Sir Paul McCartney remains an iconic figure in music. Many are curious about how he maintains his youthful energy and vitality at 82 years old. Despite his age, McCartney continues to captivate audiences with energetic performances, as evidenced by his headlining set at Glastonbury in 2022 and his 'Got Back' tour in 2022 and 2023. These shows, lasting almost three hours, demonstrate his remarkable stamina. McCartney has shared several age-defying methods over the years. His routine includes a vegetarian diet, eye yoga, a consistent exercise regimen, and a passion for music.
Vegetarian Diet: A Lifelong Commitment
One of the most well-known aspects of McCartney's lifestyle is his vegetarian diet. He and his late wife, Linda, made the switch to vegetarianism in the 1970s. Linda launched her own brand of vegetarian food products in 1991, which remain popular. McCartney reflected on this decision in the 2021 cookbook "Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen," noting the increased availability of vegetarian options. He stated, "Now of course, it’s really not difficult at all. You just go down the shops and most places will have great veggie options." He added, "It was a joint decision and we never looked back. It was a great thing to do, and it turned out we became part of a vegetarian revolution."
Numerous studies have confirmed the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. A 2019 study published in the British Medical Journal found that vegetarians had a 22 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to meat eaters. Furthermore, research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in 2015 indicated that daily consumption of red or processed meat was associated with a 40 percent greater risk of bowel cancer, with even moderate consumption increasing the risk by 20 percent.
While many assume he is vegan, McCartney consumes eggs, cheese, and milk. He told Reuters in 2008 that a fishing trip made him turn vegetarian when he realized the fish's life was "as important to him as mine is to me."
Eye Yoga: An Unusual Practice for Vision
McCartney has been practicing eye yoga since the late 2000s. This unique technique is designed to maintain his vision. He shared this method during a Table Manners podcast in 2021, noting that he was inspired to try eye yoga after a trip to India. He claims he hasn't needed glasses since.
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Eye yoga consists of several exercises. One exercise, called palming, involves placing warm palms on the eyelids for about 10 seconds. Experts at Lenstore suggest trying zooming, which involves focusing on an object far away and then one closer, alternating between the two. McCartney explained the poses: "So, head still, and then you look up as far as you can, one, two, three, go back to the middle, then down, one, two, three, then back to the middle. You do three lots of that, then go to the left and the right. Now you’ve got a cross, up and down, and sideways, now you do the diagonals.” He admitted that he couldn’t be sure that it was the secret behind his prevailing eye health, but he suggested that “it makes sense”.
The Power of Music
McCartney's lifelong passion for music may also contribute to his well-being. Music is known to help ease symptoms for people living with dementia. Dementia UK explains, "For some people with dementia, music therapy has been shown to improve their thinking, feeling, perception, mood and behaviour. It can be used as part of a care plan." A 2021 meta-analysis found a 59 percent reduction in the risk of dementia among musicians, though study authors concluded larger scale research was needed.
Consistent Exercise Routine
McCartney maintains a consistent exercise routine to stay physically fit. He spoke about his fitness routine on a 2020 episode of the SmartLess podcast. It includes foam rolling, stretching, using the cross trainer, and occasionally running. “I have a very definite routine,” he said. His daughter, Mary, revealed in a 2021 interview with The Times that he finishes his routine with a faultless, unsupported five-minute headstand. He considers this test of core strength and balance his "favorite part".
Comparison with Other Ageless Male Celebrities
Paul McCartney is not alone in his dedication to health and fitness. Several other male celebrities of a similar age also prioritize their well-being:
- Ringo Starr (84): The former Beatles drummer is also a vegetarian and focuses on muscle strength to maintain mobility. He eats lots of berries, fruit, vegetables, and salad, with blueberries and broccoli featuring at most meals. He exercises with a personal trainer three to six times a week in his home gym and says he feels 24 at heart.
- Björn Ulvaeus (79): The ABBA star keeps active with surf skiing (kayaking) and gym workouts. He admits he struggles with long-term memory loss. He can't remember much about Abba's Eurovision win in 1974. He has up to 20 coffees a day and doesn't eat anything until noon. For lunch he has a sandwich and fruit. Dinner might be something like gravadlax. Björn exercises in a gym in his basement for an hour after dinner. He says he has a weakness for ice cream and chocolate, so exercise is essential.
- Iggy Pop (77): The rock icon, once known for drug use, alcohol, and cigarettes, now follows a vegan macrobiotic diet and a disciplined exercise regime. He practices tai chi and qui dong outside his Miami home.
- Cliff Richard (84): He follows a blood type diet, avoiding dairy, meat, wheat, crustaceans, mango, papaya, potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine. He remains physically active.
- Bruce Springsteen (75): He follows the OMAD (One Meal A Day) diet, a type of intermittent fasting. Springsteen said that, these days, the success behind performing so many lengthy live shows is “taking time off between shows”, which he described as “the biggest change” with age.
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