p. 8 | Aids to Perpetuate Youth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 23, 1911

Aids to Perpetuate Youth

ONE way to arrest old age, or prolong youth, is to avoid those things which lower the tone of the general health. Besides giving way to hurry and worry, discontent, envy, anger, jealousy, hatred, and other emotions, we also break almost every law of health and hygiene. We take too little muscular exercise, and consequently deteriorate in bodily stamina. We frequent lecture-halls and other public places, and sit for hours in a poisonous bath of carbon dioxide. We eat almost twice as much as is necessary for the proper sustenance of the body; we crowd down vegetable, pastry, candy, nuts, fruits, spices, condiments, ice-cream, etc., into a stomach which is probably overworked, and expect it to take care of this incongruous burden without a protest. In an hour or so a glass of ice-water is tumbled on top of this trying load, and then another, until the poor stomach is “stalled,” and labors under extreme difficulty.

We do not keep the million or more drain-pipes of the body (the pores of the skin) open by frequent bathing, and our lungs do not properly perform their function, due to shallow breathing. We burn the “midnight oil,” while these weary bodies should be resting and recuperating. We do not live slowly enough; we are zealous for wealth, position, and power, to the exclusion of recreation and vacation, and are therefore becoming neurasthenic and are shortening life.

We should realize that too much food and drink, especially if impure, together with vitiated air, make impoverished blood; that poor blood creates diseased tissue; that unhealthy flesh begets evil morals; and that evil morals and emotions have their offspring.

One who banishes evil thoughts and emotions; who exercises the mind and body daily with health-giving thought and rational exercise and proper diversion; who indulges in a daily bath; who secures sufficient rest; who breathes pure air deeply, and basks in the sunshine occasionally; who strives to live an industrious, careful, cheerful Christian life, will grow old gracefully, and be an inspiration and a help to those with whom he comes in daily contact.—Health.