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Originally Posted by Quixote
Can we consider the possibility that "additives and diet" may not appear "to be lowering the overall life expectancy," but they may have a part in preventing yet greater life expectancy. I emphasize "may" because I am just speculating; I don't believe that this can be documented.
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I think it can be documented if you look at large population studies like the one in Okinawa or Adventists in the U.S.. In places where they live healtier lifestyles, they have more centenarians and more supercentenarians per 100,000 population. Also, in addition to having a greater life expectancy, they have a greater health expectancy.
This is anecdotal but many times I have seen people fulfill the average life expectancy of 78 years but they had a poor quality of life during the last 5 to 10 years. This is largely because of medications with side effects and miscellaneous technological interventions. So it's not just legnth of life that is important but quality of life too.
At one of the USF health lectures we were told that the average 65 year old takes at least one medication per day. The average 75 year old takes 3 to 4 medications per day and 5 or more is not uncommon. This does not represent a good quality of life.