There is a persistent belief that people in the past lived healthier lives—free from the stresses, diseases, and excesses of modernity. You’ll often hear it in conversations about the “good old days”: “Back then, food was natural,” or “People were stronger, more active, and didn’t get sick as much.” On the surface, these nostalgic claims sound comforting. But when we dig into the facts, a different, more sobering picture emerges.
Life Expectancy and Mortality
Let’s start with the most fundamental health metric: life expectancy. For most of human history, the average life expectancy hovered around 30–40 years. This doesn’t mean that no one lived past 40, but rather that many died young—from childbirth complications, infections, injuries, malnutrition, and diseases that are now easily preventable or treatable.
In contrast, today’s global life expectancy is over 70 years, and in many developed countries, it exceeds 80. This dramatic increase is not simply due to better luck—it’s a direct result of advancements in medicine, hygiene, nutrition, and public health.
The Reality of “Natural” Living
Romantic notions of a “natural” lifestyle in the past often overlook how brutal and unforgiving nature can be. Sure, people weren’t eating processed foods, but they also didn’t have refrigeration, consistent access to a variety of foods year-round, or reliable nutrition. Periodic famines, food spoilage, and vitamin deficiencies were common. For example:
- Scurvy, caused by lack of vitamin C, was widespread among sailors and populations with limited diets.
- Rickets, due to vitamin D deficiency, deformed the bones of countless children in urban areas during the industrial era.
- Goiter, linked to iodine deficiency, was prevalent before iodized salt became common.
These are virtually non-existent in many parts of the world today.
Infectious Diseases: Then and Now
Before the discovery of antibiotics and vaccines, infectious diseases were the leading cause of death. Tuberculosis, smallpox, cholera, and diphtheria routinely killed millions. A small wound could turn fatal. Infant mortality rates were high. Women frequently died during childbirth.
Today, vaccines have eradicated or drastically reduced many of these killers. Clean water, sewage systems, and antibiotics have further extended human health and longevity.
It’s true that we now face chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer more frequently—but that’s often because we live long enough to develop them. In the past, people died before these diseases could take root.
Are Diseases Showing Up Earlier Today?
Some modern diseases are appearing earlier, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity-related conditions, particularly in children and adolescents. These shifts are often linked to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and environmental factors.
But it’s important to note that we also detect these diseases earlier due to better diagnostics, regular screenings, and increased medical awareness. In the past, many of these diseases would have gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until they became fatal.
Mental Health and Misconceptions
Mental health is another area often overlooked. Today, anxiety, depression, and stress are more openly discussed—and some argue this means they’re more prevalent. But in the past, mental illness was stigmatized, hidden, or misunderstood. People suffered in silence or were institutionalized without proper care.
The modern recognition and treatment of mental health issues mark an improvement in health, not a decline.
Romanticizing the Past Is Misleading
Of course, modern life has its health pitfalls: pollution, overprocessed foods, sedentary habits, and overstimulation. But we shouldn’t idealize a past where people toiled physically every day, had limited access to healthcare, and often died from preventable diseases.
Health today is far from perfect, but it’s better by almost every measurable standard than it was in the past. We have the tools to prevent, detect, and treat diseases in ways that were unimaginable a century ago.
In Conclusion
The idea that people in the past lived healthier lives is more myth than reality. While we can—and should—learn from traditional lifestyles (like more physical activity and whole foods), we must not ignore the immense benefits of modern medicine, science, and public health.
