Loose Women panellist Gloria Hunniford has opened up about the changes she made to her diet after a warning from a doctor and the tragic death of her daughter, Caron

Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford has opened up about her dietary overhaul following a health warning from her doctor.

Chatting with Woman Weekly, the seasoned TV personality, 84, revealed her new approach to eating: “I’d dieted before, but going on a medical diet gives you determination.” The former Strictly contestant didn’t have to sacrifice much, just a few daily staples: “I cut out all the sugar I could… (I also) gave up bread, pasta and potatoes.”

Gloria went into detail about her typical day’s meals since adopting her new regimen: “I’ll have egg or sausage for breakfast, but no bread. It’s soup or salad with fish for lunch, and in the evening I’ll replace potatoes with cauliflower, which has the same sort of crunch.”

The shift towards healthier living was prompted by a stark warning from her doctor after she was diagnosed as pre-diabetic: “My doctor said I was pre-diabetic and told me to take my life in my hands.” Although she sticks to a strict diet now, Gloria does allow herself the occasional indulgence of a “glass of wine or champagne”.

Gloria Hunniford shared details of her new diet after getting a warning from her doctor ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Gloria has previously opened up about the sad passing of her daughter in 2004 ( 
Image:
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Her commitment to her health has been further motivated by the tragic loss of her daughter over two decades ago, reports Gloucestershire Live. The late Blue Peter legend Caron Keating’s mother, Gloria, poignantly shared the heartache of losing her daughter at the age of 41 to breast cancer in April 2004.

In a candid confession to The Mirror in 2018, Gloria expressed the unbearable grief of a parent, saying: “Losing a child takes you to the darkest spot you could ever imagine.” She continued, confronting the cruel twist of fate: “There’s something extra hard about getting pregnant, carrying that baby, giving birth, treasuring that child, and then losing her.

“You don’t think all your children will end up with PHDs or anything, but you pray to God you’ll live long enough to see them live happy lives.” In August last year, Gloria lost her husband Stephen Way.

Gloria had been married to her husband since 1998, and his death left a profound gap in their lives. She touched upon this loss by saying in a recent interview: “Stephen was a gentleman and a giant of a man, who will leave the most enormous void not only in my life but our entire family.”

Reflecting on the kind-hearted nature of her late husband, she lovingly recalled: “He was an incredibly kind, generous, and caring man, with a delightfully quirky sense of humour, which remained till the end.”