The Oldest People In The World Reveal Their Secrets To A Long Life

Ruth Benjamin - Eat a lot of bacon

Image Source/ Good HousekeepingAs you read through, you'll realise that a lot of the people who have led long lives stress the importance of eating well. Ruth Benjamin of Marshall, Illinois, gained notoriety by claiming that eating a lot of bacon caused her to be triple-digits old. She ate her favourite foods and potatoes some way, every day until the ripe old age of 109.

Mildred Bowers - Enjoy a nice cold pint daily

Image Source/ Live 5 NewsWhen the day is done, don't forget to wash it all down with a pint, or that's just according to Mildred Bowers, 105. She never forgets to drink a beer every day at 4 in the afternoon, but only with her doctor's permission. The Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, woman also attributes her long life to having healthy genes.

Saturnino de la Fuente García - Never get angry

Image Source/ The Federal NewsSaturnino de la Fuente Garca is the oldest man alive right now. He is 112 years years old. In a January 2019 interview with a local newspaper, Chitetsu happily claimed that the key to his long life was to not get angry and keep a grin on your face.

Richard Overton - Treat yourself to cigars and bourbon

Image Source/ NBC NewsRichard Overton, the oldest soldier in America, recently celebrated his 112th birthday and hasn't given up any of his favourite vices. The supercentenarian stores up on butter pecan ice cream in addition to cigars, bourbon, whisky, and other alcoholic beverages.

Eunice Modlin - Have two pieces of dark chocolate per day

Image Source/ TODAYEunice Modlin, 102, never smoked or drank, but doesn't like to attribute these to her long-life success, instead she admits that she always eats two pieces of dark chocolate every day. Taking several naps is something that the great-great-grandmother from Boonville, Indiana, also swears by.

Edith Atkinson Wylie - Make sure to eat your Cheetos

Image Source/ Total Frat MoveEven though Montana-based 106-year-old Edith Atkinson Wylie, reads every day on her Kindle, she attributes her longevity to excellent genes and probably bourbon, water, and Cheetos while watching the 5 o'clock news, and does it not owe it to technological advancements.

Florence Bearse - Drink the wine by the bottle

Image Source/ PeopleWho said wine wasn't good for you? Because Florence Bearse has certainly debunked that rumour! In celebration of her 100th birthday, the Bangor, Maine resident drank her favourite beverage and indulged in birthday cake. What was her additional advice? "Don't take any baloney."

Jeanne Louise Calment - Never miss olive oil, port and chocolate

Image Source/ WikipediaJeanne Louise Calment, a Frenchwoman from Arles, passed away at the age of 122 years and 164 days to hold the records for both the oldest person to ever live and the oldest woman ever. She said, "I expect a short one," when asked about the future on her 120th birthday. She stated that olive oil, port, and chocolate were the keys to her long life and at the age of 120, she quit smoking.

Theresa Rowley - Keep drinking Diet Coke

Image Source/ The IndependentWhen Coca-Cola released its zero-calorie soda, Theresa Rowley was already at the ripe old age of 68, but at 104 she still cracks open at least one can each day. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, man told WZZM in January, I drink it because I like it. I need to go back and buy more Diet Coke because I have a bag full of empty cans.

Andy Medema - Never miss your vodka martini

Image Source/ Chicago TribuneAndy Medema of Elmhurst, Illinois, achieved the remarkable age of 101. He has since spoken out about how managed to achieve such a long life, by drinking one vodka martini every day, not smoking, and working hard. He didn't, however, specify whether he preferred them shaken or stirred.

Edis Mathiesen - Give yourself some brain training

Image Source/ Bullock Long Funeral HomeRegular physical activity has been shown to increase lifespan, but don't overlook mental fitness too! Centenarian Edris Mathiesen of Bloomington, Indiana, told Prevention that she love playing cards, solving crossword puzzles, and reading to help exercise her intellect.

Jiroemon Kimura - Eating light to live long

Image Source/ ABC NewsBelieve it or not, only two men have held the title of oldest living person since the turn of the century. In 2012, Jiroemon Kimura, a Japanese man, was the final person to hold the record. Kimura remained a Post Office employee until he was 65 years old and revealed his adage of "eat light to live long" and thought it was the secret to his long life.

John Grumbine - Keep up the tap dancing

Image Source/ LancasteOnlineIn March, John Grumbine turned 100, and the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, resident gave Penn Live some motivational advice. Tapping his toes keeps him mentally, physically, and spiritually active according to the ballroom dancing instructor. He still competes, too!

Ruby Duncan - Work hard and long

Image Source/ Ruby Duncan Elementary SchoolRolling up your sleeves, according to another centenarian, is the secret to living past 100. 104-year-old Ruby Duncan, a former resident of Beach City, Ohio, began driving as soon as her feet touched the pedals and grew up assisting her mother in tending to the farm's thousands of poultry.

Becerra Lumberas - Never get married

Image Source/ New York PostLeandra Becerra Lumbreras, a Mexican woman, reportedly achieved the age of 127 by snacking on chocolate, sleeping for days on end, and never getting married as if you needed another excuse to catch up on your zzz's. We're beginning to notice a pattern...

