90-Year-Old Bodybuilder Defies Age with Vegetarian Diet

Toshisuke Kanazawa, a 90-year-old bodybuilder from Hiroshima, has achieved his 19th national title by winning the over-85 category at the All Japan Masters Fitness Championships. This remarkable feat comes after a personal comeback to the sport at age 50, initially motivated by his wife's illness.

Kanazawa follows a strict vegetarian diet, eschewing meat and fish. His daily meals center on brown rice, natto, and miso soup, along with protein supplements. Nutritionists note the healthy elements of his diet, such as complex carbohydrates from brown rice and gut health benefits from fermented foods like natto and miso.

While his diet supports muscle mass maintenance, experts caution that its low variety may not suit everyone. They emphasize that healthy aging results from a combination of factors, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, good sleep, and stress management. Kanazawa's enduring passion for bodybuilding, coupled with his goal to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger, showcases his extraordinary commitment to fitness.

He continues to compete, aiming for the World Championships, and hopes to finally meet Schwarzenegger, with whom he shared a competitive era decades ago. This pursuit highlights Kanazawa's lifelong dedication to the sport and his unique approach to healthy aging.