At 53 years old, Shane Sterling regularly gets mistaken for someone decades younger.
His secret isn’t expensive procedures or filters—it’s a lifestyle he’s been perfecting for over three decades.
In a recent interview, Sterling shared his exact anti-aging protocol, and many of his habits challenge conventional wisdom about health and longevity.
From trusting the universe to prioritizing bowel health above all else, his approach offers a radically different perspective on staying young.
Jump to:
- Trust Creates the Foundation for Anti-Aging
- Plant-Based Eating Started at 17
- Juicing Since 1990 Became His Secret Weapon
- Sun Avoidance Until 40 Protected His Skin
- Green Tea Every Day for a Decade
- Nine Years Raw Vegan and Thriving
- Berries Form the Foundation Daily
- Daily Exercise Moves Critical Fluids
- Bowel Health Trumps Everything Else
- The Mental and Spiritual Transformation
- Living the Philosophy Daily
Trust Creates the Foundation for Anti-Aging
Sterling’s first principle might surprise many: trust the universe.
According to him, cultivating deep trust reduces stress and cortisol levels, which directly impacts how we age.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Having a sense of trust is really critical for our sense of spiritual well-being and that actually will reduce stress and cortisol levels in the body. It’s actually shown and proven in studies that having a sense of trust of the universe really is anti-aging.
He explains that pessimism, fear, and worry manifest physically as accelerated aging.
When working with juice fasting clients, Sterling emphasizes this mental shift as foundational to physical transformation.
We’re not here to be comfortable, we’re here to grow. We’re here to learn and the universe is going to provide situations for us to learn our lessons and to become the best version of ourselves.
Sterling practices mindfulness and presence to maintain this trust, especially during challenging times. He views difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.
Plant-Based Eating Started at 17
In 1990, at just 17 years old, Sterling made what he calls “the single most important decision” of his life.
He went vegan for ethical reasons, but quickly discovered profound health benefits.
For 36 years, he’s maintained a whole foods plant-based diet, though his approach has evolved significantly over time.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
A whole foods plant-based diet instantly gets us lean, gets us into alignment. And I’ve learned this over the years. Also, eating raw foods is the key to sustaining a whole foods plant-based diet long-term.
Sterling warns against relying heavily on cooked starches like potatoes, breads, and pasta.
These foods, while vegan, are acid-forming and can spike insulin levels.
His recommendation? Eat 80% of calories from raw foods for optimal health and anti-aging benefits.
The Transformation to Raw Changed Everything
Before going raw vegan in his mid-40s, Sterling looked like a typical middle-aged man.
My skin was pale and I had kind of a lumpiness and I had my extra creases and my nose was a little more bulbous and just a little more plump-looking. Like those cooked foods just cause inflammation and weight gain so easily.
The first few years were rough—dark circles, extreme weight loss, detox symptoms.
But after three years of consistency, everything changed. His skin began to glow, weight returned to healthy levels, and he experienced complete transformation.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
For those hesitant to go fully raw, Sterling suggests focusing on steamed starchy vegetables like broccoli and sweet potatoes as the least problematic cooked foods.
Juicing Since 1990 Became His Secret Weapon
Long before green juice became trendy, Sterling received a juicer as a gift at 17.
His early experiments with parsley juice gave him a noticeable “buzz” that kept him coming back.
I would make parsley juice. That was one of my favorites because the parsley juice would make me kind of tingly and as a teenager I’d like the feeling.
Juicing introduces concentrated phytonutrients and enzymes that transform the microbiome.
Sterling has worked as a professional juice fast coach for nearly 10 years, helping clients through transformative cleanses.
His favorite anti-aging juice combines these ingredients:
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
- Parsley and cilantro as the green base
- Lemon for detoxification
- Ginger for anti-inflammatory benefits
He eats fruit whole rather than juicing it, reserving fruit juices specifically for extended fasting protocols.
Sterling recommends a 40-day juice fast as a life-changing intervention to completely clean the digestive system.
Sun Avoidance Until 40 Protected His Skin
While Sterling now intentionally gets sun exposure for vitamin D and other benefits, he largely avoided it until age 40.
This wasn’t initially deliberate—it aligned with his lifestyle and aesthetic preferences as a youth.
