The One Food Sir David Attenborough Gave Up That Could Help Him Live Beyond 100 – After Admitting He’s ‘Nearing the End of His Life’
By Gethin Hicks – May 1, 2025
Sir David Attenborough has credited a simple dietary shift made nearly a decade ago for his remarkably long and healthy life.
The beloved 98-year-old broadcaster, in a powerful new statement ahead of the release of his latest documentary Ocean: With David Attenborough, acknowledged that he is “nearing the end” of his life. But he also shared his quiet hope to reach his 100th birthday, which is just over a week away on May 9.
In a resurfaced 2017 interview, Sir David revealed that he stopped eating red meat—a decision that he believes may have contributed to his enduring health.
“I’ve definitely changed my diet,” he said at the time. “Not in a dramatic way, but I haven’t eaten red meat in months. I still eat cheese and fish, but overall, I’ve become far more vegetarian than I ever thought I would.”
Many people have followed suit in recent years, giving up red meat such as beef, lamb, pork, and veal over growing concerns about the health risks. Scientific studies have linked red meat consumption to cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Ultra-processed foods have also been connected to a higher risk of cancer.
Sir David’s comments have resurfaced just as he made a moving admission about the twilight of his life. Reflecting on his lifelong relationship with nature, he said: “When I first saw the sea as a boy, it was seen as a vast wilderness to be conquered for mankind’s benefit.
But now, as I near the end of my life, I realise the sea is the most vital part of our planet.
Today, it’s in such poor health that I might lose hope—if it weren’t for the most remarkable discovery of all:
If we save the sea, we save the world.”
His upcoming film, which premieres on Discovery+ on his 99th birthday, explores hopeful stories of marine recovery in places like Hawaii and Scotland’s Isle of Arran, where harmful fishing practices have been banned.
Sir David believes these pockets of progress are proof that nature, especially the ocean, has the potential to heal faster than we imagine.
“This could be the moment of change,” he said. “Almost every country has agreed—at least on paper—to protect a third of our oceans.
Now comes the real challenge: to actually do it.”
With over 70 years of documentary storytelling, Attenborough has become a national treasure, known for his iconic works like Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Our Planet. Now, with both wisdom and urgency, he invites the world to take one final step toward saving what he loves most.
