Totally - while there are plenty of people living to a ripe old age with poor health (and the odds aren’t great of reaching that age in fantastic health), there are still many great examples one can look to.
How about Dr. Ellsworth Wareham who assisted with open-heart surgery into his 90’s and lived to the ripe old age of 104?
Or Dr. John Scharffenberg, who advocated for a healthy lifestyle and is around 102-103 years old and still lecturing, travelling around, etc.
And last but not least, how about Bernando LaPollo who lived to the age of 114?
The interviews with these individuals are remarkable in that the seem fairly “with it” cognitively and physically, and they all lived a very healthy lifestyle to help get them there.
Did genetics play a role? Without question. But their lifestyle was surely a factor, and probably a decent sized one at that.
@Beth@drew_ab Yes, that is a great physique at 60 years old.
It appears there needs to be even more added. I kindly cannot agree 100% to “just plants” and “no copious amounts of protein”. Because those words appear like he’s eating all natural plant foods and nothing synthetic.
It would be better to dig more into what number a copious amount of protein would be.
I would say 2g of protein per 1lb of body-weight is a copious amount. Though some people might think 1g protein per 1lb body-weight would be copious.
One of Rich’s earliest YouTube videos is his post workout shake that includes 3 types of protein powders. This video is 16 years old. Rich Roll’s Post-Workout Recovery Vitamix
It appears his nutrition plan for endurance workouts is well-balanced with carbs, fats, protein.
I would say medium protein. As I did see some of his nutrition writings and he does eat many high protein plant foods at some meals such as beans, lentils, meat substitutes, nuts, grains/pastas etc.
It appears Rich has had a difficult time recovering from his back surgery this past year.
He might have been lifting more weights than usual, and maybe even has gone higher in the protein.
He takes a big scoop of protein in this video.
So he’s been taking protein powders for at least 16 years on YouTube, which is impressive. I’m Starting Over…
He wants to learn more about strength training. From his guests over the years, I’m sure he already knows a lot.
Not sure if he is taking any Rx medications, but he could be to help healing, recovery etc.
What I am trying to say is that one can have a high protein diet while being plant based especially today with the technology of amino acids, protein powders, synthetic meats etc.
@CronosTempi good post of the older woman at 107 eating eggs and bacon every morning. High protein foods for 100 years.
Genetics are key, though nutrition is important. We also don’t know if she is taking any Rx meds.
Plus glycine did well in the ITP studies. So, amino acids are quite important.
I follow him pretty closely, as it sounds you do as well.
I’m vegan and most days I get aprox 1.2-1.6 per kg per day, so you are correct, it’s easy these days to get plenty of protein as a vegan.
I mentioned plants simply because he is vegan, but you point is taken.
He specifically said in one of his interviews on nutrition he does not subscribe to high protein diets and he’s not getting the commonly recommended 1.6-ish.
My only point was that he, even as a vegan athlete, is not putting any major focus on getting in a ton of protein.
I’m sure it could change and who knows what he is doing today.
I don’t doubt he consumes protein powders, but I’d take the momentous stuff with a grain of salt for no other reason than that is a financial deal… just like all the other podcasters. He also recommends AG1 (which I doubt he uses). I like, admire, and respect him, but he is trying to make money.
Thanks, however it was my 1st time to look at his YouTube channel & Google him when you posted your comment about his physique. Because I thought to myself, how can a woman like Beth who is very experienced and knowledgeable think that this man’s physique at 60 is built on a lower protein diet?
You bring up a very good point with trying to make money. His name probably ain’t called Rich for nothing.
Sometimes we have to be skeptical of certain claims.
He could have said that about “not subscribing to a high protein diet” to bring in more followers to the plant based crowd. Perhaps more ad money for views, but he also sells supplements for those into sports, building muscle, whatever else etc.
When I see what he eats on videos, and from what Google brings up it tells me that he either has hired a nutritionist/coach to do his diet, and he does not know his protein intake.
Or he is lying to bring in more followers, and really does know his macro breakdown.
His nutrition looked very precise from the old video 16 years ago.
From what I saw, and I might be wrong so anyone can correct me:
Rich is 5’11" tall and weighs around 168lbs. Endurance events can burn around 400-600+ calories an hour.
So Rich would probably be eating 3000+ calories a day to maintain his weight and energy. Depending on how many hours he exercises. Not everyday will be the same caloric intake.
1000 calories of dry pasta would be around 37g protein. 1000 calories of cooked lentils is around 77g protein.
Let’s say he’s eating around 40g protein per 1000 calories he eats.
120g protein per day for 3000 calories/day
168lbs body weight = 76.4 kg, which is around 1.57g protein per kg.
So his protein intake might be even higher than 1.57g/kg. I’m just trying to guess from a medium food protein average.
Some of the fruits or vegetables might be low in protein but he also takes protein powders which would boost the protein content.
All macros in his diet were very well balanced.