Princeton's Ask the Doctor May/June 2018

The Amish and Health By Erin Mumby

The Amish have been found to be the healthiest population in the Unite States. A study was conducted to see if cancer would be prevalent because they lack modern medical care. Their findings showed the opposite. As a group, the Amish have lower rates of cancer than other people. Their lifestyle choices make them so healthy. A lot of the Amish are physically due to strenuous, physical labor. Most Amish are farmers or engage in a lot of construction or production jobs. All these occupations require a lot of physical activity. Only 3% of Amish people are obese! Compare this to the 31% of Americans that are obese. The Amish do not use cars. If they don’t take their horse and buggy, they have to walk! It’s no secret that organic food is healthy. This is all the Amish eat. The Amish do not consume processed foods regularly. They enjoy home-grown food. The seeds they use aren’t genetically modified. They use heirloom seeds! All their fruits and vegetables are organic.They are consumed during the season they grow in. If not, they are canned.This makes for an antioxidant rich diet. They use organic methods and consume a lot of untainted foods. Their meat and dairy products aren’t tainted with hormones. Amish food is rich in living enzymes, and vitamins and nutrients. They eat a lot of healthy fats. They rely on raw dairy, butter and meat. Vitamins A, K2, and E are all found in these items. K2 is a vitamin that most Americans lack in their diet. Osteoporosis and cancer occur when people have insufficient amounts of K2 in their diet. The Amish live very humble lives. The simplicity of their days doesn’t cause them a lot of stress. Stress is a major cause of a lot of different diseases. Their lifestyle is truly unique. They must live in harmony for a successful society. They depend on their neighbors. The Amish also avoid drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drugs are terrible for your health. The Amish avoid smoking cigarettes. We all know the negative effects smoking has on your health. Most modern people would look down at the lifestyle of the Amish. However, their clean eating and daily physical activity makes them a healthy group of people. They are more resistant to diseases like diabetes and cancer. Most American people have sedentary jobs where they sit in office. Fast food and processed food are wildly popular in American. We rely on pharmaceutical drugs. It makes sense that the Amish are so healthy.

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ASK THE DOCTOR September/October 2016

MAY/JUNE 2018