I was kind of like a new wave kind of like a goth, you know, kid in my teen years. So I was into I thought it was cool to avoid the sun.
Even in his 20s working as a photographer in Los Angeles, Sterling wore long sleeves and hats during beach shoots.
One brief stint with tanning beds left him with an age spot that remains today—a cautionary tale about artificial UV exposure.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
He now follows a strategic sun protocol: morning and late-day exposure while avoiding peak midday hours.
This approach maximizes circadian rhythm benefits while minimizing skin damage.
Green Tea Every Day for a Decade
Throughout his 20s and 30s, Sterling drank an entire pot of green tea daily.
He wasn’t specifically targeting anti-aging—he simply chose green tea over coffee.
That choice made all the difference.
Green tea is known for anti-aging benefits. I never drank green tea because I was trying to have anti-aging benefits, but you know all through my 20s and 30s, I would drink green tea.
Green tea’s polyphenols and antioxidants combat free radical damage from cooked oils and processed foods.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Coffee, by contrast, is acidic and can accelerate aging by drying skin and promoting fine lines.
By his 40s, Sterling noticed he looked significantly younger than peers—a difference he attributes partly to his decade-long green tea habit.
Matcha offers similar benefits, as it’s a concentrated form of raw green tea.
Nine Years Raw Vegan and Thriving
Nearly a decade of eating exclusively raw foods has been Sterling’s most powerful anti-aging intervention.
His daily diet centers around simplicity and high-quality ingredients.
A typical morning smoothie includes:
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
- Bananas and dates as the sweet base
- Raw vegan protein powder (Garden of Life brand)
- Raw cacao and maca root for energy and vitality
- Ashwagandha for stress adaptation
- Cordyceps mushrooms for immune support
- Creatine for cognitive function
- Zinc drops for hair health
- Sea salt or mineral drops for electrolytes
Raw vegan is optimal for elimination out of the body. You want to anti-age, you want to look better, man. You want to revive that youthful teenage glow, you got to eat raw cuz it just removes the toxins.
Sterling’s smoothies range from 650-850 calories, providing sustained energy without digestive burden.
He never adds milk alternatives—only water and ice.
Top Anti-Aging Foods in His Arsenal
Cacao tops Sterling’s list of anti-aging superfoods.
Rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, and zinc, it’s been his daily companion for 10 years.
The zinc content particularly supports hair health—Sterling has zero gray hairs at 53.
Sprouted lentils provide another excellent source of zinc while offering plant-based protein.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
These foods, combined with zinc supplementation, have preserved his hair color and thickness naturally.
Addressing the Skeptics
Sterling faces regular accusations of cosmetic procedures, filters, and hair dye.
His response is direct: he avoids doctors entirely and hasn’t had any work done.
For one, I hate doctors. I’d never go to a doctor, ever. Really, honestly, I don’t go to doctors. I haven’t been to a doctor in many years.
He carries no health insurance, trusting his lifestyle to maintain wellness.
While this approach works for him, it reflects his deep commitment to natural health practices over medical interventions.
Berries Form the Foundation Daily
Sterling spends hundreds of dollars weekly stocking his refrigerator with organic berries.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
He’ll eat entire meals consisting only of berries—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Berries are such a foundational part of my diet. Stock your fridge with berries. Eat entire meals of berries. Eat berries for every meal of the day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
He tests berries in stores before purchasing, refusing to buy subpar produce.
When berries are fresh and in season—spring and fall in Texas—he’ll buy eight to ten large containers at once.
Berries provide concentrated antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients with minimal digestive burden.
Their high water content keeps skin hydrated while their compounds combat oxidative stress.
Sterling considers this one of his most cost-effective anti-aging investments, spending approximately $4,000 monthly on his raw food diet.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Daily Exercise Moves Critical Fluids
Every morning begins with one hour at the gym—no exceptions.
Sterling works out fasted, drinking only water, focusing on heavy weightlifting and sprints.
Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system. So, our body’s just fluids and the fluids got to move. The fluids have to move. If the fluids don’t move, you get sick. You get fat. You get diseases.
Fasted training produces human growth hormone, builds more muscle, and taps into fat stores for energy.
After fasting overnight, glycogen stores are depleted, forcing the body to burn fat.
