Posted on 07/24/2021 6:16:46 AM PDT by Qiviut
Abstract: Analysis of the mid-Victorian period in the U.K. reveals that life expectancy at age 5 was as good or better than exists today, and the incidence of degenerative disease was 10% of ours. Their levels of physical activity and hence calorific intakes were approximately twice ours. They had relatively little access to alcohol and tobacco; and due to their correspondingly high intake of fruits, whole grains, oily fish and vegetables, they consumed levels of micro- and phytonutrients at approximately ten times the levels considered normal today. This paper relates the nutritional status of the mid-Victorians to their freedom from degenerative disease; and extrapolates recommendations for the cost-effective improvement of public health today.
1. Introduction (partial) The mid-Victorian period is usually defined as the years between 1850 and 1870, but in nutritional terms we have identified a slightly longer period, lasting until around 1880. During these 30 years, we argue here, a generation grew up with probably the best standards of health ever enjoyed by a modern state. The British population had risen significantly and had become increasingly urbanised, but the great public health movement had not yet been established and Britain’s towns and cities were still notoriously unhealthy environments [4,5]. Despite this, and contrary to historical tradition, we argue in this paper, using a range of historical evidence, which Britain and its world-dominating empire were supported by a workforce, an army and a navy comprised of individuals who were healthier, fitter and stronger than we are today. They were almost entirely free of the degenerative diseases which maim and kill so many of us, and although it is commonly stated that this is because they all died young, the reverse is true; public records reveal that they lived as long – or longer – than we do in the 21st century. These findings are remarkable, as this brief period of great good health predates not only the public health movement but also the great 20th century medical advances in surgery, infection control and drugs [6–8]. They are also in marked contrast to popular views about Victorian squalor and disease, views that have long obscured the realities of life and death during that ‘period of equipoise’ [9]. Our recent research indicates that the mid-Victorians’ good health was entirely due to their superior diet. This period was, nutritionally speaking, an island in time; one that was created and subsequently squandered by economic and political forces. This begs a series of questions. How did this brief nutritional ‘golden age’ come about? How was it lost? And could we recreate it?
Sure, a healthy diet overcomes tuberculosis, syphilis, smallpox, polio, cancer, malaria, and all sorts of things. No need for medicine, right?
“their freedom from degenerative disease”
I’m reminded of “what about out freedom to not be shot?”
This language suggests that freedoms are about to be jeopardized.
“…It reads as if they decided what happened, then wrote their narrative to fit….”
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There’s a whole lot of that going on in recent years. And THEY GET AWAY WITH IT because our youngsters are not taught to think critically. The IDIOCRACY lives.
Kippers (smoked herring) were standard for British breakfasts during the Edwardian and Victorian eras
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/07/food-kippers-smoked-fish-sales-revival
An oily fish high in Omega 3, kippers are quick and easy to cook, whether frozen, “in the bag” or chilled. As a sustainable fish they are on the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to eat.
Kippers were the quintessential British breakfast food — also enjoyed for high tea and supper — of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. They sold well until the 1970s when they fell out of favour with the advent of fast food which had greater appeal for younger diners.
Gary Hooper, Tesco fish specialist and president of the National Federation of Fishmongers, said: “Kippers, along with other traditionally popular oily fish such as mackerel and sardines suffered from a culinary prejudice by younger people who considered them old-fashioned and the kind of food eaten by their grandparents.
“Demand dwindled for nearly four decades but a combination of factors such as their competitive price, a move towards healthier eating and also a foodie revival for old heritage favourites has put them firmly back on dinner plates.”
They gotta have 'em in Texas.
They didn’t have industrially processed liquid seed oils like canola, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and the like. They ate more animal fats. There was no low fat madness. Also less processed foods. Canning in the mid 1800s was a recent invention.
If you say so.
The Victorians died rapidly of infection and/or trauma, whereas we die slowly of degenerative disease.
And a reminder. I had intended to drive the 3/4 mile to the Post Office. I think I will walk.
“I’m not buying it.”
me neither ... not one second ... are we to believe that people didn’t die in epidemics of bacterial disease when no antibiotics were available or that no one died of appendicitis, or during childbirth, etc., etc,.? ... article is complete nonsense ...
And did the authors likewise factor out murder, transportation deaths, drug overdoses and other causes of death that either did not exist in the Victorian era or were much more rare? If you’re going to carve out the stats that favor your argument it makes debate a lot easier.
If I say so about what? You might try being a little less vague.
They talked about the way people died then and now in the podcast - I had never thought about that before. Thinking back to my grandparents & great-grandparents ... how hard they worked, what they ate, the way they died & this was in America, not UK. World of difference between then and now.
It was a thought provoking article at a minimum.
BTW, I went REAL food 3 years ago, eating like my farm relatives & even better - turned my health around (overweight, pre-T2D, etc.). Feel great, able to be more active not toting around extra weight and I do some heavy work around our place which is much easier than it used to be!
Enjoy your walk! :-)
No many.
But you left out:
How many dies in horse accidents (even today, horse riding is more dangerous than motorcycle riding).
How man died in boating accidents (common form of transportation, no personal flotation devices required.)
How many died in accidents otherwise? No guards on machinery, no safety standards, just personal prudence.
How many died of poison? easy access to poisons, Mercury, Arsenic, used as medicine.
They gotta have ‘em in Texas.
LOL. That was my first thought, too, when I read this.
Agree with all you said. There is some feeling now that the vegetable seed oils could be even more harmful than the sugar/carbs!! I saw something the other day saying the “half life” of the vegetable oils in your body is 4 years. The vegetable oils, rather than animal fats, make for inferior cell membranes which are made of fat. Omega 6 vs Omega 3 ratios are way off - too much Omega 6 by a long shot. It’s interesting topic(s) for sure.
Are you really going to argue horse accidents over autos? Boating? How many people in England set foot on a boat back then? I’d wager the vast majority stayed damn close to home their entire lives. And a much higher percentage of people lived in rural areas compared to today.
The line that read “… the incidence of degenerative disease was 10% of ours.” is suspect too. Alzheimer’s wasn’t even diagnosed until around 1900.
O-kay.
What a bunch of BS.
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