Sidra (Fermented Apple Cider …a staple in Asturias)

The phrase, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away” is not a popular saying in Spain. However,  in Asturias where we live, Sidra, a beverage made from fermented apples is touted as a health drink and recommended for daily consumption. “El amor y la sidra, lo curan todo,” (Love and sidra cure all) brags the Copa de Oro brand.

According to the experts, this alcoholic apple drink is rich in antioxidants, fights free radicals, improves cardiovascular health and can reduce high cholesterol. Poured by a waiter from a bottle high above his head to a tipped glass below his waist to maximize the bubbles, drinking Sidra can be entertaining (and a bit messy!) as well.

A Spanish friend shared that his grandfather, who is in his nineties, meets his buddies every day at the Sidreria (Sidra bar) to share stories and drink a bottle of Sidra. When Grandpa came down with a urinary tract infection, his doctor asked him about his daily consumption of Sidra. Grandpa admitted to drinking a 70cl (24 fl oz) bottle of sidra every day. Without hesitation, the doctor recommended a cure. “Drink two 70cl bottles of sidra every day until your symptoms clear up!”

Before you jump to conclusions and think Spanish doctors use only Sidra to cure their patient’s ailments, let me assure you that the medical system in Spain is sophisticated, advanced and effective. According to a variety of online sources, Spain ranks higher than the US in healthcare. Spain also boasts the highest life expectancy in Europe. Some say it’s the Mediterranean diet, while others credit all of the walking.

Arbol de Sidra (Cider Tree)

In Asturias, Sidra is the answer. There is even a giant tower built out of 3800 green glass Sidra bottles at the entrance to our neighborhood. Not only is the Arbol de Sidra (Cider Tree) a tribute to the Asturian love of Sidra, but it represents the city’s commitment to recycling. A great combination since so much Sidra is consumed here daily.

In Asturias, when you order Sidra in a restaurant, the bottles are lined up and left on your table for bragging rights rather than removing them when they are empty as they would in the U.S.. Rocky and I have not adopted the Sidra-Every-Day habit, preferring to enjoy it occasionally instead,  but we also don’t eat an apple every day.

Since living in Spain for a year and a half, we’ve gotten to experience the healthcare system first hand. Gratefully, I only had to go to the dentist for a cleaning and a new filling during our entire first year. With my limited Spanish, that was challenging, but not completely overwhelming.

In the process, we discovered that in Spain, and much of Europe, most cavities are filled without anesthesia.  Believe me, I was ready to beg for a good numbing at the first sign of pain but the whole procedure was done in less than twenty minutes and more importantly, without any discomfort! I didn’t miss the fat cheek and numbed lip that usually accompany the pre-filling anesthesia, either.

My teeth cleaning involved a small power washer that cut the usual time in half and gave me a bit of a water-splashing facial in the process. In both instances, Rocky was waiting for me in the waiting room and when I came out, he figured they had not done the procedure yet because it was over so quickly!

After a year of Spanish classes, and a lot more self-encouragement, I finally felt ready to tackle a routine visit to the gynecologist. I studied every vocabulary word I could think of pertaining to a PAP smear and a mammogram in advance, to prepare for the exam. I selected a female gynecologist and was relieved when I finally met her that she seemed so kind and patient with my still-a-work-in-progress Spanish.

While I thought I had done my homework, I should have spent more time learning the names of clothing items. Imagine my surprise and the doctor’s when I exited the dressing room without a bra or shirt, only to discover she was doing the PAP smear and not the mammogram that day. An embarrassing way to learn the word for bra! (Sujetador, in case you ever need to know!)

The following week, I returned for the mammogram. This time I knew for sure which clothing items would need to be removed. The receptionist checked me in and then walked me to the room where the mammogram would take place. She told me to leave my sujetador (I got it right this time!) and shirt on a chair in the room and then step to the mammography machine. So far so good. Everything looked familiar. Turned out that the receptionist was also the technician so she tucked me into the squeeze box and stepped behind the protective shield to administer the test. I took a deep breath, and held it the way I had done in the past, as the machine made its way very slowly across my breast.

Thanks to yoga, I have an excellent capacity for deep breathing but this machine was moving more slowly than I anticipated. Before it reached its final destination, I gasped for breath, apologizing to the tech that I just couldn’t hold my breath any longer. “Why would you hold your breath?” she asked curiously. Apparently, holding your breath during a mammogram is not required here. Another assumption that got me in trouble. The scan of the other breast went much more smoothly and gratefully, I don’t need to return for another year.

During a visit to the lab for a routine blood test, I learned the word for fist (puño or puñito) and fasting (ayuno), reinforcing the idea that the best way to really learn a language is through immersion. These are not vocabulary words that are usually included in Spanish classes!

When another doctor asked me what tension I had in my life, I assured her I was a semi-retired yoga teacher, enjoying a life with less stress than any other time in my life, that I could remember. When she smiled and shook her head, and then rephrased the question, I realized she was asking me about my blood pressure, not my tension!

I guess it’s not uncommon to make more frequent visits to a doctor when you are in your 60s, even if you consider yourselves healthy.  After all, we want to make sure we get an extended warranty so we can enjoy a long and active life. Between Rocky and I, we have visited a number of specialists including an internist, dermatologist, rheumatologist, gynecologist, optometrist, audiologist and traumatologist.  We’ve had X-rays, blood tests, and regular stops at the pharmacy.  Not as much fun as researching new restaurants but the process has given us some peace of mind.

What amazes us more than anything is not the expert care and modern approach to medicine, which of course we appreciate, but rather the affordability. We pay 160 euros per month for our private insurance to cover both of us for comprehensive healthcare, including dentistry. Our co-pay is 3 euros per visit. After one month where we had more than the usual number of appointments, our total co-pay was only 35 euros! If we get sick, we can see a doctor without worrying about how much it will cost us. The lack of financial worry goes a long way to helping us stay healthy.

That, and the occasional glass of Sidra and we can stay healthy forever!

Enjoying some Sidra after a big day of hiking

Notes from the author: 

Want to read more about the benefits of Sidra?  More Info

You might also enjoy my blog on Living Well, where I discuss polar plunges and other ways of staying healthy. Living Well

I think Rocky and I would both agree that having the opportunity to travel regularly has enhanced our health. Nothing is more motivating than to have an exciting retreat on our calendar to look forward to, like our next retreat in Puglia, Italy. Global Yoga Trips Info