Mary Kennedy wants to age healthily and she says there can be a pressure to try and halt the ageing process.
She added that being told not to age can shake your confidence and sense of well-being and self-esteem.
The TV presenter and podcaster turned 70 back in September and her purpose in life is to spend time with the people she loves.
Read more: Mary Kennedy celebrated 70th birthday with children and grandkids: 'It was a serious roundy birthday'
Read more: Eileen Dunne says becoming a mother changed everything for her after getting married to TG4 star
Mary told RSVP Magazine: "I’m not an ‘anti-ageing’ type of person, in fact I hate that expression. I don’t want to not age, but I want to age healthily.
"I’ve got to keep an eye on what I eat and eat well 80% of the time. I used to run and now I walk.
"I do 5km about five times a week. I do strength training once a week with Karl Henry.
"As you age, you lose energy and bone and muscle mass. It’s never too late to take up these exercises and strength will give you a positive outlook mental health-wise.
"People think you can’t avoid these respiratory infections in winter, but yes you can! The more people that are RSV and health aware, the fewer beds will be needed in hospitals."
Mary says the pressure around the term ‘anti-ageing is absolutely ridiculous.
"What’s the alternative to ageing, ask yourself?, she asked.
"It’s not being here. It’s a negative perception people have of life, that you would want to hold back the process of ageing.
"The important thing is to age well and healthily. That kind of mentality, being told not to age, can shake your confidence and sense of well-being and self-esteem.
"Look at other cultures, the Chinese and African cultures, where they absolutely revere older people. That’s the way it should be here, because we’re important to the world, our family and society."
For Mary, it’s important to have that sense of worth because people can lose that.
The former RTÉ star said: "You can lose your sense of worth and you can feel the pressure from social media as well, where you see flawless skin and flawless complexions.
"But beauty is so much more than that, it takes in your physical and mental health and the way you interact with people.
"Social interactions are so important. If you succumb to that pressure, of course it is going to knock your sense of worth."
Mary takes probiotics and one multi-vitamin and she feels lucky to be in good health.
She said: "I certainly do, I feel very, very lucky.
"I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’ve a very positive disposition. I want people my age to be as healthy as they can be and to enjoy life."
Entering her 70s and reflecting on life, what has been her favourite decade and her least favourite decade? "I couldn’t pinpoint one or the other, but I feel like every age and stage is important and it grows you.
"You develop with the good times and with the sadnesses. You develop with bereavements and beautiful occasions like weddings and births."
Mary has no regrets in life.
Swipe across below to see the full gallery of images for yourself
She said: "I don’t think regrets serve us any purpose. I look on difficulties in life as learning moments.
"My purpose in life is to spend time with the people I love. We do our best at every stage of life, so onwards and upwards."
Moving West airs on TG4, and catch up on TG4 Player
Tune into Changing Times – The Allenwood Conversations wherever you get your podcasts
Mary launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the signs, symptoms and risk factors of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for adults over the age of 65
Read the full interview with Mary Kennedy in the December issue of RSVP Magazine - on shelves now
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