Penélope Cruz is one of the greatest actresses in the world, with an incredible career that spans over 25 years. The Spanish actress has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in Parallel Mothers. As the road to the Academy Awards commences and the actress begins her media tour, it’s easy to see how incredibly healthy and fit the actress looks.
Gracing one of the covers of Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Issue, it’s hard not to be in awe of Cruz’s remarkable appearance. So, if you’re curious about the secrets behind the Spaniard’s flawless looks, then read on.
Health Secrets from Penélope Cruz
1. Follow a plant-based (Mediterranean) diet
Having grown up in Spain, following a plant-based diet comes easy for the Vanilla Sky actress.
“I love Spanish food. My diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is good food. I eat well, but I try to eat healthy.” – Penelope Cruz, Daily Mirror
“We have lots of organic fruit and vegetables and free-range meat and fish. In our cupboards, we have quinoa, pasta, brown rice, coconut sugar, stevia, and chocolate. I love eating healthily. I don’t follow a particular diet, but I love organic, healthy food; my kids also eat this way.”
penelopecruzoficial/instagram
Following a Mediterranean Diet has plenty of benefits. For one, a report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that Spain is one of only four countries set to exceed an 85-year life expectancy by 2040. According to accompanying research, it appears that their plant-based diet is one of the reasons for the expected life expectancy.
Additionally, a study published in BMC Medicine found that the Mediterranean Diet was associated with a lower risk of mortality in older adults.
2. Stay away from alcohol and cigarettes
Speaking to Vogue UK, the Blow actress shared that she, shockingly, used to smoke seven to eight cigarettes a day. However, she paused the habit for a bit and once she did, she noticed a significant improvement in her skin and this made her quit for good.
Thankfully, Cruz was never a big fan of alcohol as she was of smoking.
3. Try Bikram yoga
“I do Bikram yoga, which has completely changed my body…I used to be sluggish, and now my level of energy is through the roof. It’s like magic, but you have to earn that magic.” Penelope Cruz, InStyle
In addition to providing an energy boost, buckram yoga can also help improve flexibility, build bone density and even burn up more calories, and this may be why Cruz always looks so svelte on the red carpet.
4. Dance away
Having learned classical ballet for 17 years, it only made sense for Cruz to turn to dance when it came to shedding her post-baby weight.
Now while you probably don’t have to go out and buy ballet slippers, using dance as a form of cardio is a great way to lose weight, boost your mood, and have some fun.
5. Dry brushing
“I do dry body brushing every once in a while; it helps to eliminate toxins,” says Cruz.
penelopecruzoficial/instagram
Dry brushing also helps to exfoliate the skin, improve blood circulation and promote lymph drainage, all of which can leave you with glowing and healthy red carpet skin.
6. Laugh more
“I think, how do you say it, laughing is the best medicine. It can help you release whatever you’re holding inside yourself. I am a clown and I love to make people laugh.” – Penelope Cruz, Parade
There’s a reason why people say laughter is the best medicine. It’s because laughing more has been found to relieve pain, improve your mood, and even give your immune system a boost. So why not do yourself a favor and watch Abbott Elementary?
7. Try Transcendental Meditation
When it comes to relaxing and unwinding, the BAFTA-winning actress turns to Transcendental Meditation, which she habitually did for years in her 20s, and it really helped her.
Transcendental Meditation can also really help you, as it’s been found to help lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.
8. Practice gratitude
If there’s one wellness lesson you need to take from the 47-year-old actress, then it’s definitely to practice gratitude. The actress shared that the last thing she does before going to sleep is read and reflect on her day and think about what she is grateful for.
Practicing gratitude will help you regulate your emotions, help you sleep better, and it will also improve your outlook on life.
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: penelopecruzoficial/instagram
Want to Know More?
When you think of tennis legends, chances are that the first name that will cross your mind is Serena Williams. Staying on top of her health is of paramount importance to Serena Williams, so the tennis icon recently opened up about her fitness and dietary habits.
References
Foreman, K., Marquez, N., Dolgert, A., et al. (2018). Forecasting life expectancy, years of life lost, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 250 causes of death: reference and alternative scenarios for 2016–40 for 195 countries and territories. The Lancet. 392. 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31694-5.
Hidalgo-Liberona, N., Meroño, T., Zamora-Ros, R. et al. (2021). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet assessed by a novel dietary biomarker score and mortality in older adults: the InCHIANTI cohort study. BMC Med 19, 280. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-02154-7
Ooi, S., Giovino, M., Pak, S. (2017). Transcendental meditation for lowering blood pressure: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 34. 26-34. 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.07.008.
