Do you remember what it was like during the Spanish-American war? How about what life was like when President William McKinley was in office?
While you may have heard of these events, there’s no way you’re going to remember them first hand. Both of these things happened over 100 years ago. It’d be hard to find anyone who had a memory of them, but for Emma Morano who was born in 1899, she might actually be able to talk to you about them as someone who was there.
That’s right, Morano just celebrated her 117th birthday!
This adorable, little Italian lady has lived well over a century! She is the oldest person to have ever lived! Plus, she’s still in better health than most people twenty years her junior. Her health is excellent for her age and she has no chronic conditions. In fact, she’s been classified as a “supercentenarian” by doctors and scientists. That’s just a fancy way of saying that for someone well over the century age marker, she is thriving.
So, what’s her secret to living such a long, healthy life?
Well, doctors think that it’s all genetic. Being from Piedmont, Italy (the same town she has lived in her whole life), Morano is at a genetic advantage. As it turns out, Italy is known for turning out some of the longest living people in history. Her doctors also note that this seems to be common for her family. She had two sisters who both lived to be 100.
Morano, however, would attribute her longevity to two key factors that have nothing to do with genetics.
First of all, she swears by starting her day with two or three raw eggs. She started the ritual decades ago as a cure for anemia. I guess you have to put aside any fear of salmonella you might have in order to stick with that breakfast.
Her second long-life tip isn’t as stomach-turning, but it is still quite unconventional.
Morano attributes her long life to the fact that she’s stayed single. Cue Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies!”
According to Morano, she had a short-lived marriage to an abusive man that she ended back in 1938, decades before divorce was legal in Italy. Since then, she’s been happily and healthily living her life as she pleases. All we can say is, you go girl!
I was also a big fan of Morano’s diet. There was nothing bland or complicated to it like you would think. In fact, she has quite the sweet tooth and enjoys indulging it. Her favorite is the Italian Christmas cake, panettone. Now, that is definitely a diet I could get behind!
Whatever the real reason for Morano’s long, full life, the most important thing is her mentality. She’s always looking forward to the future with a smile on her face!
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[Source: Little Things, NY Times]