Jessie Gallan - Stay away from men

Image Source/ Business InsiderIronically Scottish Jessie Gallan said that maintaining her independence helped her achieve 109, she spoke for all of the single women out there. The woman died in 2015, but her words of wisdom endure in legend:

"My secret to a long life has been staying away from men. They're just more trouble than they're worth."

Kane Tanaka - Study algebra

Image Source/ WIONWith an age of 117 years old, Kane Tanaka is both the oldest person alive right now and the oldest living woman. She had a delicious cake to mark her most recent birthday in her care facility in Fukuoka, Japan. One of her secrets is to keep the mind sharp, revealing that on an average day at the nursing home, she rises at six in the morning and frequently studies topics like algebra in the late afternoon.

Susannah Mushatt Jones - Wear nice lingerie

Image Source/ NPRSusannah Mushatt Jones, the former record holder for the oldest person in the world, surprisingly enjoyed fancy lingerie. Her niece recalled to Time that she would save her money and then go shopping at Bloomingdale's. She'd say you can never get too old to wear nice stuff.

Margaret Young - Drink plenty of tea

Image Source/ Vintage RecordingsAt 108 years old, Margaret Young (we are aware of the irony) speaks out about how she's managed to lead such a long and prosperous life: Be happy and have plenty of cups of tea. It all sounds very English and makes sense as that's where she actually lives!

Emma Morano - Always eat three eggs per day

Image Source/ Arab NewsItalian Emma Morano, who was formerly the oldest person in the world, was born on November 29, 1899, and she lived to reach an astonishing 117 years old. For more than 90 years, she had a pretty unconventional diet that included eating three eggs per day, two of them raw.

Bernice Madigan - Eat honey daily

Image Source/ Metro USWhile Bernice Madigan didn't get to expose the secrets of living old herself, according to acquaintances who spoke to the Boston Globe, Bernice shared her secrets to old age before she passed away at the age of 115: no kids, less worry, and a daily spoonful of honey.

Julio Ceaser Mora Tapia - Family unity and love

Image Source/ El UniversoJulio Cesar Mora Tapia is one half of the oldest married couple in the world. At 110 years old, he was even alive before the Titanic actually sank in 1912. He revealed that the secret to longevity of his life (and his marriage) is that family unity, love and mutual respect take precedence.

Waldramina Maclovia Quinteros Reyes - Honest work and family values

Image Source/ InsiderWaldramina Maclovia Quinteros Reyes is the wife of Julio and comes in at an age of 104 years old. Together, the pair have a combined age of 214 years (that's a lot of life). She has spoken out about the secrets of her long life, expressing the importance of honest work, proper education and family values.

Duranord Veillard - Start this day with push ups and a cup of oatmeal

Image Source/ USA TodayDuranord Veillard, from Spring Valley, New York, celebrated his 111th birthday before passing away not long after. According to a 2015 USA Today report, the former Haitian judge continued to begin each day with five to seven push-ups and a cup of oatmeal. How bizarre!

Erna Sahn - Eat bananas and dark chocolate as often as you can

Image Source/ Good HousekeepingErna Sahn, a supercentenarian from New Ulm, Minnesota, recommends that you never skip meals and stresses the importance of eating your breakfast: "It's what keeps me going." The 110-year-old also advises exercising by shovelling snow and recommending dark chocolate, bananas, and ice cream as snacks.

Misao Okawa - Eat loads of sushi

Image Source/ NBC NewsBecause of their rich balanced diets, Japanese supercentenarians like Misao Okawa frequently make the Guinness Book of World Records. Okawa, who passed away soon after turning 117, frequently consumed sushi and ramen noodles. She admitted that her years spent alive felt pretty brief.

Pauline Dunhill - Never miss your evening G&T

Image Source/ Sussex ExpressOn January 31, 2018, Pauline Dunhill turned 104. She celebrated with her fellow residents at the British nursing facility she's currently a resident at. The native Canadian credits a G&T each evening for to aid in achieving a long, blissful life. We salute that!

Francisco Nunez Olivera - Drink a glass of red, daily

Image Source/ The 110 ClubFrancisco Nunez Olivera, formerly the oldest man alive, lived to the age of 113 in a small Spanish community. The family patriarch, known as "grandpa of the world" credited his long life of happiness and health to a daily glass of red wine and veggies from his own garden. I can get behind the wine!

Frances Prus - Have the occasional glass of Merlot

Image Source/ Legacy.comIt seems that a lot of these people got to their old ages by eating junk food! Frances Prus was a New Year's baby. In moderation, of course, junk food and the occasional glass of Merlot can keep you going strong, the Greenfield, Pennsylvania resident told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Imogene Young - Daily servings of Breyers Ice Cream

Image Source/ TributeArchiveImogene Young, is a 104 year old woman living in Hagerstown, Maryland. She consumes bacon, eggs, daily servings of Breyer's ice cream, and peanut butter M&Ms as part of an astonishing diet. In addition, she suggests Pond's Cold Cream for a radiant complexion.