Nestled in Southern California’s Inland Empire, Loma Linda appears to be an ordinary suburban town with curved residential streets, modest homes, and strip malls. However, this community of 21,000 people stands out for an extraordinary reason: its residents live approximately 8-10 years longer than the average American.
The secret to this longevity lies in the town’s large Seventh-day Adventist population. According to Blue Zones research, Loma Linda is one of only five “blue zones” in the world—regions where people live the longest and healthiest lives.
Dr. Gary Fraser, professor of epidemiology at Loma Linda University School of Public Health and director of the ongoing Adventist Health Study, has found that Adventists in California live an average of seven years longer for men and four and a half years longer for women compared to the general population. For Adventists who are vegetarians, the numbers are even more impressive: nine years longer for men and six years longer for women.
“The results we have found continue to validate what Adventists have believed for more than 150 years,” Fraser said in an interview with Loma Linda University News. “This is a big deal because we are members of a church that has historically emphasized physical health as an important component of spiritual health.”
Several key lifestyle factors contribute to this longevity:
- Plant-based diet: Many Adventists follow vegetarian or vegan diets. Even those who eat meat consume significantly less than the average American—about two ounces daily compared to the national average that translates to about 222 pounds annually.
- Regular exercise: Daily physical activity, often outdoors in nature, is common practice.
- No smoking or alcohol: Only 1% of Adventists in research studies smoke, and alcohol consumption is minimal.
- Sabbath observance: Adventists take a weekly 24-hour break from work and stress, focusing on rest, family, and spiritual renewal.
- Community service: The church emphasizes volunteering and mission work, creating strong social connections.
The health benefits are substantial. CNN reported that vegetarians in the Adventist community tend to have lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, less prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and less diabetes. They also show reduced risk for certain cancers.
Dr. Ellsworth Wareham, a heart surgeon and lifelong Adventist who lived to 104, exemplified this lifestyle. At 100, he told CNN, “I never had stress. I have a philosophy: You do the best you can. And the things you can’t do anything about, don’t give any thought to them.”
The Adventist Health Studies, which began in the 1950s, have consistently shown connections between the Adventist lifestyle and reduced risks of obesity-related diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease.
Researchers emphasize that it’s never too late to adopt healthier habits. “The body has an amazing ability to heal itself to some degree,” Dr. Orlich told CNN. “People can usually get impressive benefits even in a short length of time.”
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