11 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100

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I've been SDA all my 59 years, Adventist schools, church, camp meeting, the whole banana. ALWAYS was taught that I was saved by Jesus' life and death. Ate meat til I was 16, a few years ago went mostly vegan, partly for the health benefits. Because I find when I am in good health I have more energy to spread Jesus' love, more willpower to follow Jesus' example, more clarity of mind to fellowship with Father Son and Spirit, this is more than so I can feel good, it is also a spiritual issue for me. I am drinking lots of water and exercising for the same reason. It is not about what can I get by with and still get to heaven. It is how can I best be about my Father's business. I didn't always put that first, but God helping me, I am now.
I hope the people that know me aren't consumed with what I don't eat or do, but see in me someone who has given her life to helping children with special needs learn to read and write, who seeks out people who are hungry, and who loves to talk about her friend Jesus.

Shining of CA 12:30AM March 13, 2009

I thought this was a great article. I just forwarded it (although it took a couple weeks to get around to it) to a Yahoo Group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LyricallyProductive/
where we try to keep a few useful links about these kinds of topics in one place.
Another link that may be of interest to anyone reading this USNEWS article is
http://zenhabits.net
Again, thanks for the article. There isn't enough emphasis on preventative care and healthy living habits, in my opinion...

Neal of PA 1:19PM March 06, 2009

I believe that Jesus in us is the hope of Glory. That His ways slowly become my ways, as I allow Him to work daily in me. He is the Alpha the Omega the beginning and the End. He wills for us to let Him into our life and he takes us through a process that enables us to come closer to His likeness.
It is not necessary to eat or not to eat something in order to be saved, as we are saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ.
Now, as we walk with Christ if there are things that are harmful to our bodies he will take the time to illuminate us in that regards. I know that there is some of us that have gone through poverty and rough spots and you eat what you have available which has been provided, and you thank God for it. Now for those who have the possibility to eat in an extremely healthy manner; PRAISE GOD! Don't think for one second though that you have control over how long you live or don't live.
There are many who have had horrible habbits all of their life and lived past 100, many who are born ill without even beginning to eat, and many who have awesome eating habbits and don't get past their 30's. Our life is in His hands.
If we choose to eat or not to eat know that the kingdom of heaven is not made up of eating or drinking. Know this though, there will be many that will prophecy in my name and many that will say Lord, Lord, and I will say to them depart from me ye doers of iniquity for I did not know you.
Eat what is given and if you have a choice eat balancing all of the elements that Jesus partook off including meat, fish, etc. Perfect Love casts away all FEAR!! Living in Fear of death or of not doing the will of God can shorten your life by causing unnecessary stress which releases negative chemicals from your brain to your body which will get you sick in the long run!!!
Be Blessed and continue in Christ who is the HOPE OF GLORY!! (ONE DAY AT A TIME SWEET JESUS IT IS ALL I AM ASKING YOU FOR)

Brenda of TX 7:53PM March 05, 2009

If God created us and gave us instructions on how live, such as what to eat, then follow Him, not a bunch of opinions that have surfaced since the beginning of time. What does the Bible say? In Genesis God gave the original diet. This should be sensible since "He is the designer." To shake off what God said then is to force your own opinion.
I think a person can simply accept this and follow this practice because they realize the "results" and want to do what God says, like, for instance, "loving your neighbor" has its benefits. Too many defend themselves and not God on this matter of eating. Hey, think of Lawrence Kohlberg's levels of moral reasoning--what is for "our universal happiness?" You guessed it, God's way.
Some people think that following rules means that you are only doing it to get a reward. I think the Seventh-day Adventist* have a point if they are eating God's way using this higher level of thinking (what is for the universal good of creation). Others who are criticizing them for thinking the SDA's are at the lower level of moral thinking (salvation by works) could just be missing the whole point.
* Some clarification may be in order here. Being a vegan or vegetarian, is not a point of doctrine for salvation of Seventh-day Adventist, though some may have been mislead because they are not on the higher level of moral reasoning. Eat and drink to the glory of God.

Franklin Stahl of PA 10:19PM March 04, 2009

For years me and my husband been trying to eat healthy. We are Seventh-Day Adventists. Whenever there is a Health Seminar in our church we always attend and just loved it. Then all of a sudden my husband would say I miss chicken. I said, what! I ignore him. Somebody advised me to give my husband what he asked, because he just join the church. He is not ready to give up on meat. So I did cook chiken for him once a month, and it becomes weekly. I said, just for him. What happens now? I am eating it too. I really don't wanna do it. Been trying hard. I guess it's not hard enough. Every time I cook I'm tasting it. It taste really good.I don't know what happening to me I am now enslave of my appetite. I need to quit. I am resposible for my health. The Lord God said, take care of MY body temple, which temple you have. I am scared. I need the power from above!

