Cliff Richard shares his 3 guidelines for ‘wholesome ageing’ and the ten meals he avoids
Sir Cliff Richard, 85, has been one of the UK’s most-loved musicians for decades – and the singer has shared his tips on how to stay fit and healthy as he gets older
Sir Cliff Richard has shared the secret to staying fit and healthy, revealing it comes down to just three straightforward lifestyle principles. The singer, 85, disclosed how he sustains his wellbeing and fitness during his golden years.
Despite the considerable effort he invests in maintaining his seemingly timeless looks, Cliff confessed to being astonished by his own endurance. He once remarked: “I never thought I’d get to be 50 years old, let alone have a 62-year career.”
Cliff isn’t troubled by getting older, but he hopes to be “lucky enough” to sustain his robust health. Only this week, Cliff chose to discuss his prostate cancer diagnosis publicly. He revealed his condition and stated his cancer had “gone at the moment” after receiving treatment.
The Devil Woman star has credited his continuous physical movement as instrumental throughout the years. “I always say to people, you know, just keep moving,” he previously explained.
“If you can run, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. Just keep everything moving and I think that’s helped me a great deal.”
He continued: “Some people just don’t age well, but you can still age and be happy. I don’t even know what I look like now, but you don’t have to look 20 to have fun.
“You can still have fun within your age group within your standard of tennis playing, or whatever sport you choose to do. That’s what I do. I still keep active.”
Cliff attributes his fitness to regular exercise and a healthy diet. “The thing is to try and keep healthy and sometimes that means giving up food that you shouldn’t eat and want to,” he explained.
The star plays tennis twice weekly alongside his gym sessions. After losing his mother Dorothy Webb at 87 following a dementia diagnosis, Cliff became resolute about reaching 100 years old.
He previously revealed: “I’ve just been reading a book I bought, hundreds of ways of getting to 100. It mentions apples and celery juice and things like that.”
The National Institute on Aging highlights several elements that contribute to ‘healthy ageing’, including genetics, physical activity, nutrition, and mental wellbeing support.
During an appearance on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, he stated: “I only eat what I’m supposed to eat. I have to give up certain things that I loved before, but there are so many vegetables and different things I can eat that I do.”
Speaking to Boom Radio, Cliff revealed he adheres to a Blood Type diet – a nutritional programme tailored to your specific blood group. This regime has forced him to abandon beloved foods including red meat, shellfish, mangoes, papayas, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine.
The performer, who has blood type A, elaborated: “There are 10 things [I can’t have]. I can’t have dairy or wheat. No red meat. No crustaceans. No mangoes, papayas or bananas. No potatoes, tomatoes. No aubergine.
“And you know, when you look at a list of foods that exist, giving up 10 of them is not that difficult. Tomatoes are probably the thing I miss most because some of the great curries I made with tomato puree. Some of the great pastas have tomatoes in them, but there’s so many different ways of having pasta.”
Cliff admitted he does indulge in the occasional treat “now and then”. “But if I’m gonna have a treat, it’ll be a steak about four times a year, that’s all. But I look forward to the day. You have to plan your sin,” he revealed.