Exercise also stimulates the pelvic floor, promoting elimination—what Sterling calls “the ultimate laxative.”
Do I want to work out? Do I like exercise? Oh, hell no. I would rather sit on my butt and, you know, eat bonbons or something. But I have a self, you know, expectation and discipline and I need to perform at a certain level.
This daily practice sets the tone for high performance, making everything else possible.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
It combats depression, increases positivity, and proves that anything is achievable.
Bowel Health Trumps Everything Else
Sterling’s final and most unconventional principle: prioritize elimination above all else.
While most anti-aging advice focuses on what to consume, Sterling emphasizes what to eliminate.
Everybody’s thinking about what can I put in to anti-age. You need to get that salmon out of your body as quick as you possibly can. Whatever sits in your body poisons you from the inside.
Foods that create biofilm and slow transit time—animal products, cooked oils, heavy starches—accumulate toxins and accelerate aging.
Raw foods move through the digestive system rapidly when the bowels are clean.
The one thing you need to do for anti-aging is focus on elimination. Make sure everything gets out of your body as fast as possible. That’s the key. It’s not supplements. It’s not omega-3s. It’s not protein. It’s elimination.
This principle explains why Sterling recommends 40-day juice fasts.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Complete bowel cleansing removes decades of accumulated waste, allowing the body to function optimally.
Fast bowel transit time reduces toxic exposure, inflammation, and oxidative stress—the primary drivers of aging.
The Mental and Spiritual Transformation
Beyond physical anti-aging, Sterling credits raw foods with profound mental and spiritual benefits.
Eating raw vegan brings us into alignment with our vision and our values and our actions. It makes us more human. It makes us more empathetic, more compassionate. It makes us more clairvoyant. It makes us more intuitive and psychic.
He describes the experience as becoming “pure again”—like a newborn fawn, connected to natural rhythms and divine origins.
This purity eliminates cognitive dissonance between values and actions.
Raw foods contain living sunlight energy and life force that transfers directly to those who consume them.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The vibrant colors in fresh produce reflect the phytonutrients that create similar vibrancy in human skin and energy fields.
Practical Advice for Beginners
Sterling’s path to financial abundance followed his commitment to raw veganism, not the reverse.
I decided I was going to commit to eating raw vegan and I had to figure out how to have the money to afford it. So, how can I create a business and be of service to others to afford a raw vegan lifestyle?
His key to abundance: shift focus from self to service.
Instead of asking “How will I survive?” ask “How can I contribute?”
This mindset shift, combined with healing original wounds from childhood trauma, unlocked both wealth and wellness.
For those interested in raw veganism but intimidated by cost, Sterling notes you don’t need to spend $4,000 monthly.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Shopping seasonally, buying in bulk, and focusing on non-organic items with thick peels (avocados, pineapples) makes it accessible.
Living the Philosophy Daily
At 53, Sterling looks forward to his best years ahead.
He’s considering relocating to Costa Rica and semi-retiring, confident his lifestyle will continue serving him.
His partner shares his raw vegan commitment, creating alignment that strengthens both relationship and health practices.
I’m looking forward to what God has in store for me. I know that my best years haven’t even happened yet.
His favorite quote encapsulates his philosophy: “Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.”
Just as eliminating toxins matters more than adding supplements, letting go of false beliefs creates more wisdom than acquiring new information.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Sterling’s approach prioritizes quality of life over longevity.
Rather than obsessing over lifespan, he focuses on living at the highest vibration—mentally clear, physically vital, spiritually connected.
His 10 anti-aging secrets work synergistically, each reinforcing the others. Trust reduces stress. Raw foods support trust. Exercise moves toxins. Elimination enables nutrient absorption. The cycle continues, creating compound benefits over decades.
For those inspired to begin, Sterling recommends starting with a juice fast rather than jumping directly into raw foods. This cleansing foundation makes the transition smoother and the benefits more dramatic.
His Raw Vegan Heroes community offers support for over 5,000 members navigating this transformation with coaching available 24/7.
Whether someone adopts all 10 principles or just a few, Sterling’s results speak for themselves—proof that dedication to natural health practices can turn back the clock without procedures, prescriptions, or pretense.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
