| Being healthy means a wholeness in the living of one's life -- a dynamic and constantly changing balance that acknowledges the soundness of our physical state, the wholesomeness of lifestyle, the values that define our behavior, our intimate and collective relationships, the meaning and purpose of our work in the world, and the spiritual dimension of our existence. --William B. Stewart
Fact of the Day:
Lester Breslow, popularly referred to as "Mr. Public Health", is the outspoken visionary whose research played a significant role in asserting that simple lifestyle changes could drastically improve overall health. His landmark studies in Alameda county following the health habits of 7,000 people for 35 years resulted in the 'Seven Secrets': a list of daily health habits that proved strong indicators of how long people will live and how healthy they will be during their lifetime. The study showed that following the habits not only predicted lower mortality, but those who lived longer also suffered fewer disabilities. This news report shares the list. [ more ]
Daily Good of CharityFocus
February 17, 2000 Seven Secrets to a Long Life
http://www.berkshirepublishing.com/ans/HTMView.asp?parItem=S031000342A
LOS ANGELES (ANS) -- Want to live to a ripe old age? A University of California at Los Angeles professor who has followed the health habits of 7,000 people in Alameda County for 35 years says seven simple daily health habits predict how long people will live and how healthy they will be during their lifetime. People in the study with poor health practices experienced more than 50 percent greater mortality over the 35-year period than those who had healthy habits, said Lester Breslow, M.D., professor of health services, emeritus, at the UCLA School of Public Health. The study showed that following the habits not only predicted lower mortality, but those who lived longer also suffered fewer disabilities, Breslow said. "What was surprising to me was how these seven habits were so strongly predictive of mortality." These health habits are: · 1. Don't smoke. · 2. Drink moderately or don't drink at all. · 3. Get a good night's sleep of seven or eight hours. · 4. Exercise 30 minutes at a time, several times a week. Walking vigorously is a top choice. · 5. Forget the scales. Eat moderately to maintain weight in relation to height. · 6. Eat regularly, whether that's two meals a day, three or five. Whatever you do normally, keep it up because it's the regularity of life and moderation in eating, sleeping and exercising that makes all the difference. · 7. Eat breakfast every day. Those people in the study who followed zero to three habits had 100 percent mortality rate after 35 years; those who had followed four to five habits had a 65 percent mortality rate; those who followed six to seven habits had a 50 percent mortality rate.
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