Joanna Lumley: My Vegetarian Secret for Decades

Dame Joanna Lumley, a beloved national treasure, has revealed her enduring secret to feeling great throughout her older years: a commitment to a vegetarian diet. The Absolutely Fabulous star shared that this significant dietary change, which she has maintained for over four decades, has been instrumental in her lifelong health.

Lumley first discussed her vegetarian lifestyle and its health benefits in 2021, stating she had been meat and fish-free for more than 40 years and had "never been ill." Her dietary philosophy is simple: "eat stuff, mostly vegetables, not too much."

While the UK's culinary landscape now offers abundant vegetarian options, Lumley has been a proponent of plant-based eating since the late 1970s. She acknowledges that early on, the choice was difficult due to a lack of understanding and accommodation from others.

She has previously detailed her preference for raw salads and vegetable-focused small plates over heavy meals. However, Lumley admitted on a podcast that she would not give up dairy, particularly her fondness for cheese. She fondly recalled how hosts in her early days would sometimes 'panic-cook' unsuitable meals for her.

Experts concur that diets rich in plants offer substantial health advantages, such as reduced risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. These diets also provide skin-benefiting nutrients and can aid in weight management by favoring lighter meals.

Science highlights the positive impact of raw salads, delivering potent plant compounds like polyphenols that protect cells and help prevent obesity. Nonetheless, specialists caution that a meat-free diet alone does not confer immunity to common illnesses, emphasizing the need for a balanced intake of essential nutrients for vegetarians.