LOMA LINDA IN CALIFORNIA
Can you imagine a modern-day community without the burden of chronic preventable disease? Well, there is one—Loma Linda in California, USA. The place where a group of Seventh Day Adventists has been found to have the nation’s lowest rates of heart disease, diabetes, and very low rates of obesity!
They live 10 years longer than the average.
But why? Here are the components that make up their style of living:
6 CORE MEDICINES FROM A WESTERN BLUE ZONE
- Spirit: All Adventists have faith; Believing in “god directs, god protects.” This safety net removes unwanted stress. The belief that a higher power has your best interest at heart is powerful, especially in times of hardship.
- Food: Adventists sustain a healthy lifestyle by eating more plants, and eating meat sparingly, if at all.
- Movement: They keep active and take pride in their daily chores. They believe that many hands make light work for the collective community. Adventists get regular, moderate exercise as part of their lifestyle.
- Connection: Adventists spend a lot of time with like-minded friends. They enjoy sharing each other’s values and supporting each other’s habits.
- Work: Many find a sense of purpose, and stave off depression by focusing on helping others.
- Lifestyle: Adventists are reminded to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” The 7th day of the week is a SelfCare Sunday!
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOUR COMMUNITY FOLLOWED
As a result, they have lower blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol, and less cardiovascular disease. Plus a healthy waistline compared to the rest of America. This community is a great example for any modern day community where chronic preventable diseases are usually all too common.
A GIVING COMMUNITY IS A MEDICINE
Adventists spend a lot of time with like-minded friends. They find well-being by sharing each other’s values and supporting each other’s habits & taking pride in giving something forward. Like many faiths & belief systems, Adventists encourage and provide opportunities for its members to give forward and volunteer their time or resources towards meaningful causes in their life. Who knew that giving could make us feel so good? Might be worth trying this week.
EAT LIKE A KING/QUEEN
When it comes to food, they tend to eat an early, light dinner and believe that they should “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” In support of a biblical diet of grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The Adventists encourage a “well-balanced diet” including nuts, fruits, and legumes, low in sugar, salt, and refined grains. Natural with low human interference as “God” intended it to be.
SELF CARE SUNDAY
SelfCare Sunday is a common phrase spoken these days. It originates from Adventists who are reminded to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”
This is your permission slip to self to put the phone in airplane mode, leave the emails for Monday, and spend some time doing what you love, with the people you love. Put it in the diary and commit to it.
FAITH IS MEDICINE
All in all, Adventists have a strong faith. They maintain an optimistic viewpoint by having a deep sense of faith that the source “God,” directs and protects. Their mental constructs, cultural beliefs, and a deep sense of faith help them walk into the unknown with a good heart, trusting in universal laws and a powerful safety net in hard times. Perhaps inspiring faith and hope is a powerful tool for longevity too?
SUMMARY
There is a developing trend that modern communities in the Western world are trending in the wrong direction. Meaning their burden of chronic preventable disease is increasing, to the point where we recently had the first generation with a lower life expectancy than the previous generation. Loma Linda in California is another Blue Zone community that is bucking the trend. Note the principles and apply what is relevant to the community that you live in.
Curious Questions To Self?
- Do you have a deep sense of faith? Do you take a SelfCare Sunday? (or other day)
- Do you eat low-human-interference natural food and drink plenty of water?
- Do you seek to serve and help others each week?
- Are you an active encourager and supporter of your friends and family, without judgment?
REFERENCES
This is directly referenced from the best-selling amazon SelfCare Book "Lifestyle Medicine For the People" by Rory Callaghan. If you would like to read more content like this. Grab the free online chapters of the book or a hard copy.
We have done our best to reference everyone’s expert opinions, peer-reviewed science, and original thoughts, all references available here and referenced in the text.
We also understand that most thoughts are not our own and there is a collective unconsciousness, unconsciousness, and universal mind stream of energy that is always at work. How are references are sorted and filtered is here
