Across the Western world, the age at which women become mothers has steadily increased over the past several decades, reflecting profound social, economic, and cultural shifts. In the mid-20th century, first births commonly occurred in a woman’s early to mid-20s, closely tied to earlier marriage and more traditional life trajectories. Today, however, the average age at first birth in most Western countries has moved into the late 20s or early 30s, with a growing proportion of women having their first child at 35 years or older. This trend is observed across North America, Western Europe, Australia, and parts of East Asia with similar socioeconomic structures, making delayed motherhood a defining demographic feature of high-income societies.

Diet and nutrition play a foundational role in human health, influencing metabolism, immune function, hormone regulation, inflammation, and the gut microbiome. At the same time, there is widespread confusion about what diet can and cannot do. While nutrition is a powerful modifier of disease risk and progression, it is rarely a cure in itself. Scientific evidence consistently shows that diet shapes the likelihood of developing certain diseases and can meaningfully improve outcomes once disease is present, but claims that diet alone can cure complex illnesses such as cancer are not supported by rigorous research.

Across the Western world, the age at which women become mothers has steadily increased over the past several decades, reflecting profound social, economic, and cultural shifts. In the mid-20th century, first births commonly occurred in a woman’s early to mid-20s, closely tied to earlier marriage and more traditional life trajectories. Today, however, the average age at first birth in most Western countries has moved into the late 20s or early 30s, with a growing proportion of women having their first child at 35 years or older.