Author Topic: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer  (Read 9594 times)

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Richard Myers

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Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« on: June 01, 2011, 09:22:41 PM »
Health studies indicate a long, healthy life is no accident

Seventh-day Adventists die later and enjoy greater quality of life

18 May 2011, Loma Linda, California, United States
Gary Fraser

People continuously seek the secrets to a long, fulfilling life. As members of a church that has historically emphasized physical health as an important component of spiritual health, we are in a unique position to find answers.

This is the whole purpose of the Seventh-day Adventist Health Studies at Loma Linda University. The first study, conducted from 1976 to 1988, examined 34,000 Seventh-day Adventists in California, establishing firm connections between lifestyle, disease and longevity.

We learned that California Seventh-day Adventists live years longer than non-Seventh-day Adventist Californians: 7.3 years longer for men, 4.4 years for women. We also discovered that five simple behaviors can increase lifespan by about two years each, for a total of 10 years: eating a plant-based diet, never smoking, consuming nuts several times per week, exercising regularly and maintaining a normal weight.

Our second and much larger study, which focuses on cancer, began in 2002 with almost 100,000 subjects in North America. We have not yet received enough data to begin analysis, but we're following up on the clues we learned from past research.

Seventh-day Adventist males in California appear to have a 40 percent reduction in cancer risk; for women the reduction is about 25 percent. While few Seventh-day Adventists smoke, much of this risk reduction appears to be related to factors other than tobacco.

Here are some of the things that we know. Consuming meat appears in many cases to increase the risk of commonly occurring cancers. On the other hand, eating fruits, tomatoes, and legumes (including soy) appears to be protective. Even in less common cancers that are better known for being related to smoking and alcohol, diet may play a significant role in reducing risk.

It can be difficult to prove a link between particular foods and some cancers. But one case where the connection appears to be very real is meat and colon cancer. We've seen that non-vegetarian Seventh-day Adventists have about an 85 percent higher risk of developing this disease than their vegetarian counterparts.

Our past research suggests that eating legumes may protect against colon cancer, but further study is needed. It's also possible that consuming legumes may somewhat counteract the negative effects of eating meat when it comes to colon cancer, but this too needs further exploration.

Another possible connection we've seen is between soymilk consumption and prostate cancer. Our study showed that men who drank soymilk daily had about a 30 percent lower risk than men who never drank it. Additionally, other studies have suggested that eating tomatoes, legumes and dried fruit may be protective.

We discovered a strong connection between bladder cancer and certain behaviors. Being a current smoker increases the risk almost six-fold over people who have never smoked. Even past smokers are more than twice as likely to develop the condition. We also ascertained that meat-eating Seventh-day Adventists had more than double the bladder cancer risk of vegetarians.

Pancreatic cancer, known for being especially devastating, does not appear to be affected by whether a person is vegetarian or not. However, eating legumes, dried fruit and possibly even vegetarian meat substitutes may offer some protection. This is another question we need to explore further.

In the case of breast cancer, there is pretty clear evidence that physical activity relates to lower risk. Among study participants with breast cancer, those who exercised the least frequently were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier age.

Beyond cancer, we have discovered interesting connections in the realm of cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. When it comes to heart attacks, blood lipids, diabetes and high blood pressure, vegetarians have the clear advantage and vegans fare even better.

A big reason is that vegetarian Seventh-day Adventists are thinner. The average Adventist woman eating a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet weighs 19 pounds less than a non-vegetarian. A vegan woman weighs 34 pounds less than a meat eater. Vegetarian men weigh 16 pounds less than meat-eaters, and vegan men weigh 32 fewer pounds.

This can make the difference between being healthy or being overweight. In a nation with an obesity epidemic, this difference is striking and should perhaps influence doctors to advocate for plant-based diets.

It isn't exactly news to say that diet can contribute to or prevent heart-related conditions. But it might be surprising just how much of a difference it makes.

Seventh-day Adventist men who eat meat are about twice as likely to die of a heart attack than their vegetarian peers. The difference is even more pronounced in women, but in their case, it tapers off considerably during their elderly years.

