Doctors studying the DNA of a woman who lived to the age of 117 have revealed the surprising food item which may have aided her longevity.
Until her death in August 2024, Spanish-American woman Maria Branyas Morera held the titles of the world's oldest verified living person and the oldest Spanish person ever, being 117 years and 168 days old at the time of her death.
Born in the US, Maria and her family relocated to Catalonia in 1915.
It was here that she would live through several wars, upheavals and pandemics, even surviving a bout of Covid-19 at the age of 113.
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Keen to share the secrets of her extended lifespan, Maria asked doctors to study her DNA so she could 'help others' live just as long.
Before Maria's death, doctors in Spain collected samples of her blood, saliva, urine and stools to create a biological profile.
Doctors then examined Maria's genetics and cell structures, comparing them to samples collected from other elderly people.
According to the research, Maria's biological age was between 10 and 15 years below her actual age at the time of death.
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So how did she manage to live so long? Apparently, it's all down to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors.
"Maria’s parents gave her very good genes but we cannot choose our parents," lead researcher Dr Manel Esteller told The Times.
But before you give up entirely on your hopes of earning the title of supercentenarian, researchers stressed that genetic inheritance wasn't solely responsible for Maria's longevity.
According to the research, the former nurse had lived an active lifestyle, with reports from her nursing home revealing that Maria had exercised for as long as possible.
She also wasn't overweight, did not smoke or drink, and led a good social life.
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However, researchers are particularly interested in Maria's fondness for yoghurt, as she would consume the Spanish brand La Fageda up to three times a day.
In addition to supporting gut health and providing key nutrients, yoghurt is said to boost immunity. Meanwhile, research suggests that probiotics can limit the 'incidence, duration, or severity' of illnesses such as flu and coronavirus.
Maria would also consume a smoothie containing eight different cereal varieties each morning.
According to Eloy Santos, a PhD student at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, the high amounts of healthy bacteria and fibre were 'beneficial populations in the gut, making them thrive' (via The Telegraph).
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"The conclusion is that the clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherited from our parents and what we do in our lives," Esteller concluded in the study.
"And this mix, the percentage depends, but it can be ... half and half."
Brenna Cooper