Unsurprisingly (for those of you who know my story), I’ve been thinking about the link between nutrition and disease for awhile now.
My change in nutrition has not only allowed me to lose 100 lbs., but it has also reduced my blood pressure (which has gone from an average 140/90 to 120/80, and often lower), it had reduced my cholesterol (with medication, it was around 220 and is now 85 TOTAL) and has reduced much of my anxiety, which I’ve previously managed on and off with medication as well.
And though I won’t see the results for at least another year or so, I’m believing that this way of eating is repairing the damage caused by Coronary Artery Disease, a result of my previously unhealthy diet.
So, you can imagine I was excited (and ultimately unsurprised) to find this article in the WV Oupost about the Amish, of all people.
According to the article (and to the medical findings contained within), the Amish don’t get autism or the learning disabilities that continue to plague the rest of the U.S. Both are on the rise in America (1 case for every 100 children now), and scientists have speculated several causes, while in Amish communities, there have been three confirmed cases of autism. EVER.
In addition, and what really excited me, is that these same Amish communities very rarely get any of the other diseases that are literally ripping through America’s population: diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Why?
The article suggests it’s their diet and lifestyle that shields them from our maladies. Namely, that they aren’t exposed to ours.
“Their diet consists of eating organic, fresh, locally-grown produce, and of course, they do not follow the established vaccination routines.”
In addition, they don’t eat genetically modified foods (GMO’s), they don’t use our chemically-engineered medicines or our chemically-altered foods. And they’re healthier for it!
Dr. T. Colin Campbell found the same types of results in his massive “China Study,” which studied an unprecedented number of villages and people, detailing their nutrition and disease. In those villages where residents ate more meat, fish, dairy and processed foods as part of their diet, the more cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The less meat, fish, dairy and processed foods, the less disease.
I know this particular article is a bit preachy and gets downright “conspiracy theory” at times. I can’t really fault them for their frustrations. However, in spite of the slant, you should be asking yourself, “What do the Amish have that I don’t?”
They have less hospital visits, for one thing.
“Eat to live. Don’t live to eat.”