Public Health a Century Ago — A Snapshot

• Respiratory and diarrheal infections caused the most deaths — Pneumonia and influenza alone accounted for 40,362 deaths, making them the deadliest infections at the time. Tuberculosis followed closely behind, claiming 38,820 lives. Diarrheal diseases, which were particularly dangerous for infants and young children due to poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water, caused another 28,491 deaths.²

These conditions were widespread public health crises that shaped early medical advancements in sanitation, hygiene, and disease prevention. By comparison, the diseases that dominate today's mortality statistics were far less common.

• Heart disease and cancer were rare — Heart disease, which is now the leading cause of death in the U.S. and globally,³ was responsible for only 27,427 deaths in 1900, with a mortality rate of 138 per 100,000 people. Cancer was even lower on the list, causing just 12,769 deaths. Diabetes, which now affects millions, wasn't even listed among the leading causes of death during that time.⁴

• Medical advances reduced infectious disease deaths, but chronic illnesses rose — By the mid-20th century, infectious disease deaths had declined sharply due to advances in sanitation and medical care. However, while medical advancements have helped people survive infections, they haven't prevented the steady decline in metabolic and physical health. As deaths from infections dropped, chronic conditions took their place.

• Heart disease and cancer became leading causes of death by the late 20th century — Diabetes was first included in the list of leading death causes in 1922,⁵ while heart disease overtook infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in 1921, and has remained at the lead since.⁶

By 1998, heart disease was responsible for 724,859 annual deaths. Cancer followed closely with 541,532 deaths and stroke claimed another 158,448 lives. Chronic respiratory diseases accounted for 112,584 deaths and diabetes contributed to 64,751 deaths.⁷

• Autoimmune disease rates have risen significantly in recent decades — These diseases, which were almost nonexistent in early mortality records, have also surged, with cases increasing 3% to 12% annually.⁸

Research from 2011 to 2022 found that over 15 million Americans, or roughly 4.6% of the population, had been diagnosed with at least one autoimmune disease. Even more concerning, 34% of those diagnosed had two or more autoimmune conditions.⁹

• Modern life is largely sedentary due to technological conveniences — From morning to night, most routines require minimal movement, leaving the average person sedentary for most of the day. Jobs that require physical effort are less common and modern conveniences have eliminated the need for even basic movement.

Elevators replaced stairs, cars replaced walking, and machines handle tasks that once required human strength. This lack of daily movement has led to reduced strength and mobility, and a higher risk of both illness and injury.¹²

• Children in past generations also developed physical resilience early in life — They spent most of their time outdoors, climbing trees, running, and engaging in physically demanding play that built strength, coordination, and endurance. Their daily routines involved walking to school, helping with chores, and participating in unstructured physical activities that kept them naturally fit.

• Today's children are more sedentary, which harms their long-term health — In contrast, many children nowadays spend most of their time sitting, whether in classrooms or glued to screens, resulting in weaker muscles, poor posture, and a growing risk of obesity and metabolic disorders at a young age. What's worse, losing the natural physical activity of childhood impacts their current health and sets them up for long-term physical decline.^13,14,15

• Older adults in the past remained physically independent longer — One of the biggest differences between past generations and today is how long people stay physically functional.

In the early 1900s, it wasn't unusual to see older adults still working, walking long distances, or maintaining physical independence well into their later years.¹⁶ Even without modern medicine, many remained active and independent because their bodies were used to movement from an early age.¹⁷

• Modern physical decline often begins early due to inactivity — In contrast, many people today start experiencing joint pain, muscle weakness, and mobility issues well before they enter old age.¹⁸ When your body isn't used the way it was designed to, it starts breaking down. Muscles shrink, bones become brittle, and metabolic function slows down.¹⁹

• Basic functional movements are now difficult for many people — Many people now struggle with movements like squatting, lifting, or standing for long periods.²⁰ Unlike today's exercise routines, which often isolate muscles with repetitive motions, past generations used their entire bodies in natural, practical ways that kept them balanced and injury-free.

• Foods were nutrient-rich and naturally raised — Fruits and vegetables came straight from home gardens, thriving in nutrient-rich soil that enhanced their flavor and vitamin content. Dairy and meat were sourced from pasture-raised animals that roamed freely and ate the diets they were meant to eat. Natural fats like butter, lard, and tallow were the foundation of home cooking rather than wrongly blamed for heart disease.

• These whole foods provided our ancestors with essential nutrients in their most bioavailable form — They were not fortified or artificially enriched because real food didn't — and still doesn't — need to be. There were also no artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, or synthetic additives.^21,22

Instead, food was prepared in ways that enhanced both nutrition and taste. Fresh carrots provided natural sweetness, grass fed butter added richness, and slow-simmered bone broth delivered deep, satisfying umami.

• Traditional diets included raw dairy and nose-to-tail meat consumption — Dairy was enjoyed fresh and raw, complete with its natural enzymes and beneficial bacteria that supported digestion and immunity.²³

Meats were consumed nose-to-tail, honoring the whole animal and providing a full spectrum of nutrients from organ meats, connective tissues, and bone broths. This ancestral wisdom ensured that nothing went to waste and that the body received the complete range of nutrients it needed to thrive.²⁴

• Eating followed the natural seasons — People ate what was available locally, cycling through different foods throughout the year. Crops grew at their own pace and reached peak nutritional value when they were ready for harvest. There were no artificial growing techniques, synthetic fertilizers, or genetic modifications forcing them to mature faster than nature intended.²⁵ This natural cycling of foods provided exactly what the body needed in each season.

• Traditional food cultures also understood that real food was more than just sustenance — It has therapeutic properties that supported health and strengthened connections within families and communities. Meals were a time for gathering, and cooking skills were passed down through generations, along with the understanding that good food was fundamental to good health.

• Food was spiritually and physically nourishing, not just a product — Every culture had its own healing foods and recipes that were built on time-tested ways of nourishing both the body and the soul. There was also a deeper awareness of where food came from because people had a hand in growing, raising, or preparing it.

This direct connection to food sources provided both physical and spiritual nourishment. Food was not a mass-produced commodity but something deeply tied to survival and well-being.

• Simple, whole foods remain the best path to nourishment — The lesson to be learned here is that food doesn't need to be complicated to be nourishing. In fact, the opposite is often true. The body thrives on whole, unprocessed foods that are prepared properly, eaten in balance, and consumed in their most natural state.

• Health depends on efficient energy production — When these foundational elements are in place, your body produces energy efficiently, keeping you strong, resilient, and free from disease. When they are stripped away, mitochondrial function declines, energy production falters, and chronic illness takes hold.

• Modern life has introduced biologically incompatible stressors — Modern conveniences have made life easier in many ways, but they have also led to a diet dominated by processed foods, a lifestyle that promotes inactivity, and an environment filled with toxins.

These changes disrupt metabolism and have contributed to the epidemic of chronic disease. To reverse this trend, you need to eliminate the factors that didn't exist in past generations but are now undermining health at the cellular level.

• Restoring health requires understanding the root causes — Reclaiming health starts with understanding what went wrong and making deliberate changes to correct it. That means reintroducing ancestral habits that support mitochondrial function rather than relying on a system designed to manage the symptoms of illness rather than prevent it.