There is a tiny town in Pennsylvania that has changed the way we view health.
Doctors began studying the people of Roseto, Pennsylvania after it was discovered the people of the town had extremely low rates of heart disease. Their health success defied what doctors knew to be true at the time. The people of Roseto ate food cooked in lard, drank large amounts of homemade red wine and smoked cigars - all behaviors that negatively impact heart health.
Dr. Stewart Wolf studied the people of Roseto, and what became known later as the Roseto Effect, from 1955 to 1961. He specifically was looking at the impact of social structure on health. What he concluded was Roseto's low rate of heart attacks and mortality compared to the rest of the region and the nation was attributable to the close-knit community and generations under one roof typical of Roseto at the time. As time went on and the culture of Roseto changed to match that of the rest of the world, their rates of heart disease became comparable to those of other communities around the nation. What can we learn today from the people of yesteryear Roseto? Primary food is important. Primary food is more than what is on your plate. It is having healthy relationships, a spiritual practice, a fulfilling career, and joy. Many times we focus on our diet and exercise when we really need to focus on our primary food. An imbalance in our primary food often shows up in what we eat and how we maintain our physical health. It can also cause negative internal body reactions. Take an inventory of your primary food today.
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