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?
Arthritis the ultimate degenerative disease was rampant in the literature.
“They gotta have ‘em in Texas.”
Cause everyone’s a millionaire
I knew my great grandmother and she was born the year Lincoln was assassinated.
It sounds and reads to me like a promotion for a mostly plant based diet. FWIW, this is an open access journal which means anyone can publish a paper there. That and I don't see a comment or peer review section. IOW, this is garbage.
It sounds and reads to me like a promotion for a mostly plant based diet. FWIW, this is an open access journal which means anyone can publish a paper there. That and I don't see a comment or peer review section. IOW, this is garbage.
Wow! That reminds me of President Tyler's grandsons. You are blessed indeed!
“I’m not buying it.”
I agree. The part about little access to alcohol is truly BS. The average size and life expectancy is way higher now than then.
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