No meat or fish for over 40 years. Vegetarian 90-year-old bodybuilder from Japan reveals diet that keeps him fit. One of his favourite foods can add 13 years to your lifespan

He is 90, but his body can give seasoned fitness enthusiasts a run for their money. Meet Toshisuke Kanazawa – a bodybuilder from Japan. Kanazawa became an Internet sensation after he emerged victorious in the 85-and-over category in the All Japan Masters Fitness Championships. It is his 19th national title. According to a CNN report, the bodybuilder follows a completely vegetarian diet! He steers clear of meat and fish and lives on a diet of brown rice. In a chat with CNN, Kanazawa said he wishes he could live till 130. He said that he hasn’t eaten meat or fish since he was 50! Here’s a look at what he eats throughout the day:

Breakfast

He relishes a plate of brown rice, natto and miso soup.

Lunch & Dinner

He enjoys a dish of brown rice with a bit of furikake.

According to Fitness Volt, he also includes fermented beans and miso soup with eggs in his diet and has given up on smoking and drinking.
Aside from this simple, clean diet, he also drinks protein three times a day. He told CNN, “Ageing is not something you can control. What we can try is to slow down ageing through diet and training.” Kanazawa now wants to compete in the 60 and over World Championships.

Kanazawa is a big fan of Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger and hopes he will one day meet him. He competed at Mister Universe years ago, around the same time the superstar was a participant at Mr Olympia.

Does Eating Brown Rice Help You Live Longer?

Brown rice is a type of whole grain. As per a study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, people who eat more whole grains are less likely to die of cardiovascular disease or cancer. During the trial, individuals who consumed the most whole grains had a 16% lower risk of dying from any cause, a nearly 20% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a greater than 10% lower risk of dying from cancer.

According to the review in Circulation, the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease decreased by 9% and the risk of dying from cancer by 5% with every extra serving of 16 grams of whole grains.

For example, one slice of 100% whole grain bread or a half-cup of cooked brown rice, cooked oatmeal or cooked 100% whole grain pasta would equal roughly 16 grams.

Another study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, said that eating whole grains can add 13 years to your lifespan. The study demonstrated the effects of switching from a “typical Western diet” to an “optimised diet” that includes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. Red meat and processed foods were identified as the main components of a typical Western diet.

Changing one’s diet can extend one’s life by over ten years for women and up to thirteen years for men. Consuming more whole grains and legumes is associated with the greatest increases in longevity.