Daily Yogurt Habit Linked to Exceptional Longevityโค of 116-Year-Old Woman
Barcelona, Spain – A new study analyzing the genetics, lifestyle, andโฃ biology ofโข Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest living person, suggests a daily habit of consuming yogurt mayโ be a key factor in her exceptional longevity. Researchers at the Josep Carreras Instituteโฃ announced findings revealingโข Branyas โMorera’s “biological age” was 23.17 years younger thanโค her chronological age of 116 – equivalentโค to the biological ageโฃ of a 93-year-old.โฃ
The extensive analysis, published in Cell reports Medicine,โ identified seven rare โฃgenetic variants possibly contributing toโข herโ long life, but โalso highlighted the โimportant role of lifestyle. Branyas Morera never smoked, did not drink alcohol, maintained a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil,โ engaged in moderate daily exerciseโ (approximately one hour of walking), and notably, consumed three natural yogurts each day.
Researchers found her gut microbiome wasโข “dominated by beneficial bifidobacteria” and linkedโค this to her yogurt consumption. “We thinkโข it is likely โthat a beneficial effect of yogurt consumption โvia modulationโ of the intestinal ecosystem could have contributed to โhis well-being and his advanced โage,” the study authors stated.Yogurts are knownโฃ to be rich in protein, calcium, vitamin D, and beneficial bacteria, and โฃare “associated with a reduction in body weight and the incidence of type 2 diabetes, as well โฃas a reduction in body fat and โinsulin resistance.”
Beyond dietโค and exercise,โ theโค study also revealed โlow levels of inflammation and genes protective of neurological โขand โcardiovascular health, potentially โฃexplaining her โขfreedom from dementia and heart disease. Dr. Manel Esteller,one of the โstudy’s authors,told CNN โฃthat Branyas Moreraโข “loved to work until she โcouldn’t anymore” and lived โคin the countryside,further contributing to her protective lifestyle.โข
Branyas morera celebrated her 117th โbirthday on March 4, 2024, expressing gratitude for โขtheโ “affection, respect and nice words” she received, according to a post โฃon her Twitterโข account (@MariaBranyas112).