Did Your Ancestors Know The Secret To A Healthy Lifestyle?

5 Ancestral Habits to Live a Healthier Lifestyle Today

by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

In light of the increase in chronic disease, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease and more, and the medical community’s emphasis on “family history,” it’s not uncommon to hear older relatives talking about their healthy lifestyle and how fit previous generations were compared to today.  We have all heard stories about how our grandparents walked miles to get to work or school, ate food that they grew themselves, and despite not having all of the medical interventions we have today, lived long and healthy lives without suffering from chronic disease that we attribute to the modern conveniences of today.

Because of this, there is a growing trend saying that we need to go back to living the type of healthy lifestyle our ancestors did. Trends such as the Paleo Diet and workouts that mimic how cavemen exercised promise to fix all of the health problems caused by eating less nutritious food and consuming more toxins. On some level these “throw-back” trends are good. But, were our ancestors really healthier than we are?  It depends on how you look at it.

In early nonindustrial societies, the risk of death was high at every age, and only a small proportion of people reached old age. In fact, your own family history may show this.  As recently as the 1900s, most people did not live past the age of 50, even if they lived a healthy lifestyle!  Today, just a few generations later — and thanks to better living standards, clean drinking water, and medicines that have helped to reduce deaths caused by infections — many people entering mid-life have no health problems to speak of, and many more are living well into their 80s, 90s and beyond. And, not only are we living longer, but also better, healthier, and more fulfilled lives. 

How We Are Healthier Now Than Our Ancestors Were

If you saw the movie, The Intern, you may have had a good chuckle when (in between going to funerals and fighting off merry widows who are chasing him) 70-something Robert DeNiro takes a job as an intern at a growing Internet retail company.  DeNiro’s character doesn’t seem to fit in at first, but quickly ends up being the one who solves many of the company’s — and the employees’ — problems, all while landing the hot massage therapist (played by Renee Russo) as his girlfriend.

And this doesn’t just happen in the movies. If you have read my New York Times best-selling book, Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Well-Being, you know that we don’t have to become ill and decrepit as we grow older.

In New York City, research shows that the population age 85 and up has been growing at five times the rate for the city as a whole, doubling since 1980.  Not only is this population growing, but it is thriving

Another study shows that people over 50 years old are some of the most prolific inventors and entrepreneurs mining their decades of experience to start new companies and bring new products to market all while setting their own schedules and doing the things they enjoy.  

Finally, research shows that, in addition to adding valuable skills and worldly wisdom to the workplace, after age 50-60 we get smarter, and certain types of tasks become easier because we are able to apply our accumulated knowledge to new information, just as Robert DeNiro’s character did in The Intern.

What You Can Learn from Your Ancestors’ Healthy Lifestyle to Grow Healthier and Happier Today

Advances in medicine and technology—and the hope and reassurance they provide, which also improves health—have made it possible for us to live longer than our ancestors. As with all things in life, there is a balance between our ancestors’ healthy lifestyle and how we live today. And we have the opportunity to take advantage of the best of both worlds to become the healthiest versions of ourselves.

Here’s how you can combine the best of your ancestors’ world with your current lifestyle to live healthier and happier – as well as longer — in today’s world:

