Not Exercise, Not Diet: What These Celebs Over 50 Swear By Instead

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Eating a nutrient-rich diet and getting regular exercise are especially crucial for people in their 50s. Exercising can reduce the risks of fractures following falls by improving bone density and help maintain cognitive health, per TIME. The muscle strength gained from weight training can also make it easier to perform everyday chores, which in turn can help people maintain their independence as they grow older. 

While nutrition and exercise are undeniably important for people in their 50s, they aren't the sole things to consider when discussing health. There has been a lot of talk about the things that happen to your body after you turn 50, but the discourse surrounding the mental health of people in that age group remains relatively limited. A 2024 study in Applied Research in Quality of Life found that people between the ages of 40 and 55 were more likely to feel lower life satisfaction and joy while also dealing with increased levels of anger, sadness, and worry compared to young adults. The older age group also felt that they weren't as socially supported or satisfied in their relationships or with their health. 

For women, this period of life can prove to be especially tumultuous from a mental and physical health standpoint since they are also dealing with menopausal hormonal changes. Again, diet and exercise can help people better navigate these times. However, over the years, numerous celebrities in their 50s have opened up about some things other than two foundational blocks that have helped them through these years to show the world that there's more to wellness than what meets the eye.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2020, Goldie Hawn recalled attending her first transcendental meditation session at the age of 26 in 1972, a time when meditation was all the rage, thanks to a glowing endorsement from The Beatles. After following the standard procedure and silently repeating a mantra that was meant to be kept entirely private from the outside world, she found herself profoundly transformed. 

"I can't explain the joy that was brought back to me," the "Overboard" star said of the experience. "It was a transformational 'Aha!' moment for me. It stabilised my mind and gave me a piece of my interior that was all mine." Unsurprisingly, mindfulness became an essential part of Hawn's life afterward. In a 2015 Elle interview, the Oscar winner stated that people could improve their mental health by gaining the ability to silently sit with their thoughts. She then stressed that it wasn't even necessary to take an hour-long break from your day to reap the benefits of meditation. 

Instead, Hawn strongly believed that even a 15- to 20-minute slow walk where one is fully present and noticing their surroundings could do the trick. She also recommended that those new to mindfulness try out something as simple as journaling to focus their thoughts. Ultimately, the "Private Benjamin" star believed that meditation benefited health more than people realized, as she went on to point out how it helped sync the mind mind and body, improved focus, and ultimately boosted happiness. It's safe to say that Hawn knows all about what happens to the body if you meditate every day.

In a post for Oprah.com, Oprah Winfrey shared that she started journaling when she was only 15 years old. The journals from her teen years and 20s were filled with poetry about her unsatisfying dating life and her frustrations about her weight. In those days, Winfrey found journaling therapeutic. She, of course, wasn't wrong to think that since journaling is indeed good for mental health. 

However, as she entered her 40s, she decided to use her journals as a means to express gratitude and ultimately found that it only brought her more things to be thankful for. As time passed, Winfrey continued to jot down things she was grateful for while also noting her general thoughts so she could see situations from multiple angles and gain clarity. While the beloved talk show host chatted with Sarah Ban Breathnach, the author of "Simple Abundance," the book that inspired Winfrey to start gratitude journaling, she shared that the method had compelled her to live her day with optimism. 

Winfrey then detailed how she would start her days knowing she had to find five things to be grateful for, and that perspective shift empowered her to actively focus on the positives from that day. During a 2021 appearance on the "Let's Go!" podcast, Winfrey shared that her daily gratitude list didn't always consist of huge wins but smaller moments like enjoying delicious food or witnessing a beautiful sunset. Unsurprisingly, practicing gratitude can actually improve your mental health, too.

In 2004, Gwyneth Paltrow attended a movie premiere with large circular bruises on her back. Experts said they were a sign that Paltrow had undergone cupping therapy, a process through which blood is pulled away from several body parts using cups that create suction. During an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, the Goop founder confirmed that she sometimes used cupping therapy instead of taking antibiotics, saying, "If you have stagnation, any kind of toxicity in the corresponding organ, it pulls the stagnation and the toxicity out through that point" (via SheKnows). 

Likewise, in a 2022 Goop post, Paltrow praised the alternative medicine method for fixing the cause of the problem rather than its symptom. It's worth noting that research on whether cupping therapy actually removes toxins from your system is mixed. However, Paltrow is obviously no stranger to trying out experimental wellness trends that aren't fully backed by science. 

During a 2023 appearance on "The Art of Being Well," the "Iron Man" star shared that she had found rectal ozone therapy "very helpful," even though it was admittedly one of the weirdest trends she had ever tried (via the Daily Mail). Ozone therapy involves an infusion of medical-grade ozone gas into the body. The alternative medicine method seeks to support immune system health, aid in blood circulation, reduce oxidative stress, and protect the body from bacteria and viruses, all by increasing oxygen levels. Still, these perceived benefits should be taken with a grain of salt since they aren't supported by high-quality research. 

In a 2024 chat with Oprah Daily, Halle Berry shared that she had initially been misdiagnosed with herpes when she went into the doctor's office complaining about pain during intercourse. During that period, she was also dealing with feelings of isolation, anger, depression, and sleep deprivation. It was only after the test for the STI came back negative that the Oscar winner was finally diagnosed with menopause. 

After doing a deep dive into what happens to the body when you go through menopause, she found numerous avenues to help her get through that phase of life. During a 2025 appearance on "The Tamsen Show," the "Catwoman" star shared that she took about 16 vitamins for her menopause symptoms to aid her body in getting through the process. Moreover, she had also started taking testosterone to help with the hormonal changes. Although she was initially hesitant to start hormone therapy because she believed that it might lead to hair growth on her chest, she ultimately couldn't be happier about how it had given her an energy boost and increased her libido. 

When Berry appeared on "The Dr. Hyman Show" in 2026, she shared that undergoing hormone therapy had also positively impacted her mental health. The "Gothika" star described how taking progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen had helped bring an end to a period where she felt so depressed that leaving her bed and going to work felt like impossible tasks. Berry ultimately labeled the hormone therapy process "transformative."

During a 2024 appearance on "CBS Mornings," Cate Blanchett shared that she had found daily plunges beneficial for her mental health since they brought a kind of mental peace to her that even yoga and meditation couldn't. The Australian actor went on to share that she dreamt of doing a plunge in the freezing waters of the Arctic someday.

Then, in a 2025 interview with The Guardian, the "Tár" star proudly confirmed that she had made those dreams a reality. Blanchett went on to gush about how much the process helped her on a daily basis, saying, "The only thing keeping me remotely sane at the moment is getting into cold water every day. I get up and get in. Five minutes and it just brings everything back down." Likewise, in a 2026 chat with ABC, the "Carol" star shared that cold plunges momentarily washed away all her future fears and her past regrets and forced her to just be present in the moment.

Blanchett also notably revealed that cold plunges remained part of her routine even when she was in the UK during the wintertime. Additionally, when she spoke to The Radio Times in 2025, she shared that she was also particularly fond of cold showers because they made for one of the few times in the day when she was "truly present." With all this in mind, Blanchett undoubtedly knows all about what really happens to your body when you take an ice bath every day.