Which plant foods are consumed also makes a big difference. We were the first researchers to notice that eating small quantities of nuts at least five times per week cuts heart attack risk in half. We, along with other researchers, have also noted that eating whole grains is protective against heart disease, too. People who eat whole-grain bread are roughly 50 percent less likely to have a heart attack than those who choose white bread.

In the end, death is inevitable. And Seventh-day Adventists die of the same causes as everyone else. But they die later. Some might think the extra years are feeble ones. They ask, "Why would you want to live longer?" But we have also measured quality of life related to physical and mental health. At virtually every age, the bottom line is that Adventists score better.

Seventh-day Adventist Health Studies would never receive grant funding from the United States' National Institutes of Health just to benefit Seventh-day Adventists -- we believe the Seventh-day Adventist experience will benefit all Americans and hopefully the global community. But as our understanding of health continues to grow, we should be the first to take full advantage of the knowledge we gain and live as examples to others.

--Dr. Gary Fraser is director of the Seventh-day Adventist Health Study, professor of medicine, and professor of epidemiology at Loma Linda University
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Mimi

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2012, 06:47:42 AM »
Medical Daily on AHS:

Vegetarians vs Meat-Lovers: Five Reasons You Should Become a Vegetarian [sic]


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Richard Myers

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2012, 12:16:05 PM »
It is sad that they are not reporting the problems with dairy.   Those who consume soy milk are not eating dairy. It is not the soy, but the lack of the Leukemia Virus infecting the person that reduces the cancer rater among soy milk drinkers.  There is a direct link between consuming Leukemia infected dairy products and contracting cancer.   For those who doubt that eating Leukemia can cause cancer, that would be an amazing thing to doubt, there is a book written by a leading researcher, T. Colin Campbell, called The China Study.  Read it. If you are still consuming dairy products, your life depends upon it.

When discussing this subject with a physician at the University of California San Francisco hospital, I was not surprised at his attitude. I had asked why such an acclaimed research hospital had not seen the relationship between Leukemia Virus in dairy products and human cancers. He responded by asking me why Loma Linda had not done the research. What could I say? Nothing. So, we take the opportunity to point out that the study is deficient in one of the most important aspects, that of the cause of cancer often being a virus. Those at Loma Linda have access to the very same information we do. It has been ignored to a great degree.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Mimi

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2012, 01:19:04 PM »
The wonders of granola and healthy eating

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/23/2430694/on-the-table-the-wonders-of-granola.html#storylink=cpy




Giving up meat could give you a few more years ...

QUINCY, ILL. -- You can barbeque it, braze it, saute it. You can cook meat just about anyway you want and it's usually delicious but that second serving of ribs could cost you a few years off your life.

Loma Linda University in California held a series of studies over the past decade of the religious group the Seventh-Day Adventists who practice vegetarianism as part of their belief system.


Source & video
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

carls365

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2012, 03:14:42 PM »
It is sad that they are not reporting the problems with dairy.   Those who consume soy milk are not eating dairy. It is not the soy, but the lack of the Leukemia Virus infecting the person that reduces the cancer rater among soy milk drinkers.  There is a direct link between consuming Leukemia infected dairy products and contracting cancer.   For those who doubt that eating Leukemia can cause cancer, that would be an amazing thing to doubt, there is a book written by a leading researcher, T. Colin Campbell, called The China Study.  Read it. If you are still consuming dairy products, your life depends upon it.

When discussing this subject with a physician at the University of California San Francisco hospital, I was not surprised at his attitude. I had asked why such an acclaimed research hospital had not seen the relationship between Leukemia Virus in dairy products and human cancers. He responded by asking me why Loma Linda had not done the research. What could I say? Nothing. So, we take the opportunity to point out that the study is deficient in one of the most important aspects, that of the cause of cancer often being a virus. Those at Loma Linda have access to the very same information we do. It has been ignored to a great degree.


