How wonderful, Uffe! Keep up the great work. –Ina, Food Revolution Network Team

Hello Peter! Thank you for your thoughtful message — and I love hearing how vibrant and intentional you both are at 86 and 78. It sounds like you’re doing many things very well for your heart health. First, regarding the article you read: research sometimes shows associations between sexual activity and heart health, but this does not mean that lack of sex causes heart disease. Often, sexual activity is simply a marker of overall health — people who are already healthier tend to remain sexually active longer. There’s no strong evidence that choosing not to have sex, especially when you’re content and physically well, independently increases heart risk.

As for whether you might still develop heart issues later — the honest answer is that no one can guarantee zero risk. Age itself is a risk factor, even in very healthy individuals. However, your lifestyle patterns matter enormously. A predominantly whole-food, plant-based “rainbow” diet, staying physically active, maintaining mental engagement, and avoiding excess processed foods are all strongly associated with better cardiovascular outcomes. The small amounts of fish, eggs, and cheese you mentioned are unlikely to negate the many protective aspects of your overall dietary pattern, especially if they are truly occasional and your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar remain in healthy ranges.

The best predictors moving forward are your biomarkers — blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, waist circumference, and physical fitness. Continuing to monitor those with your healthcare provider is far more meaningful than worrying about one isolated lifestyle factor.

Please continue to work with your healthcare provider to track your cardiovascular markers over time. Thank you for being part of the Food Revolution Network community — it’s inspiring to see your commitment to health and joy at this stage of life. –Ina, Food Revolution Network Team