When you think of a typical vegan, Zac Efron is unlikely to be the first person to spring to mind. But in an interview with Teen Vogue, the swole AF actor revealed that the diet has “completely changed” the way his body works, for the better.
“Just like everyone else, I wake up, look in the mirror, and I see the imperfections and the bags under my eyes, and think, ‘Oh, man, is this really the best I’ve ever looked? I’m getting older?’ Recently what I’ve started doing is searching for the cure inside that’s causing the symptoms of what I’m getting on the outside,” the 30-year-old said.
“I’ve been experimenting with eating purely vegan. That’s completely changed the way that my body works, and the way that I metabolise food, the way it turns into energy, the way that I sleep. It’s been brilliant. It’s been great for my exercise and great for my routine.”
A vegan approach to eating involves avoiding all animal derived products including meat, fish, dairy foods, eggs, and even honey. For some, a vegan lifestyle also involves ditching animal products like leather or wool.
Studies have shown that a wholesome, plant-based vegan diet can have benefits for weight loss, managing blood sugar and lowering risk of heart disease, to name a few.
Zac says that he’s focused on staying fit and healthy for as long as possible.
“I think that I want to be able to do what I’m capable of now, when I’m 50, 60, 70 years old — like my great-grandfather, who is still skiing and swimming 20, 30 laps in an Olympic-sized pool every single morning, with one lung!” he said.