David Attenborough credits his health and vigour to diet choice as 99th birthday nears

World-renowned biologist Sir David Attenborough has claimed that he'd love to make it to 100 years old - . Despite his feelings, the popular broadcaster credited some of his lasting health and vigour to a simple change in his diet.

While not strictly vegetarian, Sir David is widely reported to have significantly reduced his red meat intake. He feels this move could be contributing to his longevity.

This isn't something he's started recently, as back in 2017, Attenborough shared his eating habits. He said: "I have certainly changed my diet. Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don't think I've eaten red meat for months."

He admitted that he still eats cheese and fish, but has otherwise "become much more vegetarian" than he ever thought he would. be." There is clear science behind the benefits of adopting a more plant-based diet when it comes to overlal health and longevity.

Red meat - which includes beef, lamb, mutton, pork, veal, venison and goat - is something the 98-year-old has greatly restricted from his diet. Eating too much processed meat and red meat increases the risk of developing bowel (colorectal) cancer,

Some of these meats are high in saturated fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels if you eat too much of it. Having high cholesterol raises your risk of coronary heart disease.

You should be careful if you plan to cut something from your diet, and make sure that you aren't depriving youirself of essential nutruents. Failing to make sure your diet is healthy and balanced will lead to health problems as well.

Experts at Harvard Health claim that those wanting to cut back on red meat should find suitable alternatives to make sure they are getting enough protein. Daniel Pendick, a former executive editor of Harvard Men's Health Watch, wrote that replacing one serving a day of red meat with one of these options reduced mortality in the study by 7% to 19%.

Six good life-extending options as an alternative to red meat include:

• fish
• chicken and turkey
• nuts
• beans
• low-fat dairy products
• whole grains

Despite maintaining a healthy diet and staying mentally sharp, Attenborough confessed to Anderson Cooper in a 2021 interview that he fears cognitive decline as he gets older, with the prospect of becoming "helpless" due to a condition like Alzheimer's being among his greatest concerns.

He also admitted to the Telegraph about his concerns regarding ageing, saying he is "coming to terms" with the possibility of memory loss as he grows older. Nevertheless, Attenborough remains a force to be reckoned with, continuing to lend his iconic voice to BBC wildlife documentaries.

Sir David has been on TV screens for eight decades and shared his fears for the future in the new film Ocean with David Attenborough. It is due to come out on Disney+ later this year.