I recently read a fascinating article in the latest issue of National Geographic. In the article, Dan Buettner visits three different countries, with three different communities of people who have unusually high average life spans. The communities varied from Loma Linda, California to Sardinia, Italy, and, finally, Okinawa, Japan. Three communities that are literally worlds apart, yet they each hold a longer-than-average life span.
Even though these three cultures vary greatly, there are a handful of common traits. First, emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial support from family is a common binding trait. Each community values their elders, and extended families look out for each other. They each encourage a healthy work ethic. Not too much workaholic attitude, not too much laziness. Just enough.
But what's the biggest common factor? You guessed it. In each of these three communities, the diet of their cultures is made mostly of vegetables. Each community also eats vegetables they grow themselves. And, the gardening itself provides physical exercise, mental fulfillment, and spiritual satisfaction. And, good old fashioned healthy vegetables. Here is an exerpt from the article:
"When she's not watching sumo wrestling on TV, Yasu Itoman, 100, gets her own exercise by growing onions, tomatoes, carrots, and other herbs and vegetables in her garden. They give her natural antioxidants that may help prevent cancer."
In the Adventist community of Loma Linda, Caifornia, where one community of extra-old people reside, Marge Jetton (101 years old) had this to say about her diet and long-life:
"I haven't eaten meat in 50 years, and I never eat between meals."
There is a somewhat interesting online page on the National Geographic site about this article. Hopefully it will convince you to eat your vegetables! It has certainly inspired me.
Click here to check it out.
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3 comments:
Alas! Do Flintstones vitamins count?
Also, does it count if they're canned?
That's an interesting story. Do you ever think about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Bible and how they chose not to eat the king's wine and meat? They ate vegetables and water instead, and they were stronger than all of the king's other young workers. There is also a verse that says "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31. This is talking about not letting others fall into temptation because of what you drink and eat, but I also think it calls us to eat in a healthy manor. There are verses that talk about eating meat, so I'm not saying that we should all stop doing that, but it does encourage us to eat things that are good for us like veggies! Skip the rice and bread; just give me some carrots and turnip greens!
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