Living the Life With Dr. Jim:
Good News!

There is good news about living in rural America today. People are living longer and living healthier. Recent studies have shown that, generally speaking, people in more rural areas are healthier and live longer than urban dwellers. Some likely reasons include getting more exercise and eating a healthier diet.

Let’s face it, it takes more effort to live in the country. That fortunately translates into more exercise. We have fewer amenities and often do things for ourselves rather than have them done for us. Many of us heat our homes with wood and enjoy the exercise of splitting that wood. Remember, he who splits his own wood gets warm twice. We often own large animals, horses, cows, llamas, etc. The care and feeding of these animals requires physical exercise. Then there is the pleasurable exercise obtained through such activities as horseback riding. All these things tend to make us more active and thus healthier.

Fast food is not as accessible out here and many rural residents spend less time in town and in eating establishments overall. It appears that rural living fosters preparing more meals at home where there is a greater chance of eating fewer refined foods. Most of the bad carbohydrates are in the more highly refined stuff. These include things like white flour, sugar, white bread, potato chips, etc. The old cardinal rule still applies, “if it’s white, don’t bite”. Research has shown that these foods are more likely to raise blood sugar levels and promote both obesity and diabetes.

Respiratory diseases also appear to be less prevalent in country folks. Maybe there is some concern about that city smog after all. Even those living at higher elevations in rural areas appear to have fewer respiratory conditions as opposed to their age-adjusted counterparts in large metropolitan areas. That’s not to say that those living in rural environments can’t and don’t have respiratory conditions, but on average, they are fewer.

Well folks, here it is again, more verification that rural living is better for you. So maybe you should consider getting rural. Leave the big city to the genX-ers and metrosexuals (they love it because it makes them feel soooo sophisticated). So come on you boomers, join us in living the life, staying healthy and enjoying long life. What’s that you say? You’re only 60 years old? Shoot, you don’t look a day over 59.

If any of our readers have specific topics they would like to see addressed, please feel free to drop me an email. I will try my best to respond to those requests.

As always, if it ain’t right, don’t do it.

Doc Jim