under the microscope
Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall, 42, answers our health quiz
CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?
THE stairs are not too big a problem. A few weeks ago I kayaked 125 miles in 23 hours and I have just completed a first ascent of a mountain in Venezuela where I climbed for five days non-stop. I tend to train outdoors — whether that’s running, cycling or kayaking.
GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?
I GET my five a day at breakfast. I start the day with a big smoothie made from broccoli, celery, spinach, banana, apple, a little spirulina (a protein supplement), some protein powder plus a teaspoon of peanut butter. My meals are normally lean meat and fish, and lots of salad and vegetables.
POP ANY PILLS?
NO. I DON’T take vitamins. I tend to think I am getting my daily recommended intake from my diet. I do take painkillers when necessary. On Strictly Come Dancing last year, I had to take them because I was jumping, bouncing and leaping for up to 14 hours a day on a fused ankle joint.
HOW DID YOU INJURE YOUR ANKLE?
I WAS rock climbing a few years ago and fell 30 ft. I broke my upper back in two places and destroyed my left ankle. I had 12 operations and it took six years to fix the ankle.
EVER DIETED?
ONLY if I have to lose weight for a job — for my latest expedition I had to lose as much weight as possible as I had to haul myself up a rock face. But generally speaking, I eat healthily, do a lot of exercise and don’t have to think much about how much I weigh. I’m a fraction under 6 ft and weigh 14 st.
ANY VICES?
WHEN not training, I have a couple of beers or glasses of wine a week, but nothing more than that. If anything I am addicted to exercise — if I don’t do something every day I feel irritable.
WOULD YOU HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY?
CERTAINLY not for vanity, but if I was to have an accident or disfigurement then I would consider it.
ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?
NO. MY grandparents had healthy long lives and died of old age.
COPE WELL WITH PAIN?
I SPENT six years in constant pain because of my ankle injury and so I learned how to deal with it. I did a lot of meditation and found yoga was very beneficial. My physiotherapist uses acupuncture and acupressure, too.
HANGOVER CURE?
YES, making sure that I don’t drink too much.
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?
I HAVE an over-active brain, so I am always thinking about grand plans, the next book, the next TV series, the next adventure. So sometimes shutting my brain off can be an effort. I try to get seven to eight hours a night. I am lucky in that I sleep really well in a tent.
LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?
IT DEPENDS. If I could live at the age and level of health that I am now, I guess so, as it would give me the chance to go on an infinite number of adventures.