Christie Brinkley Maintains Her Toned Physique At 70 By Not Eatin Meat: 'It's Given Me A Lot Of Energy'

Christie Brinkley first became famous when she appeared on an unprecedented three consecutive covers of Sports Illustrated magazine in 1979, 1980, and 1981. The one thing that hasn’t changed since then? Her toned and fit figure . Now, over 40 years later, Christie is revealing exactly how she’s maintained her physique over the years, and it’s not what you think! The 70-year-old hasn’t eaten meat since she was 14-years-old, and her vegetarian diet is what she credits her slim figure to. Keep reading for more details.

Christie Brinkley Reveals How She Stays Fit At 70

Speaking to New You ahead of her 70th birthday earlier this year, Brinkley explained how becoming a vegetarian has changed her life for the better. "I became a vegetarian when I was 14 years old because I didn’t want to be a part of the violent slaughterhouse system," she explained. "I love animals. And I found that I have been literally reaping the good karma from that."

She continued, saying that cutting out meat entirely is what has allowed her to hold onto her youth . "It's so, so much better for you. I think being a vegetarian, for one thing, has given me a lot of energy," she said. "I have a real awareness of how food is fuel." Her claims are backed up by science, too. Numerous studied have shown that people who follow a plant-based diet have lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer compared to diets high in processed foods and animal products.

What Does Christie Brinkley Eat?

Don't worry, protein-lovers. Christie finds ways to incorporate protein into her diet every day—just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you have to skip out on one of the most important food groups. "For lunch, I go into greens and do a salad, then add a protein like a bean or nuts," she explained. "Dinner is more of the same except maybe I’ll put my vegetables on a bean pasta, rice, grain, or quinoa."

She follows "the rainbow diet," which simply means eating something that is the color of each of the colors of the rainbow every day. Each color group represents specific nutrients and antioxidants beneficial for overall health and immunity. For instance, green vegetables like spinach and broccoli provide nutrients that help cleanse your body and repair cells, while red foods like tomatoes and strawberries give you vitamins that keep your heart healthy and skin looking good. It's no wonder Christie looks so gorgeous at 70 !