood of prostate cancer).

These stories aren’t unique… they’re told by many expats enjoying healthier lives in some of the world’s most beautiful cities and towns in the best overseas retirement destinations. A complete overview can be found here:“The Top Towns and Cities in Latin America for Healthy Living.”