Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
of course i looked at the links in the Wikipedia article, including the size of the research sample and the findings. And the focus is on California Adventists. Five studies were mentioned:
Adventist Mortality Study (1960) on 22,940 California Adventists, compared death rates to other Californians
Adventist Health Study 1 (AHS-1) (1974–1988) on 34,000 Californian Adventists over 25 years of age, links diet to cancer and coronary heart disease.
Adventist Health Air Pollution Study (ASHMOG) (1976-) on 6,328 California Adventists from California. looks at pollutants, respiratory diseases, lung cancer.
Adventist Health Study 2 (AHS-2) (2002- ) broader base of 96,741 Adventists in America and Canada. explores links between lifestyle, diet and disease. Findings include potential for vegetarianism to protect against obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic risk factors, reduced cancer risk for men.
Adventist Religion & Health Study (AHRS) (2006-2008) also known as the Biopsychosocial Religion and Health Study (BRHS), 11,835 subjects as of 2008. No findings reported in the Wikipedia article
To put this in perspective, there are 21 million Adventists in the world. Brazil has the largest Adventist population with 1.3 million. USA is second, followed by India, Phillipines, Peru, and Mexico. Of the 21 million Adventists in the world, 9,000 live in Loma Linda California. There is no longevity data or research findings for any area other than Loma Linda Califiornia in the links you or anyone else has provided thus far. If you have additional data sources, please share with readers.
Excellent. Thank you for that analysis. It saves me from having to read the article.
Well, yes. Obviously, that, along with strong in-group communal ties (which cannot be discounted) is the driving reason SDAs have such exceptional longevity. I don’t think anyone’s suggesting their underlying spiritual beliefs are the determinative factor.
Loma Linda is special because it has a large critical mass of SDA adherents, and major SDA religious and scholarly institutions, which makes it ripe for SDA case studies. Again, apart from the strong communal ties that SDAs share in Loma Linda which they can’t take for granted in most other places, I don’t think there’s something special in the San Bernardino County air or water that makes Loma Linda SDAs live longer. Loma Linda is a blue zone because of the SDAs.
India also remains a developing country. But in Western and Western-facing nations (like the U.S.), South Asians do have fairly long life expectancies.
regarding the statement in bold above, that logic does not follow because of the following:
there are five blue zones in the world where people live the longest and are healthiest. the other four blue zones do not have a large Adventist presence. they are:
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Okinawa, Japan
Sardinia, Italy
Ikaria, Greece
Also, Adventists live in many places. However those areas do not turn into blue zones because Adventists live there. For instance in the USA, 40% of the Adventists live in the South, 10% live in the Midwest, and 31% in the West. Brazil has more Adventists than anywhere in the world with 1.3 million. There are 21 million Adventists world wide, and 9,000 live in Loma Linda California. There are 128 Adventist churches in Sao Paulo Brazil. There are eight Adventist Churches in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But world wide, none of these other areas are prominent in the longevity studies, nor are they a Blue Zone.
my interest is in presenting data accurately, with sources and links for readers to explore further, and evaluate more in depth on their own, to determine validity of what is being posted.
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 02-12-2023 at 12:46 PM..
regarding the statement in bold above, that logic does not follow because of the following:
there are five blue zones in the world where people live the longest and are healthiest. the other four blue zones do not have a large Adventist presence. they are:
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Okinawa, Japan
Sardinia, Italy
Ikaria, Greece
Also, Adventists live in many places. However those areas do not turn into blue zones because Adventists live there. For instance in the USA, 40% of the Adventists live in the South, 10% live in the Midwest, and 31% in the West. Brazil has more Adventists than anywhere in the world with 1.3 million. There are 21 million Adventists world wide, and 9,000 live in Loma Linda California. There are 128 Adventist churches in Sao Paulo Brazil. There are eight Adventist Churches in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But world wide, none of these other areas are prominent in the longevity studies, nor are they a Blue Zone.
my interest is in presenting data accurately, with sources and links for readers to explore further, and evaluate more in depth on their own, to determine validity of what is being posted.