  1. Get A “Life.”  Part of the reason we don’t see “family history” of disease until more recent generations is because most of our ancestors didn’t sit for 8 hours plus per day. They spent much of the day standing, walking and moving about performing physically-oriented tasks.
    They didn’t call it exercise or working out, they just called it life. And because their lives were so physical they were in great shape.
    Regular movement protects us from disease by preventing oxidative damage and inflammation. Find ways to move more, especially on the days that you don’t exercise. Long periods of low intensity movement are best. Try going for brisk walks outdoors. Aim for 10,000 steps per day.
    On the other hand, if you are an “exercise fanatic,” try easing up.  Excessive time spent at the gym does not necessarily improve your health; in fact, it may be detrimental.
  2. Enjoy Fresh Air and Sunlight. Our ancestors were outside much more than we are today; sometimes they would spend all day in the sun if they were growing and harvesting their own food.  Being outdoors in the fresh air and in the sun allows you to soak up lots of natural Vitamin D, which is great for your health — not to mention getting a little dirty.  Try to get outdoors as much as possible — at least twenty minutes a day.
  3. Eat Your (Organic) Fruits and Vegetables. Our ancestors ate home-grown fruits and vegetables from untainted, biodiverse soils rich in vitamins and minerals. In addition, the meats they ate came from animals that lived off the land, not GMO-fed, factory farmed livestock pumped full of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs.
    While you may not be able to eat from your own garden or farm, opting for organic foods is a great way to improve your health and the health of the planet.
    Try eating as many raw, organic fruits and vegetables as possible. If you eat meat, try eating organic, grass-finished beef, fresh-caught fish, and free-range poultry. You may also want to try adding more wild game, a staple of our ancestors’ diets.
  4. Steer Clear of Processed Foods. If there is one thing that our ancestors did not have access to, it’s all of the processed foods we have today. The best way to avoid processed, sugar-laden foods is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store.
    When shopping, be sure to have a list so that you are not tempted to roam the aisles looking for items you don’t need.  And, try not to shop when you are hungry.  This can lead to loading your cart with the very junk food snacks — chips, candy bars, soda, white food (carbs) and dairy — that our ancestors did not eat.
  5. Make Your Life Simple. Our ancestors didn’t have the same level of daily stress we have today in the form of deadlines, the hustle-bustle of commutes and business travel, and corporate ladder competition that has so many people trying to climb to impossible heights.
    They also did not live in a 24-7 technology driven world. While technology makes our lives better in many ways, we need to know when to pull the plug. Unplugging before bed and getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to de-stress and improve your health.  Other ways to simplify your life include being productive, not just busy, spending more time with the right people, letting go of perfectionism, and not worrying about what others think of you. Remember, your life is a marathon, not a sprint!

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Have you adopted any of your ancestors’ ways of life?  How has it improved your health and outlook? Please leave me your stories and comments.

Last Updated: June 1, 2016

Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Christiane Northrup, M.D., is a visionary pioneer and a leading authority in the field of women’s health and wellness. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit, she empowers women to trust their inner wisdom, their connection with Source, and their ability to truly flourish.

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  1. Audrey Chism
    7 years ago

    My new female GYN referred me to you and this site, though I have heard of you. I’m already excited about the information I am reading. I signed up for your mailing list. Looking forward to some great info to help me through this menopause phase, and going as holistic as possible.

    Audrey Chism

  2. Jean S.
    8 years ago

    Hi Dr. Northrup! At our house my husband and I dumped sugar, dairy, wheat, soy, and went gluten free. We basically follow Dr. Perlmutter’s Grain Brain diet. We weren’t that much over weight but all of our excess weight fell right off. We eat lots of the good fats too. We eat organic and use organic shampoo and soap. We steer away from aluminum products and any other toxins we can. We are physically fit and active (ages 58 & 59). I feel like I am in a new body….I just can’t get over it! It pays to rid yourself of sugar, soft drinks, and all processed foods. My husband actually needs to gain some weight so that is what we are working on now. We are not on social media….wouldn’t waste our precious time doing that and we love the outdoors. Thank you for another great article!

  3. Monica Crumley
    8 years ago

    I love this article and all the tips. I completely agree with getting back to the way we used to moving more and being in nature more. I’m 48 and finishing my health coach certification through IIN. I love coaching clients through a detox and watching them feel vitality and loads of energy after feeling stuck. Thank you for your work!

    1. Christiane Northrup
      8 years ago

      I love that you are doing this wonderful work in the world right now. All if us who do this are little beacons of hope and light and it’s getting brighter and brighter out here( which is what is flushing out all the hidden darkness!

    2. Deborah
      4 years ago

      Hi Monica, I wonder if you don’t mind me asking what detox you do with your clients.
      Thank you so much

  4. Cheryl Edwards
    8 years ago

    Dr. Northrup
    Thanks to your advice I have decided that getting sick will not be part of my aging process. I am 60. I practice healthy habits and got my husband to do the same. I have started a new career working as a writing teacher with students in Asia. And I love getting up in the morning to work with my students. My husband is retired and an elite chess player. At the age of 62, he won a national US Chess championship. That is unheard of in the chess world at his age. He won a similar title 20 years before. As you preach, aging does not mean decline and sickness, and we are two healthy and happy examples of this. Thank you. I bow to you and your work.

    1. Christiane Northrup
      8 years ago

      Oh I just LOVE this comment. You and your husband sound like a winning combination and a total wellness culture into yourselves! Very inspiring!!!

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