I
e ‘blue zones’
Living a healthy lifestyle has been part of
the Seventh-day Adventist message for
more than a century. During a time when
smoking tobacco and not bathing for weeks
were considered healthy medical practices,
Adventists all over the world were promot-
ing fresh air, exercise and a nutritious diet as
the best way to live a longer, healthier life.
When Glendale Adventist Medical
Center (GAMC) was founded on these
principles in
,
the Adventist diet
was strictly vegetarian. Alcoholic drinks,
ca eine and the use of tobacco products
were forbidden. While today’s typical
Adventist diet has deviated somewhat
from its early roots, meat is still consumed
sparingly, if at all, with emphasis placed on
fresh fruits and vegetables. Alcoholic drinks
and tobacco are strongly discouraged.
Today the rest of the world is beginning
to recognize the value in the Adventist
health message. According to the National
Geographic book
The Blue Zones
,
by
Dan Buettner, Adventists are among the
longest-living people in the world, and
Loma Linda, Calif., which has an Adventist
population of about ,
,
is considered
one of the few “blue zones” in the world.
What classifies the zone?
A blue zone
is a region of the world where people
commonly live active lives past the age of
.
e world’s ve blue zones are currently
located in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan;
Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Icaria,
Greece; and Loma Linda. ese zones share
at least six common characteristics:
Family put ahead of other concerns.
No smoking.
Plant-based diet.
Consumption of legumes.
Constant moderate physical activity.
Social engagement, such as belonging to
any faith-based community.
Perhaps one of the most notable
characteristics of Adventists is their faith.
Attending church and being part of a
church family is central to an Adventist’s
life. ese church families work together to
spread the message of God’s love to every
corner of the world. is philosophy is
also evident in all of the Adventist church
health facilities, including GAMC.
Living in the zone
“
Adventists have been
living the healthy lifestyle that medical
science now recommends for more than
a century,” says Bruce Nelson, director
of Community Services at GAMC and a
champion of spirituality and health at the
hospital. “It’s great that science, including
National Geographic, is beginning to vali-
date our long-held beliefs in good health.”
Don’t worry: You can still nd meat,
ca einated beverages, and an assortment
of sweet and salty snacks in our cafeteria,
the Terrace Café. A er all, we do believe in
allowing people to make their own choices.
But before you visit the grill to order your
hamburger, perhaps you’ll remember the
Adventist blue zone and head for the salad
bar instead.
To receive a free booklet about
Seventh-day Adventists and
health, call
( )
-
.
To
learn more about GAMC or our
services, visit
GlendaleAdventist.com
.
Distracted driving
could be deadly driving
t doesn’t matter which direction you’re traveling—if your foot’s on
the gas pedal, but your attention is on something other than driving,
you’re headed for disaster.
Every day, Americans die as a result of distracted driving. More
than ,
are injured.
Any non-driving activity you engage in behind the wheel can be
dangerous. at includes things like eating, adjusting your radio or
music player, texting, or talking on a cellphone.
In recent years, phones in vehicles have drawn particular atten-
tion. Did you know that:
Using a phone while driving delays your reaction time as much as
having a blood alcohol content that meets the standard for drunk
driving?
Sending or reading a text takes your eyes o the road for about .
seconds? When traveling at miles per hour, that’s like driving the
length of a football eld blindfolded.
To keep yourself—and others—safe while driving, remember
this: When your car is on the road, your attention should never be
o the task at hand.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Highway Traf c Safety Administration
A new year, a new you
Keep your resolutions from unraveling
It’s that time of year when many of us sing an old familiar tune—and it’s
not “Auld Lang Syne.” Around the New Year’s holiday, we vow to change—
perhaps to lose weight, stop smoking or reform our couch-potato ways.
Unfortunately, the resolutions we’re good at making, we’re also good
at breaking. But it doesn’t have to be like that. is year set the stage for
resolutions that stick by following these suggestions:
Keep it real. Don’t expect to drop pounds by February or to dive
right in at the gym every night. Pin your hopes on something more
realistic—like a modest weight loss of maybe pounds at rst.
Be speci c. Vague resolutions, such as “I’ll exercise more,” won’t go far.
Be clear about what you plan to do. For example, how many days will
you work out each week and for how many minutes?
Don’t let setbacks stop you. If you do fall back into an old habit, don’t
abandon your resolution—and all that you’ve accomplished. Figure out
what went wrong, and work toward a x.
Give your New Year’s resolutions a great start. Join the
Glendale News-Press
Downtown Dash K training program.
Visit
GlendaleDowntownDash.com
to learn more.
Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Psychological Association
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