Joanna Lumley has avoided one food for 40 years and claims she's 'never ill'
Actress Joanna Lumley, 78, has been a vegetarian since the 1970s and has previously spoken out about the lifestyle change that has kept her in good health.
Joanna Lumley reflects on her role in Coronation Street
Dame Joanna Lumley has bravely opened up about the "awful" experience of eliminating a certain food group from her diet decades ago – but it's kept her healthy for 40 years.
The Absolutely Fabulous icon, who is now reaping endless health benefits including glowing skin and boosted immunity, has candidly reflected on the early days of this lifestyle change.
Appearing on Waitrose's Dish podcast with radio stalwart Nick Grimshaw and culinary queen Angela Hartnett, the 78-year-old actress reminisced about the dietary choice she made back in the 70s which dramatically changed her mealtimes – going vegetarian.
The beloved star described the initial difficulties: "It was awful to begin with, going out to restaurants and dinner parties, because people didn't know what to do."
She recounted the well-meaning but misguided attempts of hosts who served her monstrous meals that were far from vegetarian-friendly: "They'd panic and try to make you eight eggs and sort of lasagnes which just turned into huge slabs of concrete with something horrifying in between. there was no way of saying, can I just eat the vegetables?"
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Now a celebrated vegetarian since 1970 and a passionate advocate for animal rights and sustainability, Joanna has witnessed a remarkable shift as vegetarianism has become mainstream. She expresses gratitude towards those who go out of their way to accommodate her dietary requirements and enjoys the simple pleasures of plant-based eating, saying: "I like raw things very much, like salads and stuff. I'm so touched when anybody's done anything vegetarian for me."
Joanna is a self-proclaimed veggie lover, munching mostly on greens and small bites rather than gorging on hefty meals. She proudly credited her robust health in 2021 to her plant-dominated diet.
But she isn't keen on going vegan. She said: "I suddenly thought I was not going to do this anymore. I am not going to eat meat or fish. No more, finished, gone. But I am not a vegan. That is the next step, but I love cheese."
Going vegetarian isn't just a culinary choiceit's linked to serious health perks, slashing risks of heart woes, the big C and diabetes, aiding in keeping your figure trim, not to mention giving you that glow.
Piling your plate with veggies can do wonders for your skin too, thanks to polyphenols and vitamins like C and E these plants are brimming with.
Ditching animal-based grub might just be the golden ticket to health nirvana, with studies showing vegetarians often side-step obesity. And for those targetting their waistline (depending on where they start), wave bye-bye to more pounds compared to non-veggie options.
