Sir Cliff Richard, at the age of 85, attributes his fitness and vitality to adhering to three straightforward lifestyle principles. The legendary singer recently shared insights into how he maintains his health and vigor as the years pass.

Despite the dedication required to sustain his timeless appearance, Cliff expressed amazement at his own longevity. He remarked, “I never imagined reaching 50, much less enjoying a 62-year career.” While he embraces aging gracefully, his primary hope is to be “fortunate enough” to preserve his health.

This week, Cliff candidly discussed his battle with prostate cancer, disclosing that his cancer is “currently in remission” after undergoing treatment.

Renowned for hits like “Devil Woman,” Cliff credits regular physical activity as a cornerstone of his well-being. He has often advised, “I always tell people to just keep moving.”

Cliff emphasizes the importance of staying active by saying, “If you can run, run. If you can’t run, walk. If walking isn’t possible, then crawl. Keeping everything moving has significantly benefited me.”

He further shared, “Aging isn’t always kind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t age happily. I have no idea what I look like now, but looking 20 isn’t necessary to enjoy life.”

“You can still have fun within your age group within your standard of tennis playing, or whatever sport you choose to do. That’s what I do. I still keep active.”

Cliff credits exercise and a health diet to his fitness. “The thing is to try and keep healthy and sometimes that means giving up food that you shouldn’t eat and want to,” he said.

Cliff plays tennis twice a week as well as going to the gym. Following the death of his mum Dorothy Webb aged 87 after a dementia diagnosis, Cliff became determined to live to 100.

He once shared: “I’ve just been reading a book I bought, hundreds of ways of getting to 100. It mentions apples and celery juice and things like that.”

The National Institute on Aging notes various factors that contribute to ‘healthy ageing’, including genetics, exercise, diet, and mental health care.

Speaking on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, he said: “I only eat what I’m supposed to eat. I have to give up certain things that I loved before, but there are so many vegetables and different things I can eat that I do.”

Cliff told Boom Radio that he follows a Blood Type diet, which is an eating plan depending on what blood type you are. Due to the diet, he has given up things he loved such as red meat, crustaceans, mangoes, papayas, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine.

The singer, who is blood type A, explained: “There are 10 things [I can’t have]. I can’t have dairy or wheat. No red meat. No crustaceans. No mangoes, papayas or bananas. No potatoes, tomatoes. No aubergine.

“And you know, when you look at a list of foods that exist, giving up 10 of them is not that difficult. Tomatoes are probably the thing I miss most because some of the great curries I made with tomato puree. Some of the great pastas have tomatoes in them, but there’s so many different ways of having pasta.”

Cliff confessed he does have a treat “now and then”. “But if I’m gonna have a treat, it’ll be a steak about four times a year, that’s all. But I look forward to the day. You have to plan your sin,” he said.