Lessons from the Amish: Superior Health and Fertility in a Modern World

By Cade Shadowlight

 

The West faces a profound health crisis. Rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and other chronic illnesses have surged dramatically. "Excess deaths" appear in official statistics across Western nations, often without clear explanations, while people die unexpectedly at young ages. Modern healthcare, even with insurance, has become prohibitively expensive, involving endless tests, specialists, vaccines, and treatments. Profits and power to the Elites, burdens to the common folks. 

 

This series avoids the politics or conspiracies behind these trends. The "why" matters less than actionable steps for protection. A recent X post by @thehealthb0t got me to thinking: we should look to the Amish for health, fitness, and fertility.

 

Why the Amish Stand Out

 

According to HealthBot "The Amish basically have no obesity, no infertility, no cancer, no diabetes." This fact checks as true. Medical studies and official statistical comparisons prove the point:

• Amish obesity rate at 4%, versus 42% among the general population.
• Amish overall cancer rates are 60% lower than the national average. 
• Amish diabetes rate is 75% lower.
• Amish have extremely high fertility (6-7 children per woman) compared to Western averages (now lower than the 2.1 replacement rate). Amish population is doubling every 20-25 years. 

 

This is also reflected in life- and health-spans:  Amish men live about 3-5 years longer than non-Amish counterparts in comparable studies, with healthier later years. Amish women show similar overall expectancy to non-Amish women, but with far fewer age-related ailments. 

 

This is despite the Amish generally avoiding modern medicine (no strict ban though), preferring to rely on healthy living, natural remedies and home care in all but the most serious cases. Vaccinations among the Amish are much lower than average (though not zero, varies by community/family). 

 

The Amish "Secret"

The advantages stem from a lifestyle rooted in physical labor, home-grown food, strong community support, limited technology (reducing sedentary time), and cultural norms favoring natural health and family. Genetics may play a role in some aspects, but lifestyle dominates proving most modern diseases are preventable through daily habits. 

 

This three-part series explores these factors in depth, drawing from peer-reviewed medical studies and Amish perspectives. No speculation from self-proclaimed experts, including myself. This article sets the stage. The next two articles are the deep dive. 

 

Sign up for the free email list (click here) to be notified when part 2 of this series drops. 

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

P.S. Here is my go to for all things life saving: Refuge Medical & Refuge Training (affiliate link). High quality, American made, first aid kits and medical supplies (training, too!). A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout using my links. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight