Diane Keaton, the beloved actress known for her iconic roles in films like "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather," has captivated audiences for decades. Beyond her acting prowess, Keaton's commitment to health and well-being has been a consistent theme throughout her life. At 77, she exemplifies how a balanced lifestyle, including a thoughtful diet and regular exercise, can contribute to a vibrant and fulfilling life. This article explores Diane Keaton's diet and lifestyle choices, shedding light on her approach to health, her past struggles, and her secrets to thriving at any age.
Early Health Challenges and Turning Points
Keaton's journey to health and wellness has not been without its challenges. At the age of 21, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. She told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. “I remember my Auntie Martha had skin cancer so bad they removed her nose. My father had basal skin cancer and my brother had it. It’s tricky with this skin cancer. “Back in my 20s I didn’t pay attention much,” she shared. “I didn’t research and didn’t really care and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life, even recently. After battling basal cell carcinoma, Keaton was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer decades later.
The Oscar winner also battled bulimia, revealing on Dr. Oz, she revealed: "All I did was feed my hunger, so I am an addict. It’s true. I'm an addict in recovery, I'll always be an addict. I have an addictive nature to me." "Typical dinner was a bucket of chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple TV dinners, a quart of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake and three banana cream pies," Keaton explained of her diet at the time she had bulimia.
Somebody mentioned that I seemed to have some mental issues, so I went to an analyst. “I lost a lot of weight, and continued to keep my weight off for more than a year,” she explained. “I became a master at hiding. Hiding any evidence - how do you make sure no one knows? You live a lifestyle that is very strange. Keaton also admitted that her eating disorder impacted her memories of her time on Broadway. “People were nice enough, but I felt like an outsider,” she said. “I had a problem - it was sick and creepy. Bulimia takes a lot of time out of your day."
These experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on health and the importance of self-care.
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Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention
Keaton's experience with skin cancer has made her a vocal advocate for sun protection. She has emphasized the importance of early detection and diligent sun care, especially for those with a family history of the disease. She told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. “I remember my Auntie Martha had skin cancer so bad they removed her nose. My father had basal skin cancer and my brother had it. It’s tricky with this skin cancer. “Back in my 20s I didn’t pay attention much,” she shared. “I didn’t research and didn’t really care and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life, even recently. That’s why you’ve got to put the sunblock on.”Keaton also admitted that she didn’t take care of her skin when she was younger. “Back in my 20s I didn’t pay attention much,” she shared. “I didn’t research and didn’t really care and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life, even recently. I didn’t start sun care until my 40s.”
Overcoming Bulimia and Embracing Self-Acceptance
Keaton's battle with bulimia in her 20s was a deeply personal struggle. "All I did was feed my hunger, so I am an addict," Keaton shared. "It’s true. I’m an addict in recovery, I’ll always be an addict. I have an addictive nature to me.” “Typical dinner was a bucket of chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple TV dinners, a quart of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake and three banana cream pies,” Keaton explained of her diet at the time she had bulimia. Overcoming this eating disorder was a turning point in her life, leading her to seek therapy and develop a healthier relationship with food and her body. She has spoken openly about her experience to help others struggling with similar issues. Keaton said she "lost a lot of weight" and told People she "became a master at hiding."
Keaton's Current Diet: A Focus on Plant-Based Nutrition
Today, Diane Keaton follows a mostly plant-based diet, emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods. She told, “I'm a vegetarian now. I don't eat meat or fish. I eat eggs and cheese,” she says. “And I do watch what I eat.” Her dietary choices reflect a commitment to both her health and the environment.
Vegetarianism and Beyond
Keaton has been a vegetarian for over 25 years and stopped eating fish five years ago. She explained, "I don't want to eat something that was an animal. It's nuts."
Favorite Snacks
Keaton enjoys black coffee every day before taking plenty of supplements. “And then in the remarkable, wonderful mess of life, I go and get coffee. Plain old black coffee. She also enjoys a raisin,” she says. “Raisins are good for you and they smell great. [Almonds are my] favorite nut in the world. It’s salty and there’s nothing like it.
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Keaton's Fitness Routine: Staying Active and Strong
In addition to her diet, Diane Keaton prioritizes regular exercise to maintain her physical and mental well-being. She incorporates a variety of activities into her routine, including spin classes and walking.
Spin Classes
Keaton takes spin classes, and admits they can be challenging. “It’s rough,” she says. “But at least I’m there. I’m sweating. I think the key here is that you don’t have to be like everybody else. Just do it. Do it the best you can do it. I know in spin class that for 45 minutes, I’m using my body to its fullest.
Walking
Keaton makes sure to get her cardio in whenever possible by what she calls “fast walking”. “I exercise,” she says. “I get on the treadmill by myself at home. I walk all the time, I walk my dog, I do all that.” But she doesn’t run. “I’ll walk really fast to break a sweat,” she says. “One thing is for sure - I don’t run. It’s too hard.
Embracing Aging and Natural Beauty
Diane Keaton has long been admired for her natural beauty and her refusal to conform to conventional Hollywood standards. She has embraced aging and has spoken out against the pressure to undergo cosmetic surgery.
Avoiding Cosmetic Surgery
Keaton believes healthy habits are more effective than cosmetic surgery. “Of course I’m going to do the best I can. Given the circumstances. I exercise - I really enjoy my treadmill,” she says. “My hair is now white. It’s better to have light around your face - I think it looks better on older people. Darker hair is not as softening… My feeling is that [with cosmetic surgery] everybody has their hands and their hands are always at the face, so if the hands don’t match the face it’s a little weird. My hands are the hands of the age I am.
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Appreciating Natural Changes
Keaton has learned to appreciate her looks over the years. “The other day I was looking at trees, and all my life I’ve said I never like sycamores. Well, guess what, I love sycamores now. I love looking at them! All these things are reawakened by the fact that the more you change, the more you see differently,” she says. “And the more you see differently, the more you’re open to different kinds of beauty.
Factors Influencing Keaton's Lifestyle Choices
Several factors have influenced Diane Keaton's approach to diet and lifestyle.
Family History and Health Awareness
Keaton's family history of skin cancer has made her acutely aware of the importance of sun protection and regular skin checks. She has also spoken about the importance of knowing your family history and taking proactive steps to protect your health.
Personal Values and Ethical Considerations
Keaton's decision to become a vegetarian reflects her personal values and ethical considerations regarding animal welfare and the environment. She has expressed a desire to reduce her impact on the planet and to live in accordance with her beliefs.
The Influence of Other Celebrities
Inspired by the new documentary, "The Game Changers", here are 20 celebs who swear by the diet choice, proving that plant-based is no fad - it's a lasting choice that's great for you AND the environment.
Serena WilliamsWhen her sister Venus was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Serena decided to change her diet as well. She now eats a mostly plant-based diet, learning with her sister how to change her diet to consist of lots of smoothies and raw foods.
Mike TysonWhen he was professionally boxing, Mike Tyson was consuming a lot of animal products. However, as he aged, he began to realize the effect it was having on his body. He made the change to a plant-based diet in 2008 after watching his partner turn to veganism and has been an outspoken advocate for eating a plant-based diet since. He says this diet has made him feel and look better, revealing that he lost 130 lbs by changing his eating habits!
Zac EfronFor his role in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” Zac Efron turned to a plant-based diet to tone up for the role. This lifestyle change is one he’s stuck with after finishing the film. He told Teen Vogue “That [veganism] completely changed the way that my body works, and the way that I metabolize food, the way it turns into energy, the way that I sleep. It's been brilliant. It’s been great for my exercise, and great for my routine."
BeyoncéIn anticipation for her 2018 Coachella performance, Queen Bey turned to her personal trainer for advice on getting her body back post-baby. Inviting her fans to join her, Beyonce followed a vegan diet for 44 days and sticks to a mostly plant-based with her partner Jay-Z diet when not preparing for touring.
Will.i.amAfter finishing filming The Voice in December 2018, Will.i.am began his plant-based journey in an effort to get back in control of his health. “After we finished filming [The Voice] in December I went home, I became vegan, I biked to work, and I lost 15 lb,” he said. Since then, the rapper has become an advocate for all aspects of a vegan lifestyle.
MadonnaMadonna follows a strict macrobiotic diet that removes wheat, eggs, meat, and dairy from her diet. This diet is not for everyone - it’s quite an intense form of being plant-based.
Ellen PompeoAfter reading Dr. Funk’s book “Breasts: The Owner’s Manual”, Ellen Pompeo transitioned her whole family to a vegan diet. Of the change, the actress says, "I don’t think it’s tricky at all - it’s actually easier because meat you have to cook it before it goes bad. Grains and lentils and rice and beans, everything’s in the pantry already.”
Laverne CoxIn 2017, the actress and LGBT activist adopted a vegan lifestyle. Since moving to plant-based, she says she feels “so much better” and as an animal rights advocate, she’s definitely making a positive impact!
Ellen DeGeneresAfter a being vegan for a while, DeGeneres spoke of how difficult it can be to adopt an entirely animal-product-free lifestyle. She’s since spoken about her flexitarian lifestyle, which is an easier way to reduce the amount of animal products you’re consuming. She says “…In the last year or two for no real reason, I started eating a piece of fish once in a while. Or I'll eat eggs from chickens I know - if they are in someone's backyard or are happy." She’s been vocal about reducing the amount of meat people eat, most recently creating this video urging people to reduce their animal product intake.
Olivia WildeOlivia has gone back and forth between veganism and vegetarianism in recent years, admitting that it can be difficult to commit to an entirely animal product-free lifestyle. "[Being vegan] is not always easy and accessible, but it's a way of life and makes me as a person feel really good and physically look better," Wilde shared with the Huffington Post.
Michelle PfeifferMichelle Pfeiffer went vegan for several reasons - for her health, but also to maintain her complexion! She told Urbanette, "Eating a vegan diet - it's just so much healthier - and you avoid a lot of toxins that could age your skin and your body. I really noticed a difference in my skin not too long after switching to fully vegan.”
Kristen BellSince the age of 11, Kristen Bell has been a vegetarian. After watching the documentary, “Forks Over Knives” in 2012, she adopted an entirely vegan diet. While no longer committing to a fully vegan diet, the actress continues to eat plant-based. In addition to her eating choices, Bell started a plant-based and cruelty-free baby company, Hello Bello, with her husband, Dax Shepherd.
Meghan MarkleSimilar to Ellen DeGeneres, Meghan Markle is a flexitarian. In a 2016 interview with Best Health, Markle said, “I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends. But at the same time, it’s all about balance.” While no longer entirely vegan, the Duchess committed to a vegan diet while pregnant with Prince Archie.
Jennifer LopezIn order to reach her health goals in 2014, Lopez turned to her exercise physiologist, Marco Borges. He recommended a 22-day vegan diet which she stuck to and the results were fantastic, allowing her to shed an entire dress size. Of the change, she said, “I enjoy eating this way. I never did and I didn’t know how good you can feel when you put healthy stuff in your body.” While no longer committing to a fully vegan lifestyle, Lopez tries to only eat lean proteins and avoid red meat, similar to a flexitarian diet.
Brad PittWhile unconfirmed, Brad Pitt is said to have followed a vegan diet for years. While not outspoken on the decision, the actor has committed to a plant-based diet for health and environmental reasons for many years.
Demi MooreDemi Moore may be in her 50s, but she sure doesn’t look like it! She takes plant-based eating to a whole other level, focusing on raw vegan foods that consist mainly of raw veggies, fruit and nuts or seeds. It can be tough to constantly be in the spotlight like Demi, but by committing to her health and working to constantly love herself, she’s been able to stay fit and happy all these years.
Kate WinsletKate Winslet is well known for her acting skills, but did you know she’s also a committed vegetarian? The seasoned actress has been a vegetarian for years now, and she looks amazing! Additionally, her husband is vegan, so their household is always full of plant-based food.
Carrie UnderwoodCarrie swears by a plant-based diet. As a mom and country music star, she is well-known for her rockin’ bod, glowing skin and bubbling personality. She attributes her health to her vegetarian diet, which she began years ago. Recently, she has been making the transition to a fully vegan lifestyle.
Drew BarrymoreDrew committed to a plant-based lifestyle leading up to filming Santa Clarita Diet. Eating vegetarian allows her to live her best life, shed unwanted pounds and feel amazing. She with a nutritionist, Kimberly Snyder, author of “The Beauty Detox Solution”, who recommends eating lots of greens and unprocessed, whole foods. Drew didn’t go fully vegan, but instead has transformed herself through eating mainly plant-based with only small portions of fish or meat every once in a while.
Keaton's Recent Passing
Hollywood icon Diane Keaton faced multiple health battles before her tragic death at age 79. Diane Keaton was reportedly found unresponsive at her Brentwood home in California following which responders arrived at the scene early morning after an emergency call. The actor was immediately transported to a local hospital but she could not survive. Though the authorities have not confirmed the cause of the death, the “Father of the Bride” actress previously opened up about struggling with cancer and an eating disorder. According to PEOPLE, Diane Keaton's health took a sharp turn in recent months. “She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” a friend of the Oscar winner told PEOPLE. “It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit." The source added, "In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Keaton’s cause of death has not been disclosed yet.