Building on principles first outlined more than 150 years ago, a Seventh-day Adventist university’s publishing arm has released “The Science of 8 Natural Remedies,” a book detailing the science behind them. 

As detailed by Ellen G. White, a pioneering co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the health values are: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God. Since 1865, Adventists have promoted these principles. A community with a majority-Adventist population, Loma Linda, California, was designated a “Blue Zone” by National Geographic magazine because its residents tend to live at least seven healthy years longer than the U.S. 

national average. Such longevity has been attributed to adherence to these principles.

Two faculty members at the São Paolo Adventist University, or UNASP, edited the Portuguese-language book: Professor Fábio Marcon Alfieri, who coordinates the master’s of health promotion program and Professor Gina Andrade Abdala, who teaches in the program. Along with research supporting the health principles, the book’s authors explained how these principles can be applied in everyday life. There is also a questionnaire that helps the reader to analyze their level of conformity with the principles.

The book, which will soon be available on the Unaspress website , is divided into four sections:

• Ellen G. White and the 8 natural principles;

• Adventists and the 8 natural principles;

• You (the reader) and the 8 natural principles;

• Index.

Encouraging research

During an online meeting to launch the new volume, academic production formats and ways to disseminate them were also discussed; the role of academia in high-level scientific production and, mainly, its impact on society.

“We are [working] at home during this pandemic period, but we continue to fulfill UNASP’s mission to promote teaching excellence. The master's degree program has been very important with regard to encouraging scientific production,” said Dr. Silvia Quadros, academic director of UNASP São Paulo.

“It is interesting to see how the importance of the master’s degree in Health Promotion becomes even more [notable] at a time like this,” added Dr. Douglas Menslin, director-general of the campus.

New processes

In his lecture to the participants, Dr. Rodrigo Follis, researcher and editor-in-chief of Unaspress, highlighted the importance of the “educational tripod,” comprised of teaching, research, and extension. According to Follis, new scenarios have caused many processes and formats to be advanced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, something that will lead to a reevaluation of Unaspress publication formats and delivery. 

“New technologies call for new ways of teaching,” said Follis, recalling that in this moment of social isolation, teaching is transmitted online with the use of new delivery methods.

Follis noted the importance of scientific dissemination since society has noticed that specialists (researchers, scientists) are essential at this moment: “We are the ones who answer the questions, the problems. But problems are experienced by people, and people need to read and have answers. How to do this? By publishing, by giving access,” to information, he said.

“Society's problems dictate the paths of scientific production,” said Dr. Maurício Lamano Ferreira of the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture at the University of São Paulo, a state school, who was the day’s second speaker. He addressed the role of academia in high-level scientific research.

Ferreira also mentioned that there is a very high demand for the delivery of these scientific productions, but added it is necessary to use evaluation metrics and respect the academic review process.

Regarding the impact of scientific research on society, Dr. Natalia Cristina de Oliveira Varga e Silva of the UNASP master’s program emphasized it creates possibilities for a more sustainable world. According to her, scientific research has a social function promoting local, regional, and even national development, and consequently improves people's conditions and quality of life.

Social contribution

Dr. Allan Novaes, Dean of Institutional Research and Development at UNASP, stated that the book launched respects and values the dialogue between science and the church, which is the main objective of the master’s program, which makes it even more relevant and contributes with the community. 

“The Adventist Church has this tradition of promoting health. Allied to science, it can contribute, and this material is an example of that [alliance],” Novaes said.

Dr. Martin Kuhn, UNASP president, congratulated the professors and students for their contributions to scientific publications. “Our dream of becoming a university has not changed, but to get there we need to continue to grow in our master's and, in the future, doctoral programs. And you are part of that,” he said.

— with additional reporting by Mark A. Kellner for Adventist News Network

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site