Cultural values and religious beliefs affect health

 religious habits with longer life and a Gallup survey last year showed that religious people enjoy healthier quality of life emotionally, physically, and mentally.
 Many religions practice healthy habits out of commandments. Science has confirmed those who follow that type of lifestyle inevitably will live longer. The karma is simple: if you take care of your body, your body will last a long time.
 These healthy habits and religious principles include eating a well-balanced diet, abstaining from drugs, tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, positive conversations and encouragement, physical and mental exercise, reduced depression and stress and thankfulness.
 The Christian Bible states that one must keep his body or temple holy, as it does not belong to him but God. Most of the students at Prairie View A&M University practice Christian-based religion and should consequently be practicing healthy habits.
 "I am currently a Health Reformer. Think about it, the food we eat breaks down and goes into our blood stream, which then converts to nutrients or toxins in our blood; the blood feeds the brain, and the brain houses your mind, which we use to make decisions. So the foods we eat directly affect our decision making process," said Javid Johnson, a senior accounting major and a Seventh Day Adventist Christian.
 Catholicism even condemns sloth. According to the Catholic Answers website, sloth is one of the most overlooked sins. Those of the Catholic faith believe living normal and healthy insinuates that they have been keeping busy. They have also placed restrictions on working too much saying both sloth and overworking keeps us from fully living healthy lives.
 In fact, older research on Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists and the Amish states that these groups have incredibly lower mortality rates, ranging from 25-50 percent lower than the general public.
U.S. News reporter Phillip Moeller said there is an immense amount of current research proving people can live longer if they actively participate in formal religious activities and follow their faith's conduct recommendations.
These studies have been a source of information for quite some time, but there are still individuals who have not chosen to live a religious lifestyle. Doctors are now shifting the focus from the religion to its faith-based and habitual practices.
Richard Besser, a doctor and author of Tell Me the Truth, Doctor, said in his book, "Even if you aren't religious, it's worth embracing some philosophies espoused by many faith-based organizations that are good for your health and the health of others."
The need to be religious and live a long time is now unnecessary based on expert opinion. The only requirement to being healthy is continuously living a balanced healthy lifestyle, free from destructive behavior.
For college students, this may be the biggest issue as the college campus is a playground for negativity and destruction.
Ariel Walker, a senior accounting major and Jehovah's Witness, said, "I don't necessarily think I will live longer because I don't eat healthy enough. There's always that tendency to fall into peer pressure, but I think I might have been worse off without my religion giving me limitations. I might have drank alcohol more excessively."
Besser also stated in his book that staying in school is good because "education is good for your health."