Especially when Ellen White said more than a 100 years ago, cancers can be transmitted to man by eating. Seems so many called SDA are falling down on so many things.

colporteur

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2012, 05:27:15 PM »
Just think what the report would be on Loma Linda if our people really marched to the drummer in terms of a healthy lifestyle. We might hear about reports where the average SDA lives 15-20 years longer than the population at large. The reports we hear are good but not that impressive considering how God put no diseases on the Israelities when they obeyed Him. While we cannot expect to be totally disease free considering those hazardous areas of life that we have no control over just imagine if 95% of our people all ate animal free diets without sodas, coffee, junk food and such and if they exercised regularly. We are a step above the longevity rate of the average public, and forgive me if it sounds like I'm seeing the glass half empty instead of half full, but considering that the average public is a near catastrophe in terms of the amount of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, we are not all that impressive.

   This is like comparing a plane that is only running on one engine, while the other engine runs part of the time, as it flies along through the sky, with one that is on a downward spiral headed for a crash and burn. Almost any plane would look good compared to the crash and burn plane. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to hear that we are reported to live longer than the average person but the average person either smokes and or drinks, eats pork, exercises little or none,  and eats mostly large amounts of junk food. That lifestlye should not be that hard to improve on in terms of statistics. I know that we do have faithful SDAs in terms lifestyle, even in California, but we have a great many that are not SDA in terms of lifestyle and this hurts our testimony considerably. When we should have statistics  that cause the world's mouth to drop open  rather they just say we are doing well and better than most. Our testimony ought to be impressive to the point of making people respond with " WOW"! Nothing the devil could throw in there could argue with that testimony. We can say " dont eat dead flesh"  but we can scream "don't eat dead flesh" when our stats shake the world of health. To put it even more bluntly SDA stats should be blowing the doors off in terms of giving powerful testimony for a healthy lifestyle. Instead of just qualifying for the olympics we should be bringing home the gold, not for our glory but for the glory of God !
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Mimi

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2013, 05:27:15 AM »
Seventh-day Adventists get it right when it comes to diet, exercise

Lodi News
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Richard Myers

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2013, 08:33:34 AM »
Good eating and health habits began with Adventists long before these guidelines became part of our pop culture. Their church prophet, Ellen G. White, was way ahead of her time, as evidenced by her publications about proper nutrition during the 19th century. She promoted vegetarianism, and prohibited pork, shellfish, alcohol and smoking. Kellogg's Corn Flakes were developed from her emphasis on alternative foods. Mrs. White died in 1915 at the age of 87.

It was a well written article. The only correction I would make would be to say that a prophet is given for the world as well as for the church. The light given through Ellen White has benefited many who teach the truth that came through her. They do not even know where it came from. Science is catching up with the truths given through her.  One area that is not there yet is the fact that cancer to a great degree is coming from eating animal products. God spoke through her that soon there would be no safety in eating dairy products or eggs because of the increase in disease in the animals. "Soon" was a long time ago. She made that statement over a hundred years ago. Today, much of the milk is infected with Bovine Leukemia Virus. UC Berkley began a study in 2000 to see if there was a relationship between Bovine Leukemia Virus and breast cancer. In the first group of about 50 women, they  found evidence of Bovine Leukemia Virus in approximately half of the women in their breast tissue.  Many do not know that virus can cause cancer. It is a real threat to human health.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

carls365

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2013, 08:59:32 AM »
I would add too, the title should read Seventh-day Adventists get it right in both diet and truth.

colporteur

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2013, 09:10:13 PM »
Carl;

   When ever a good report is sounded I cannot help but think, what kind of report would even the world make on us if our church truly took the health message seriously. What kind of witness would we give if they could report something to the effect, those SDAs have almost none of the diseases that the Egyptians had. I know.... I'm never satisfied and live in fantasy land.
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Richard Myers

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2014, 12:00:57 AM »
Before the great flood humans lived almost a 1000 years. What happened? After the flood God allowed man to eat animals and their products. Science is discovering this truth. It is exciting to see the truth vindicated. Choose Something Better
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Mimi

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Re: Some Seventh-day Adventists Live Longer
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2014, 02:12:56 AM »
Eating a plant-based diet and the Sabbath. Adventists and the Blue Zone culture  Huffington Post
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89