What 82-Year-Old Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones Does to Defy Advanced Age

Highlights

• Mick Jagger eats fish and chicken for protein and plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
• Mick avoids consuming refined oils, artificial additives, excess sodium, and synthetic preservatives and has completely stopped drinking alcohol.
• For training, Jagger runs an astounding five to eight miles once a week, does extensive stretching, yoga, and pilates, and goes cycling.

The Rolling Stones reached their peak popularity, with critical acclaim, between 1968 and 1972, a period often cited as their “Golden Era.” Currently, the band is not touring due to the inability of their guitarist, Keith Richards, to commit to a rigorous schedule due to arthritis (not officially confirmed). However, the Rolling Stones have not announced a permanent end to their touring career. If the Rolling Stones can manage to run another tour, this would be astonishing, given that their iconic songwriter and vocalist, Mick Jagger, is now 82 years old.

Now in his golden years, Jagger’s cardiovascular fitness has reportedly been measured, as relayed in a YouTube segment, and compares to that of some men in their 30s. Most people see Mick Jagger thrive in his 80s and assume that genetics underlie his graceful aging, but Jagger’s dietary and fitness regimens likely play a strong role.

“It’s not a pact with the devil; it’s a pact with himself,” wrote a biographer about Mick Jagger.

What Mick Jagger Eats for Longevity

Everything Mick Jagger eats is evaluated based on whether it supports his ability to perform. Along these lines, he prioritizes eating organic foods, not treated with pesticides and processed as little as possible.

Non-organic, processed foods often contain higher levels of certain compounds, which may contribute to systemic inflammation. In this way, eating organic foods with as little processing as possible may help Jagger avoid a hallmark of aging called inflammaging (low-grade, sterile systemic inflammation associated with aging).

With this in mind, at breakfast, Jagger typically eats a fruit and vegetable smoothie to start the day, loaded with antioxidants. He also adds oats or foods with whole grains on some days, especially when he plans to train.

For lunch, Jagger usually eats grilled chicken or fish, with a large portion of vegetables and whole grains, brown rice, quinoa, or legumes (like chickpeas). Lunch serves as his most substantial meal, helping to sustain his afternoon training.

For dinner, Jagger usually eats early in the evening, giving his body plenty of time to digest and recover from eating before going to bed. Foods Jagger consumes for dinner include things like fish or chicken, with vegetables and a small portion of a grain.

Foods and a Drink Mick Jagger Avoids

As someone who sticks to eating whole foods, Mick Jagger does his best to avoid processed foods—any food altered from its natural state for safety, convenience, or preservation. Some studies suggest that compounds in processed foods degrade tissue in the cardiovascular system. Accordingly, avoiding these foods may help to preserve cardiovascular function.

Other foods that Jagger avoids are those with refined sugars—highly processed, pure sugar. Foods with refined sugars cause blood sugar spikes, followed by energy crashes. Beyond the energy impact, refined sugars promote the glycation of tissues, a process that stiffens arteries, degrades skin elasticity, and ages the cardiovascular system at the cellular level. Rather than eating foods with refined sugars, Jagger gets his fill of sweet foods from whole fruits, which deliver fiber, natural sugars, and antioxidants.

The most important drinks that Mick Jagger has stopped consuming are those that contain alcohol. For a man who came up during the rock and roll era of the 1960s and 1970s, this decision is extraordinary. At the same time, as Jagger has learned, heavy alcohol consumption may suppress testosterone, inhibit deep sleep, dehydrate tissues in the body, and promote chronic inflammation that destroys the cardiovascular system. Accordingly, stopping alcohol consumption has likely contributed to Jagger’s ability to keep going strong into his 80s.

Mick Jagger’s Workout Routine

Mick Jagger has an astonishing workout routine for his age. His physical fitness habits have likely helped him maintain his vigor into his golden years.

Monday: On Mondays, Mick goes running and does kickboxing. For his running routine, Jagger jogs five to eight miles, an astonishing distance, given his age. Jagger also does a kickboxing exercise routine for 45 minutes for full-body conditioning.

Tuesday: Each Tuesday, Jagger does ballet and mobility workout routines. His ballet session lasts 60 minutes, focusing on balance and coordination. Jagger also does dynamic stretching and yoga for 30 minutes.

Wednesday: On Wednesdays, Jagger does cycling and strength training. He does 60 minutes of moderate to high-intensity cycling on these days. He also does weight training exercises, focusing on the upper body with moderate weight loads for 45 minutes.

Thursday: On Thursdays, Jagger focuses on swimming and core exercises. He goes swimming for 45 minutes and does planks, leg raises, and rotational movements for 30 minutes for a core muscle workout.

Friday: On Fridays, Jagger does dance rehearsal and pilates. For the dance rehearsal, Mick does 90 minutes of choreographed dance moves. He also does 45 minutes of pilates for spinal mobility and flexibility.

Saturday: On Saturdays, Mick Jagger engages in active recovery. For this, he does light walking or gentle bicycling for 30 minutes. He also does meditation and a slow breathing routine for 20 minutes.

Sunday: Mick devotes Sundays to rest, doing anything he chooses, so long as it is non-strenuous.

Mick Jagger: An Inspiration for Achieving Timeless Longevity

Mick Jagger’s dietary and fitness routines have likely contributed substantially to his physical function into his eighth decade of life. Perhaps, if we are lucky, these routines will allow him to perform another tour with the Rolling Stones in the not-so-distant future.