Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 99th birthday earlier this year - a milestone of longevity he credits to one simple diet tweak.
National treasure, celebrated biologist, and the iconic voice of Planet Earth and The Blue Planet, Attenborough has three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Champions of Earth Lifetime Achievement gong, an Individual Peabody trophy, and hundreds more achievements under his belt.
After finding fame as the host of 1954’s Zoo Quest, the natural historian served as the President of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation between 1991 and 1996, and is a lifelong advocate for restoring planetary biodiversity and reducing meat consumption.
Although not a vegetarian, Attenborough previously admitted to dabbling in consuming cheese and fish.
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“But by and large, I've become much more vegetarian over the past few years than I thought I would ever be,” he said in a 2017 interview with The Sun.
In the same chat, the environmentalist admitted he had ‘changed’ his diet in his later years, including eating less of a certain type of meat.
David Attenborough cut down on red meat
“I have certainly changed my diet. Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don't think I've eaten red meat for months,” he confessed.
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The NHS recommends adults should eat no more than 70g of red meat a day, with a previous study suggesting women with a higher intake showed an increased risk of frailty after adjustment for lifestyle factors, medication use, and dietary factors.
Another study, published earlier this year in the Neurology Journal, found that a higher intake of red meat, particularly processed red meat, was associated with a higher risk of developing dementia and worse cognition.
Bowel Cancer Research UK has also urged the public to limit their red meat intake, just like Attenborough.
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The UK's leading bowel cancer charity recommends people only eat steaks, pork, and lamb three times per week and reduce the amount of processed meats they are consuming.
Lauren Wiggins, Director of Services at Bowel Cancer UK, said meat-lovers don't need to cut these foods out entirely, just to choose red and processed meat occasionally rather than every day.
“Making simple changes to your lifestyle, like cutting out red and processed meat, can help stack the odds against bowel cancer,” she explained.
“It's also important to try and be of a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol, exercise regularly and stop smoking; doing all these things can make a real difference."
David Attenborough eats smaller portions
As well as cutting back on red meat, the father-of-two has admitted he eats smaller portions than most.
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“I’ve never really been one for eating enormous meals, and I’m not particularly a gourmet either, so I can’t pretend that I’m feeling deprived in any way or that it’s cost me all that much,” he told Radio Times.
According to CNN, consuming very large portions on a regular basis, beyond your individual calorie needs, can lead to obesity and its related health consequences.
Ella Scott