Angle & Perspective

I was made aware of the “Blue Zones” where people live longer, by people in the 7th Day Adventist Church. Adventists eat a primarily vegan/plant-based diet as a part of their spiritual convictions. Otherwise, they eat a diet with rules similar to the Jewish kosher laws of eating clean meat. They also avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol.

The primary conviction is based on the initial diet prescribed to humans in the Garden of Eden, and is also based around the scriptures which speak of one’s body as being a temple of the Most High God. The belief is that food can cloud ones spiritual senses and be a source of temptation for unruly appetite that could lead to a lack of self-control in other areas of life.

This is seen in the first Biblical story of Adam and Eve who were tempted by their natural senses/fleshly lusts of physical appetite as well as lusts for knowledge, truth or new experiences from a different source other than their Creator. This led to the downfall of mankind as they were unable to wield the heavy weight of rebellion and spiritual and physical death. The redemption story of Christ as the Messiah to repair mankind’s mortal dilemma and spiritual separation from God the Father brings about the concept that “man does not live by bread alone.”

On this earth, as healthy or poorly as we eat, we are not satisfied by food. We always want more. And in many other areas of life, always wanting more. We have a God-given nature to explore, create, know and be curious, but we must be content with our limitations or it can lead to discontentment and internal suffering. Being content I believe, is a key to long life, to counter our insatiable desires for more. Many destructive actions are made by people deeply unhappy and discontent. (Read More on being content in my article “More Content”)

Most recently, I cherished the words of a Jewish rabbi in Israel who said the way to avoid being sick was to eat less, have faith in God as physician, to read the scriptures as they bring life and happiness, to never be angry or yell at one’s wife or children. 

The Blue Zone in Loma Linda, California, USA, is home to a large population of Adventists who eat a plant-based diet as well as practice a spiritual lifestyle. These are attributed to their beliefs for a long, well-lived life.

“Loma Linda, Calif., the only blue zone in America, is the home of a Seventh-day Adventist community of over 9,000 people. Adventists in Loma Linda tend to live up to 10 years longer than the average American.” – CNBC

Keep the thread going… What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

Resources:
Blue Zones: https://www.bluezones.com/

Featured Image credits: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1644064 , modifications by Erika Smith