Martha Stewart has lived a life. She’s modeled, starred in TV commercials, worked as a stockbroker, run a catering company, and even been to prison. Oh—and then there’s the small matter of building a billion-dollar lifestyle empire. You’d think the 84-year-old would be slowing down by now, but that’s not the case. Stewart is still working just as hard as ever, and she somehow finds time to work out and attend Pilates classes.
One of her secrets to staying healthy and energized in her 80s? It may have a lot to do with her diet. The TV personality and business mogul recently spoke to Women’s Health about her lifestyle choices—and it turns out, she eats a heck of a lot of plants.
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Stewart told the publication that she grows most of the produce she eats herself. Her mornings often start with a green juice made from spinach, cucumbers, parsley, celery, and mint. “That’s a priority,” she said. “I grow that produce year-round. It’s very important that it be grown in my own organic soil—and it makes delicious juice.”
The focus on plants doesn’t stop at breakfast. The entrepreneur also explained that lunches and desserts are often plant-based, too. “Saturday, I had a friend come over for lunch, and I put a butternut squash soup with a tomato soup, and it made a delicious combination,” she said. She also had roasted sweet potatoes with the soup, and then pomegranate seeds for dessert. “It couldn’t have been more delicious or more healthy,” she added.
Everything Stewart described falls under the category of whole, plant-based foods—an eating pattern research consistently links to better health outcomes.
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Eating more plants is linked to longevity
In the Blue Zones—five regions of the world known for exceptional longevity—people eat predominantly whole, plant-based foods. This may be one key reason these areas have lower rates of age-related chronic disease. Other contributing factors include lower stress levels, stronger social connections, and a greater sense of community.
Still, diet plays a significant role. “Overall, the best thing we can do, longevity-wise, to add another six to 10 years to life is to learn how to cook a whole-food, plant-based diet at home,” National Geographic explorer and Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner told CNN.
“They’re living close to nature. They grow their own food. They know their sense of purpose,” he added. “They sit down for meals with their friends and family. They take time with their neighbors. That’s why this brand of longevity beats anti-aging any day of the week.”
Stewart seems to tick many of the Blue Zone boxes. She eats plenty of plants, grows her own food, and her career clearly gives her a sense of purpose. Do you need to be a billionaire business mogul to thrive into your 80s? No, but eating more vegetables might help.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
