Living a longer life with a better quality of life is possible: far from being an unattainable dream, it is something tangible and real, requiring only a high dose of awareness, intention, and the discipline to implement a series of inspiring daily habits.
We spoke with David de Cubas, Health Director at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, to uncover the keys to Mediterranean Longevity, that much-desired goal which is more a path we must walk each day than a destination.
Mediterranean Longevity is the cornerstone of the philosophy at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, upon which the other pillars of a fuller life are built. Through active listening to our body, caring for our mind, personalised nutrition, conscious movement, and healthy social interactions, we can create a lifestyle that leads us towards our objectives.
As the years go by, we become increasingly aware of the importance of the routines we acquire from birth through adulthood. Our fundamental task is to learn how to age well.
That is why, with the help of David de Cubas, we reveal the six secrets of Mediterranean Longevity. It is never too late to start; today is the best day to begin.
1. The Mediterranean Diet
Our body, which is our means of being in the world, is inevitably linked to the mind and reflects it; therefore, we must learn to take care of it. One of the keys is to nourish ourselves with natural, locally sourced products, embracing nutrition based on what the land offers.
Our body is much more than a physical structure: it is the medium through which we inhabit the world and connect with it. It is deeply intertwined with the mind, reflecting emotions, thoughts, and inner states. Caring for it is not merely an aesthetic or functional matter, but a profound act of holistic wellbeing. One of the most powerful ways to do this is through our diet: choosing natural, fresh, seasonal produce, connecting with what the land provides, and nourishing ourselves mindfully is a way to honour the body-mind balance upon which our health depends.
At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, we work with four nutritional plans inspired by this philosophy, always using seasonal, organically grown produce from our Finca Althaya.
We cannot ignore the importance of eating foods at the right time of year. In the Mediterranean, our culture is rich in wisdom, teaching us when vegetables and fruits are at their best or when it is ideal to consume more meat. This is deeply connected to our perception of the passage of time.
2. Mindful Movement
A second crucial key is movement: not only the structured exercise we engage in daily but also conscious, intentional bodily movement. Our fast-paced lifestyle disrupts our bodies, causing excessive wear, elevating cortisol and adrenaline levels, which damages all bodily functions. Seeking intentional movement means giving our body the amount of exercise it needs for a healthy life. Why do we call it “desired movement”? Because desiring it means we bring full awareness to that conscious motion. Running or intense workouts are currently in vogue, yet both inactivity and overexertion harm the body. We must find the right balance.
At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, guests connect with nature and become active early each morning with walks to the beach or Finca Althaya. Each guest undergoes a functional assessment of their physical condition, movement, and balance, from which we tailor exercises to improve musculature, flexibility, or even alleviate pain.
3. Respecting Our Biological Rhythms
Knowing when to pause, when to activate ourselves, when to sleep or eat, and how long we should rest is vital. Poor nutrition or mismanaged activities disrupt our biological rhythms. Sleep is especially important, as it resets the brain and enhances the cellular regeneration of our entire organism. If we fail to respect our schedules for biological, functional, and metabolic recovery, nothing will work properly.
An inadequate diet and poor management of daily activities upset our body’s natural equilibrium.
At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, we provide guidelines and, during their stay, guests follow set schedules and routines which they can later incorporate into their daily lives at home. For example, rest periods are carefully planned, mattresses are chosen for optimal comfort, and we teach guests how to rest properly, combining this with yoga and mindfulness sessions.
4. Social Connection with Those Around Us
We know that the longest-lived individuals are not only those who look after themselves, but also those with healthy, fulfilling social connections. Our bodies are highly responsive to external stimuli: if we surround ourselves with people with whom we can be our true selves and express ourselves naturally, our lives will be longer.
Most people who live beyond 100 years have led happy lives, connected with their children, family, and loved ones, and possessed a zest for life that their bodies recognised. Furthermore, in Mediterranean countries, thanks to the light and climate, we lead more social lives and feel more connected. The sun and good weather are natural allies that help strengthen relationships and foster a life more connected to others.
At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, we offer emotional support to guests, creating close relationships with our team so that they feel comfortable and know they can rely on us for anything they need. We are humans caring for humans. Here, psychology plays a key role as a fundamental source of support.
5. Active and Personalised Prevention
We must recognise that if we wish to enjoy greater longevity, we need to prevent many of the health issues that could arise. At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, we personalise each guest’s experience with a preventive approach: our doctors focus on genetics, epigenetics, nutrition, cardiovascular health, and more, as we often neglect our hearts due to excessive activity, stress, and anxiety.
We understand that, too often, we overlook caring for our hearts, caught up in demanding routines, constant stress, and accumulated anxiety. Therefore, we strive to help each guest regain balance and learn to care for themselves from the root.
It is important to pause, which is why our programmes are designed to be restorative experiences for guests. We also advocate regenerative medicine, applying innovation through invasive and non-invasive treatments in both medical specialities and in our ZEMness & Spa.
6. Connection with Life and Its Meaning
Many guests tell us that, after their stay, they begin to know themselves better and connect with something beyond mind and body—what we could call “spirituality”. This alignment between what we feel, think, and do provides coherence, which in turn gives meaning to the purpose we seek… and that is a powerful foundation for ensuring greater longevity.
As ambassadors and advocates of Mediterranean Longevity, we at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea seek to inspire, encourage, and guide you so that you can gradually adapt small daily habits for enhanced wellbeing and, ultimately, achieve the lifestyle that will enable you to live longer and better.
Now that you know six secrets to a fuller, longer life, what habits do you think you could begin to incorporate into your daily routine?
The best time to start is today!
About the Expert
David de Cubas is a psychologist, writer, and trainer with a degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Valencia. He has over 13 years’ experience managing health and social care centres, leading teams of over 800 people and developing projects that improve patient care and wellbeing. His career highlights include launching the Paediatrics Service at Casa de Salud Hospital in Valencia and developing new mental health services. He holds an Executive MBA and a Master’s in Management in Global Environments from INEDE Business School UCV, as well as a Master’s in Leadership from Instituto de Empresa Madrid, and has specialised in Public-Private Leadership at Harvard University in Boston. David de Cubas has over a decade of experience training healthcare personnel and has served as Clinical Director at a Wellness & Clinic centre. His solid expertise and commitment to continuous improvement position him as a leading figure in healthcare management and professional training in the health sector.
Marina Vega
Contributor at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea
Graduated in Journalism from the University of Valladolid and based in Altea (Alicante), Marina is a freelance journalist specialising in travel and gastronomy. Since 2018, she has been writing for Condé Nast Traveler and, since 2020, for Guía Repsol, Guía Hedonista, and GastroActitud.
She also collaborates with the Sustainable Guide (Comunidad Valenciana), participates in local projects, writes scripts and voiceovers for videos, acts as a presenter for conferences, and moderates round tables at gastronomic congresses. Her goal is to promote the region through a more conscious and sustainable perspective.
