One of my mantra's is explained in this example. Take care of people and they will take care of you. Loyalty, respect, trust all plays roles in your health. Humans are social creatures. At the end of the day, it's all we have. Each other.
Roseto, PA a small town examined by Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, Outliers, revealed a previously unknown secret to extended living. As discovered by Dr. Stewart Wolf, who practiced in the community for 17 years.
In the book, Gladwell describes how the residents came from a town named Roseto Valfortore, Italy. Outside of Rome. They were hard workers, and without much opportunity came to America for a better one. In January 1882, 11 of them set their sights on New York. Upon arriving they settled in Pennsylvania after they found jobs in a slate quarry, like the marble quarries they were familiar with in their hometown.
As they settled in, they gave word back friends in family back home that there were jobs available in America, a group of 1200 immigrated to America. When the new settlers arrived, they were determined to stay together and they ended up forming their own community by the quarry in rural Pennsylvania, naming after their hometown in Roseto.
It was found that the people of Roseto, PA rarely got sick and were living longer than the American residents in the surrounding communities. Most notably, heart disease. Heart Disease was the most common cause of death during this, Yet Dr. Stewart Wolf, who practiced in the area for 17 years, said he never, saw one case of heart disease in the entire Roseto community. There were other benefits to living in Roseto. There was no suicide, no alcoholism, no drug addiction, and no crime. Most of them died of old age and living to over 100 years old.
Dr. Wolf first examined the plausible causes of this phenomenon, first looking at nutrition. He assumed that since they were from Italy that the residents at better than the people in the surrounding communities and probably consumed a low-fat Mediterranean diet, rich in vitamins/minerals. However, this was not the case. Most Rostans cooked with lard, and even ate “worse” than they were used to in their hometown because of availability. They did little exercise, and they smoked heavily. Many from the town were obese and Dr. Wolf discovered that 41% of their calories came from fat.
Leading cause heart disease: A buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries (atherosclerosis) is the most common cause of coronary artery disease. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, being overweight and smoking. - Mayo Clinic
Crossing diet and health choices off the list of possibilities for lower heart disease death rates, Dr. Wolf looked at genetics. After some research on their ancestors, genetics was not the reason either.
As the last factor, Dr. Wolf looked at their culture and social components of their community as a causation of lower heart disease risk. So, he studied how the residents of Roseto, PA lived and how they related to each other.
Here’s what was learned:
They frequently stopped by each other’s homes to check in and chat.
They all made sure that the less fortunate could pay the bills.
They would cook for each other.
They attended church together.
The younger generation took care of the older generations and lived in the same homes.
The had frequent social gathering and parties in the streets.
Dr. Wolf concluded that it was the Roseto way of life that was the deciding factor that was the cause of their healthy outlook. There was no privacy fences or locked doors in Roseto. Their social structure created an enriching, calming, and healthy environment both mentally and physically that had a direct impact on each other’s lives. They were all truly close with each and cared. It truly takes a village and the closer you are with your community the more fulfilled your life will be. Keep close with the people you care about build up the people that you love.
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