regarding the statement in bold above, that logic does not follow because of the following:
there are five blue zones in the world where people live the longest and are healthiest. the other four blue zones do not have a large Adventist presence. they are:
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Okinawa, Japan
Sardinia, Italy
Ikaria, Greece
Also, Adventists live in many places. However those areas do not turn into blue zones because Adventists live there. For instance in the USA, 40% of the Adventists live in the South, 10% live in the Midwest, and 31% in the West. Brazil has more Adventists than anywhere in the world with 1.3 million. There are 21 million Adventists world wide, and 9,000 live in Loma Linda California. There are 128 Adventist churches in Sao Paulo Brazil. There are eight Adventist Churches in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But world wide, none of these other areas are prominent in the longevity studies, nor are they a Blue Zone.
my interest is in presenting data accurately, with sources and links for readers to explore further, and evaluate more in depth on their own, to determine validity of what is being posted.
No one is claiming that SDAs have a monopoly on longevity, so let’s set that strawman argument aside.
Loma Linda University did conduct an SDA health study across the United States and Canada, which seems to support that the SDA lifestyle is positively associated with health and longevity outcomes outside Loma Linda.
No one is claiming that SDAs have a monopoly on longevity, so let’s set that strawman argument aside. Loma Linda University did conduct an SDA health study across the United States and Canada, which seems to support that the SDA lifestyle is positively associated with health and longevity outcomes outside Loma Linda.
the link just provided for AHS-2 study shows these findings:
comparison of vegetarian to non-vegetarian in body weight, reduced risk factors for cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes. "does not prove causation, but does suggest that possibility."
wrist fractures in women, risk factors, increasing vegetable protein reduced the risk of fracture, the risk of arm, elbow and hip fractures for Adventists was lower than for the general population
a vegetarian diet was not associated with lower levels of vitamin D. degree of skin pigmentation caused the greatest difference in vitamin D concentrations
minority community data looks at why blacks face different risks of certain diseases, with 26,000 black Adventists in the study. Compared to other Adventists, black Adventists have more cases of Type 2 diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure; and compared to non-blacks greater prevalence of prostate cancer, and obesity. The same group has fewer cases of emphysema, myocardial infarction, heart attacks, fibromyalgia and high cholesterol; and compared to non-blacks, less cancer for females.
Note: for this AHS-2 study, there are NO findings on longevity.
the link just provided for AHS-2 study shows these findings:
comparison of vegetarian to non-vegetarian in body weight, reduced risk factors for cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes. "does not prove causation, but does suggest that possibility."
wrist fractures in women, risk factors, increasing vegetable protein reduced the risk of fracture, the risk of arm, elbow and hip fractures for Adventists was lower than for the general population
a vegetarian diet was not associated with lower levels of vitamin D. degree of skin pigmentation caused the greatest difference in vitamin D concentrations
minority community data looks at why blacks face different risks of certain diseases, with 26,000 black Adventists in the study. Compared to other Adventists, black Adventists have more cases of Type 2 diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure; and compared to non-blacks greater prevalence of prostate cancer, and obesity. The same group has fewer cases of emphysema, myocardial infarction, heart attacks, fibromyalgia and high cholesterol; and compared to non-blacks, less cancer for females.
Note: for this AHS-2 study, there are NO findings on longevity.
These are interesting findings.
Many chronic diseases, like Diabetes, often reduce lifespan indirectly.
In other words, the Death Certificate will only mention the secondary complications that caused death.
It’s almost like an anti-Covid scenario!
As do autoimmune diseases, mental health issues etc result in reduced lifespan, although no mention of those conditions are in this article.
In saying that, such a structured and healthy lifestyle in these SDAs, is no doubt beneficial to increasing longevity.
