While most take a seat and adopt a sedentary lifestyle at 79, Joanna Lumley still checks her daily habits to keep her health intact, especially her vegan diet.

In an interview with Women's Health magazine, Lumley revealed her approach to food revolves around eating clean and a mostly vegan diet, rather than following trendy diet plans.

"I tend to stay fit by doing things and eating well,’ she explained. Her eating habits are simple, and she focuses on eating mostly vegetables and avoiding meat as far as she can.

Lumley has followed a vegetarian diet for decades and continues to follow it religiously. She explained, "It [veganism] used to be frowned upon in Europe, but I’ve been lucky enough to travel to countries – for instance India – where millions of people are vegetarians." 

She recounted that her relationship with food had evolved over the years. She travelled a lot throughout her life, and each country introduced her to new flavors, which made her respect her food more. 

Lumley also recognised a physical reality that she is going through, which is muscle loss, and rather than blaming her vegetarian diet for it, Lumley admitted that it is a natural part of ageing.

She revealed that she doesn't opt for any strict diet to counter it; instead, she said that her current diet still suits her and supports how she feels every day. The other aspect of maintaining her muscle mass is movement. She maintains an active lifestyle, and travel has been a big part of it.

Describing herself as being “born in a suitcase,” over the past two decades, she has been one of the most recognized travel hosts, featuring in over 17 documentaries about the Nile and the Silk Road to Japan, Greece, and the Caribbean. 

Joanna Lumley Doesn’t See a Point in Self-Reflection

In January 2025, Lumley found herself trending on the internet when her comments on self-reflection went viral. In a podcast with Mick Brown, she was asked to comment on the current obsession with self-discovery.

She answered that a person should focus more on connecting with the outside world than on looking inside too much.

"I think there's too much exploration, we're all dull as ditchwater. I think if you've been born in yourself, you know yourself. So when they say, 'What did you discover about yourself on this short journey? You got nothing, because I was here all the time."

She later explained her views, saying self-reflection is important, but it can lead to comparison with other people, which is not a healthy way to live.

So, do you believe in her views? What are your thoughts about a vegan diet?

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Kalp Thaker