The oldest person alive is set to celebrate her next birthday on Tuesday, and it might leave you wondering how she did it. Emma Morano will have her 117th birthday on November 29, and it might surprise you to learn she’s done it by eating over 100,000 eggs, plenty of cookies, and very little fruits and vegetables.
At Least Two of Nature’s Multivitamins Every Day
As a teenager, Morano’s doctor prescribed her to eat three eggs a day to help battle anemia, and she’s never looked back. She kept up with the routine for more than 90 years before eventually scaling it back to two. Known as nature’s multivitamin, eggs are high in iron, protein, B vitamins, and good fat. A large-sized egg is about 75 calories and has roughly five grams of lean, mass-building protein, which is important for strength and muscle development.
Of course, eating eggs alone won’t guarantee a century of survival, and even the best diet in the world is unlikely to carry anyone into the triple digits. According to Guinness World Records, Morano is the last surviving person who was alive in the 1800s.
Living a long life is not something foreign to her family, though: Her mother lived to the ripe age of 91 and had two sisters who both hit the century mark—so it looks like a lot of her longevity comes down to genetics.
A Healthy Diet and Exercise Are the Best Chance at a Long Life
There are no guarantees in this world when it comes to health, but research has repeatedly shown that leading an active life and eating a healthy diet can lead to slower aging, increased longevity, and a lower risk for several chronic health conditions.
A sedentary life has shown to increase the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, and obesity while increased activity is shown to improve glucose metabolism, reduce the risk of heart attack, lower the risk for diabetes, and improve blood pressure.
A nutritious diet high in vegetables, fruit, lean protein, and healthy fats is also associated with improved health in a number of areas while those built largely around processed food and refined sugars are closely linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet ensures your body receives all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to function efficiently and stay strong both inside and out.
You can give yourself the best chance for a long and healthy life by making sure you get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day (using both a combination of resistance training and cardio) and eating healthy food about 80% of the time. And hey, if a 117-year-old can sneak on a couple of cookies per day, who’s to say you can’t?
Sources:
Buchanan, C., “Oldest person in the world shares secret to long life – and it’s eggs,” 12 News Arizona web site, November 27, 2016; http://www.12news.com/news/oldest-person-in-world-shares-secret-to-long-life-and-its-eggs/356226866, last accessed November 28, 2016.