Often they are living in like minded community, which helps reinforce these behaviors too.
the link just provided for AHS-2 study shows these findings:
comparison of vegetarian to non-vegetarian in body weight, reduced risk factors for cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes. "does not prove causation, but does suggest that possibility."
wrist fractures in women, risk factors, increasing vegetable protein reduced the risk of fracture, the risk of arm, elbow and hip fractures for Adventists was lower than for the general population
a vegetarian diet was not associated with lower levels of vitamin D. degree of skin pigmentation caused the greatest difference in vitamin D concentrations
minority community data looks at why blacks face different risks of certain diseases, with 26,000 black Adventists in the study. Compared to other Adventists, black Adventists have more cases of Type 2 diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure; and compared to non-blacks greater prevalence of prostate cancer, and obesity. The same group has fewer cases of emphysema, myocardial infarction, heart attacks, fibromyalgia and high cholesterol; and compared to non-blacks, less cancer for females.
Note: for this AHS-2 study, there are NO findings on longevity.
That’s why I said “seems to support.” I believe this study involves five-year follow-ups, so there may be some time before they can reach more definitive conclusions on life expectancy.
That’s why I said “seems to support.” I believe this study involves five-year follow-ups, so there may be some time before they can reach more definitive conclusions on life expectancy.
The ASH-2 study is based on participants enrolled from 2001 and 2007, so that was 22 years ago. Data has been collected already for 22 years. The 96,000 Adventists in the study were ages 30 to 112, from all 50 U.S. states and Canada. The ASH-2 study was funded by the National Cancer Institute. In 2011 National Institutes of Health awarded AHS-2 a $5.5 million 5-year grant to continue the study.
The focus of the ASH-2 study is: "Its purpose was to understand the effect of food and certain nutrients on cancer and heart disease."
Findings showed "significant correlations between diet and chronic conditions." No findings on longevity. The longevity data in the other studies is all from the California Adventists.
In Europe, research on 7,235 Adventists showed, "Seventh-Day Adventists in Norway experienced an incidence of cancer in the time period 1961 to 1986 that was not significantly different from the general population."
a study in Denmark on 7,905 Adventists, begun in 2003, showed compared to the general Danish population: lower mortality rates from cirrhosis, lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease. There was no difference compared to the general Danish population for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 02-12-2023 at 04:20 PM..
I didn't know there was a Seinfeld episode about it!
It was a terrible story, not just about the baby's death, but about the prejudices against the family because they were SDA.
Oh yes. That was a biggie here in Australia! The Chamberlain's - Lindy and Michael - became a perfect example of 'trial by media'. This media circus was a disgrace and will remain a disgrace when played back in the history of 'journalism'. The lives of the Chamberlain family were forever ruined by unscrupulous reporters who didn't give a damn about the CLEAR evidence, They were on a witch-hunt. Lindy was jailed for murder but released several years later with a "Whoopsie, we made a mistake. You can go home." Yes, the case was reopened, and all convictions against Lindy and Michael were overturned.
A 1988 movie "A Cry In The Dark" with Merryl Streep playing the role of Lindy was released. The movie was released here in Australia under the title "Evil Angels." Actually, a FAR better TV movie - The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain - was made a few years earlier (1984).
Oh yes. That was a biggie here in Australia! The Chamberlain's - Lindy and Michael - became a perfect example of 'trial by media'. This media circus was a disgrace and will remain a disgrace when played back in the history of 'journalism'. The lives of the Chamberlain family were forever ruined by unscrupulous reporters who didn't give a damn about the CLEAR evidence, They were on a witch-hunt. Lindy was jailed for murder but released several years later with a "Whoopsie, we made a mistake. You can go home." Yes, the case was reopened, and all convictions against Lindy and Michael were overturned.
A 1988 movie "A Cry In The Dark" with Merryl Streep playing the role of Lindy was released. The movie was released here in Australia under the title "Evil Angels." Actually, a FAR better TV movie - The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain - was made a few years earlier (1984).
They also put the then little known SDA church on the map, at the time.
Michael died a few years ago unfortunately from cancer at aged 72 , was still working as a casual high school teacher locally here in the Newcastle areas. (there’s a huge SDA church, University and compound at Avondale)
But of course, he went to the grave unredeemed over the whole Dingo thing.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
