Once upon a time, driving to Roseto, Pennsylvania was the highlight of my childhood Summers.
Picture this - a car packed with a delicious picnic by my mom, my dad at the wheel, and my sister and my wide-eyed selves in the backseat, gearing up for our annual family reunion. The anticipation, palpable. Those memories tether me to one unforgettable word - CONNECTION.
Now let's shift gears.
Disregard my personal recollection - this is about the Roseto effect, and it's about YOU. It's not about your religion, culture, race, ethnicity, gender. You, as part of the 7+ billion human race, are at the heart of this conversation. LITERALLY.
The Rosetans, who migrated to the USA in 1882 from Roseto Valforte Italy, sought a better life. A thought-provoking notion, isn't it? What constitutes a 'better life' and does it still hold true today?
But let's delve into the crux of the matter.
Humans instinctively crave connection; it's woven into our DNA for survival. Doubtful?
Well, let's discuss the research study...
🍝The tale of Roseto in Pennsylvania gets fascinating when we look at the subsequent years, as researchers began to dig deeper into the unusual health profile of this small town. It was a mystery that seemed to defy medical science. Here was a group of Italian immigrants, who really were breaking all the traditional rules we have about health.
🍕The Rosetans loved their food - and rich food at that! They enjoyed chowing down on sausages, meatballs and slabs of rich cheese. They were ardent smokers and drinkers. And while we might associate the Mediterranean diet with health and longevity, the Rosetans seemed to eschew this completely, opting for robust, hearty meals.
🍝The men primarily worked in slate quarries, a profession that came with its own set of risks, from exposure to pollution to high levels of physical stress. Yet, remarkably, heart attacks among men aged 55-64 were a rarity and the death rate among men over 65 sat at just 1%, significantly lower than the national average of 2%.
🍕Societal issues? Barely any. Crime was almost non-existent. There was little need for public assistance. So, what was going on?
🍝This question brought Dr. Stewart Wolf to the town in the 1960s. An observant physician, he was initially drawn to the town because of a mere statistical anomaly, but soon found himself intrigued by the extraordinary health of the Rosetans.
🍕Wolf undertook a systemic study of the town. He mapped family structures, interviewed the inhabitants, conducted medical tests, and observed their daily lives. He, too, noted that the inhabitants didn't follow a typically 'healthy' lifestyle. But he also noticed the strong sense of community.
Roseto was a town where everyone knew everyone. The community was paramount and there was a collective sense of empathy and understanding. Elders were respected and taken care of by their families, not set aside in old age homes. Children were guided by the morals and wisdom of their grandparents. It was a society where helping a neighbor was second nature.
🍝Wolf came to believe that it was this close-knit community that acted as a protective layer against heart disease. This deep feeling of safety and belonging, he theorized, led to lower stress levels which in turn resulted in better physical health.
So next time you worry about your cholesterol, maybe give a thought to the loving, stress-free community you surround yourself with.
I am OBSESSED with reconnecting you to your body. AND connecting WITH YOU!
Click the button below👇🏽 and join me this week in one of two Yin Yoga classes and let's connect!
Your body will thank you 💚
💚,
your body is the greatest technology®