I'm A Celeb: George Takei discusses 'horrific' experience
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The star who came third in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Back in 2008 has managed to figure out the best ways to live long and prosper, and sadly it isn’t easy. Spending his life activating in order to make healthcare accessible for all George also prioritises his own health by doing 100 push-ups and 50 sit-ups every single day.
Speaking to CNBC Make It last year, the star admitted he still had “tight, hard abs”, even at the age of 84.
And it is through his morning workout routines that he has managed to remain so trim and muscley.
The star revealed that he used to be a long-distance runner, having completed six marathons during his lifetime, only stopping as he felt the effects of ageing, particularly on his knees.
After his doctor advised him to swap running for walking, the star did exactly that, getting up at 6:30am each morning and going on a 45 minute walk with husband Brad Altman.
“It’s the regularity that’s important,” Takei says. “And the diligence is self-perpetuating: ‘You make time’.”
As well as regular exercise, George keeps to a strict diet without the need of sugar or cow’s milk, instead using almond milk.
“We always have blueberries in the refrigerator, and I mix that with the cereal,” Takei says. “In the summer, I have pears, peaches, apples, oranges.”
The star also values the sense of humour, something he got from his grandmother who lived to be 104.
George went on to explain: “My grandmother had a wonderful sense of humor. She was chortling at her grandchildren all the time. We would do something and she would start laughing. We’d say, ‘That wasn’t funny,’ and she’d say, ‘No, you’re funny. Life is a comedy.’ She lived until she was 104.”
Achieving numerous great things in his life, one of the most notable was going out as gay at the age of 68, a decision that George prepared to lose his career over.
Yet the activism and work he did to bring awareness to the LGBTQ+ community paid off immensely.
Nearing his tenth decade of life, George sums up his advice for longevity in a simple phrase: “Eat properly. Drink moderately. Get enough sleep, and most importantly, stay physically active to keep the machine tuned.”
The NHS explains that physical exercise as you get older is important to stay healthy, energetic and independent for as long as possible.
Although the extent to which George goes may seem excessive, many adults over the age of 65 spend on average 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down. And along with this inactivity, rates of falls, obesity, heart disease and early death all increase.
The medical site continues to say that if you are not active in older age, simple things in life become much tougher, as well as the progression of mysterious aches and pains that you never had before.
There is strong evidence to suggest that people who are active have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, depression and dementia. And that regular exercise can reduce the risk of falling in older adults.
Dr Nick Cavill, a health-promotion consultant commented: “As people get older and their bodies decline in function, physical activity helps to slow that decline. It’s important they remain active or even increase their activity as they get older.”
The NHS recommends aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week. Ideally individuals should aim to do some at least every day, in bouts of 10 minutes. One way of achieving 150 minutes of activity is to do 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.
Examples of moderate-intensity aerobic activities include:
- Walking fast
- Water aerobics
- Riding a bike on level ground or with a few hills
- Playing doubles tennis
- Pushing a lawn mower.
In addition, weight training, carrying heavy loads and heavy gardening are all ways in which older individuals can work their muscles. Age UK, recommends trying the following exercises if you need help getting into an exercise routine:
- Walk between rooms regularly
- Gentle stretches
- Stand without help
- Stand up regularly.
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