Former Hollyoaks actress Davinia Taylor has revealed she more than halved her biological age from 47 to 20 by making simple lifestyle changes. The star, who previously described herself as a party girl, said she began prioritising her health after realising she needed to look after her body.
Taylor discovered her biological age had dropped 17 years after having her cells tested. She attributes the change to tackling inflammation, which she calls a 'common enemy' in ageing. 'I was inflamed for years, which had severely detrimental effects on my health,' she told The Sun. 'I was swollen and retaining water. My muscles were constantly fatigued. I was brain-foggy and plagued with low-level anxiety.'
Her first step is to eliminate ultra-processed foods, particularly those containing vegetable oils such as rapeseed, sunflower and soybean oil. She recommends replacing them with olive, avocado or coconut oil, or butter. 'One ingredient highly prevalent in UPFs that causes our bodies to become inflamed is vegetable oil,' she said.
The second step is intermittent fasting to promote autophagy, the body's repair process that breaks down old cells. She also emphasises eating enough healthy fats like smoked salmon and avocado.
Finally, Taylor advocates strength training to preserve muscle mass, which naturally declines after age 30. 'If we do not do any muscle-building exercises and sit around eating rubbish, then we will lose muscle mass, develop weaker bones, stiffer joints and poor balance,' she said. She also notes that exercise boosts dopamine and motivation.
Taylor now prioritises protein and healthy fats over the low-fat diet she once followed. 'Protein powers biological functions – our hormones, immune system, structural support and muscle development,' she explained.
