Why is it that what used to be eaten by people long ago is bad for us now?

I remember all the wonderful snacks I had growing up and they weren't "healthy" by any means! But they were so good! I think a lot of the problem nowadays is that we had a lot more exercise than kids of today. After school we couldn't wait to get outside and run around. Now, kids are either on the computer, in front of the TV, sitting with their music stuck in their ears, or talking on their cell phones. There is very little exercise advocated in schools and even the sports are all so regulated that I don't know how anyone just has fun anymore! We used our imaginations and had fun as a neighborhood. People don't even know their neighbors anymore. Farmers many years ago would have huge breakfasts of eggs and steak and butter and biscuits. And many of them were healthy, thin and lived very long lives. Now, in this country, we're fat, lazy, unhealthy, and need someone to tell us to exercise. Not a good sign for a country as a whole. Thanks for the question!

It's just that we supposedly know more and more things as technology advances. So last time, we didn't know that sugar in excess is bad. Know we supposedly know. 50 years down the road, sugar may be discovered to be the cure against AIDS. Then we will be encourage to swallow sugar for breakfast then.

This is an interesting subject for me. I have learned a lot about the different foods that are not good for you. Take sugar as you suggested. When I was young sugar consumption was way below what it is today. Over the last 20 years consumption has gone up from 26 to 136 lbs per person per year. Sugar is found in almost every thing in one form or another. As far as your grandfather being healthy You may not have known if he had high Cholesterol or other problems that could have shortened his life. We know so much more today than we did 20 years ago. We also have a lot more additives in our food. We have changed the way we cook. We use a lot of prepackaged foods with preservatives in them. I think that Dr.s know so much more today than they did 20 or 40 years ago.

I don't think the problem is so much the food that kids these days eat as it is the problem that they won't go outside and do the things that we done. I remember jumping rope for hours and I don't think many kids remember jump rope now. I think that our grandparents were healthier as they didn't have the stress that we have now days.

As scientific knowledge advances we are told things that seem to contradict previous understandings. This is not always such a good thing as we spend too much time worrying - sometimes ignorance is bliss.

I don't think it is any worst now for you then it was then. The difference is that it is not taken in moderation and we are less active. With less physical activity and larger portions and no self controll it has caused problems for some of us. Personally, I still eat regular and don't skip on anything. I enjoy living and my food. I just have to walk a little more and dance my little booty off.

The reasons why foods that people used to eat are considered bad for us now, is because we have learned more about them. Remember in the 1950s and 1960s when smoking was considered cool? At that time they were not aware of the health risks they are aware of today. Same with certain typos of food.