Celebrity favorite SHA Spain is one of the best wellness clinics in the world

A 500-calorie dinner accompanied by a glass of apple cider vinegar turns into a festive feast when served on a hilltop terrace overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean bay of Altea. Such is the magic of SHA Spain, the award-winning wellness clinic so glamorous that diet meals, ice baths and body fat scans feel like a treat.

Consider it the ultimate riviera chic attraction. But it’s not just the breathtaking views, glorious sunny days and celebrity fans like Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell and Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing that make SHA so great. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading preventive medicine destinations, the futuristic white complex located 45 minutes outside Alicante combines the latest scientific research and technology with holistic therapies and a focus on nutrition.

The five-star medi-superspa was founded 15 years ago by Alfredo Bataller Parietti, a real estate developer who overcame decades of illness after changing his diet and embracing integrative health strategies. The massive seven-building complex spans 290,625 square feet, houses 93 suites and 10 residences, and is just as gorgeous inside as it is out.

There’s a hydrotherapy circuit with saunas, a steam room and pools of varying temperatures, along with 90 treatment rooms, a gym, chapel, library, cinema and even a kitchen for cooking demonstrations. Outdoor amenities include a stunning infinity pool, Jacuzzi and paddle tennis court with panoramic sea and mountain views. As for the accommodation, my Deluxe Suite with a dressing room and furnished terrace was beautifully appointed and immaculate.

First-time guests choose from five programs designed to optimize physical and mental well-being, from the popular seven-day Leader Performance plan for executives to my four-day Rebalance & Energize plan, which was complemented by a number of à la carte therapies.

My visit began with a pick-up by a nurse, followed by a series of non-invasive diagnostic tests and a consultation with a doctor to review the findings. I scored normal or near normal readings for everything from vascular age to glyco-oxidation, but I was influenced by my love. I blame them for my borderline high body fat percentage.

The doctor recommended a Mediterranean diet, more exercise, a daily vitamin and supplements.

I also met with a nutritionist who was not impressed with my Trader Joe’s frozen lunches, frequent meat and potato dinners, and four espressos a day. She recommended that I consume less meat and caffeine, more fruits and vegetables, and increase the timing of meals in accordance with the cycles of the sun.

She tried to stop me from coffee during my stay, but I politely declined and negotiated three cups a day. Had I been denied, I was fully prepared to sneak out in the morning for caffeine. I wasn’t alone in my disobedience: A guest from Bahrain told me he had smuggled in coffee-making equipment and was happily brewing espresso in his suite.

The results of my integrated bioenergy assessment were confusing. I thought I had energy in my step, but the test that measured the tension of my main meridians revealed that I had low energy levels. The specialist assured me that people often do not realize that they lack vitality.

When I wasn’t in consultations or walking around the building, I reported on therapies like acupuncture, shiatsu, a seaweed wrap and an infrared heat session. I wish I could describe the bliss, but the deeply relaxing treatments made me fall asleep.

However, the ice bath sent me into combat mode. The practitioner taught me to hold my gaze while taking deep breaths, offered to hold my hand, and assured me that 98% of guests stay in the cold water for two minutes. I was thrown out after 15 seconds. He cheerfully urged me in, but my second dive was even shorter.

I couldn’t say whether ozone therapy, which is said to improve many of the body’s physiological processes, had worked. I felt great before a cup of blood was drawn from my arm, mixed with ozone and put back in, and then wonderful.

A lifelong gym avoider, I found myself looking forward to sessions with Marcos, my Argentinian trainer. He seemed to know countless exercises that were right at my level, pushed me to my limits, and made me want to get in shape.

Although I could have happily spent the entire time on campus, I went on an early morning group hike to the “spectacular” lighthouse and a solo afternoon taxi to nearby Altea. The seaside town is famous for its cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and picture-perfect main square, dominated by the blue-domed church of El Consuelo.

I didn’t want to leave the bustling square, but I wasn’t going to miss chef Andrés Morán’s delicious dinner at SHAmadi. The three meal plans “Gluten-free Kushi is for dieters, Biolight is more substantial, and the popular SHA is the healthy gourmet option” are incredibly versatile and flavorful (and are featured in a cookbook, SHA Recipes for live longer and Better”). Beautifully washed fish, pasta, soups and colorful salads are served, while meat, processed sugar, dairy, eggs and alcohol are off the menu.

But who needs cocktails when you can drink vinegar? Between newly minted long walks around my neighborhood and my five-pound home weight lifting regimen, I sometimes rock the sour stuff. I call it my SHA-mpagne.

From $2,600 for the four-day Rebalance & Energize Health program, plus accommodation.