It’s safe to say that drumming puts your upper-body muscular endurance and cardiovascular fitness to the test. At 86 years of age, maintaining that fitness becomes increasingly important, as does the diet needed to support it.

It’s something rock legend Ringo Starr has certainly made a priority, keeping up a regular exercise routine to support his onstage performances. And alongside his training, the former Beatles drummer has recently expressed his fondness for a particular vegetable, which he credits for his continued health and vitality.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Starr shared, ‘I still just eat broccoli,’ he says, having previously joked that he’s 99 per cent broccoli. ‘If it comes with the meal, whatever the meal is – I had a risotto last night with mushrooms, and on the side was broccoli.’

As for how he maintains his energy at 86, Starr puts it down to a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.

‘I keep going because I keep going,’ he says. While strength training is part of his routine, he keeps his efforts modest, describing his approach as trying to ‘lift a weight or two’.

He adds, ‘I’m never going to be Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I do keep moving and walking whenever I can.’

Ringo Starr’s Fitness Routine at 86

Steve Lukather, who performs alongside Starr in his All-Starr Band, says the former Beatles drummer still has plenty of energy left in the tank after a two-hour performance.

‘After two hours onstage, he’s doing jumping jacks at the end. And you see these older women looking at their husbands like, “What’s your excuse, pal?”‘ he says.

Lukather also offers an insight into Starr’s daily routine, which goes far beyond his performances.

‘He’s doing his vocal warm-ups. He’s practicing on the drums. He’s doing advanced Sudoku and … running on a treadmill for 45 minutes every day,’ he adds.

Can Ringo Starr’s Diet and Exercise Habits Support Healthy Ageing?

His routine is also supported by evidence. A well-planned vegetarian diet typically includes more fibre and a higher proportion of nutrient-dense foods, which can support overall health by helping to maintain a healthy body composition, support digestion and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Meanwhile, his efforts to lift weights can help preserve muscle mass and strength, reducing the risk of age-related sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and function as we get older.

His cardiovascular efforts, from spending 45 minutes on the treadmill to performing jumping jacks after shows, can also help maintain cardiovascular fitness and support heart health.

Combined, these habits provide a solid foundation for staying active and maintaining physical function as we get older. And at 86, Starr appears to be putting that approach into practice.

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Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.