ALEJANDRA JUDY of OH 10:07PM March 04, 2009

Clifford, may God continue to bless you as you walk with our Lord Jesus Christ who has delivered us from our addictions and sins.
Its dishearting to here people say that Adventist live under the old convnant (salvation by works).
The Bible has never taught that salvation was ever a matter of works. From Gensis to Revelation, salvation has always been, and will always be a matter of faith is Jesus Christ ie the sacrifices of animals in the Old Testament. The act of sacrificing these animals did not bring salvation to the doing. However, it was a demonstration of their faith in the promise of a Savior, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).
God NEVER saved people by works in the Old nor New Testament. The Bible says in the NEW Testament "Faith without works is dead" therefore a true believer in Christ will "glorify God with their bodies" with whatever they eat or drink, or whatever they do.
We Adventist agree with you Maxine Jones, that salvation has never been about eating or drinking the right foods. We take care of our bodies because we love Jesus, the Author of the ENTIRE Bible, Who says that our bodies belong to Him, therefore we are to manage them according to His dictates.
PS you don't have to read the Bible to know that ALL the animals that are mentioned in Leviticus as unclean are HIGH in saturated and cholesterol. God just did our homework for us. So if you want to glorify Me with your bodies just stay away from these foods.
If you would like to know more about what SDA's believe visit: http://www.adventist.org/

KC Anyalebechi of TX 3:54PM March 04, 2009

There are always those who regardles of available information will always remain firm in what they have been taught. We all need open minds to judge available information on any given subject.
I have been raised an SDA. I ate the muscles tissue of dead animals for too long of a time. I was still considered a good SDA. Dad told me that meat has urine in it. I didn't believe it and didn't want to believe it, 'til as an embalmer I saw urine in blood samples very frequently. First, in my 20's I bought beef bacon and found a ½"cyst, in my 30's I was a member of Lions International who ate anything and compared 50 Lions members with 50 of my father's friends who respected what they digested. I readily saw my father's friends going to the hospital far less frequently, while my Lions friends went often and for arterial problems,heart problems, and lung problems far more often. I continued eat animal flesh. Finally, I saw a friend's beef (yearlings) close. One had a tumor on it's neck protruding 6" and with a diameter of over 12."
I no longer took that stuff into my body. I began eating healthy, delicious and beautiful food that God made for me to eat. I am over 70 and those who know me remark how young I am.
The American Heart Association, plus the Cancer Society have done extensive studies on SDA's. The results show we live longer, healthier, happier lives without alcohol, flesh, and other contaminants humans only ingest because they like them.
You can argue all you want, however, I say keep eating, and drinking it as long as you want. For me I would rather have a clear mind and clean body, and enjoy my wonderful family.
When you decide you want the same never hesitate to change. You do not have to become a freaky fanatic to live healthy any longer.

Dan Redmon of MD 6:07PM March 03, 2009

Adventists live under the old covenant and not the new. The new covenant lets us know that a man's salvation has nothing to do with what he eats or drinks. While we do well, physically, to follow good health habits, this has nothing to do with our salvation.

Maxine Jones of OH 4:34PM March 03, 2009

I am and Adventist now for almost 14 months and it has been the best time of my life. I have come to know God like I have never known Him before and I have learned so much about myself and other people. It is fantastic to read this article in secular news. I am an Enterprise Data Architect by profession and I want to honor God with everything I do and with the great abilities and talents He entrusted to me. I have now lost 34 pounds of weight just living healthy and starting to exercise, I am busy dropping the other 40 pound of excess weight by the grace of God. I use to smoke 40 cigarettes a day and was completely overweight. God healed me from smoking in less than one second. I became like I had no consciousness of the sin of smoking. I had no withdraw symptoms no cravings nothing, I became like I have never known a cigarette. God Almighty is truly and awesome God. Amen

Clifford Samuelson 7:14AM March 03, 2009

Interesting article except that it's not correct that Seventh Day Adventist don't believe in abusing alcohol. We don't drink alcohol. We know we can enjoy life,be sociable and relax without it. Helping those that have fallen into the trap of thinking this is a way out of their problems and a great way to relax and socialize is a wonderful ministry for many of us. It's important for people to realize that Seventh day Adventist prefer being known foremost for their love for God and for their neighbors.

M. Velasquez of NH 8:13PM March 02, 2009