Long-lived: unusual combinations that make people live to be 100 years old

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There are people who can live over 100 years. What advice can be given to long-lived people on how to live longer?

Take, for example, Zhanna Louise Kalman, who lived to be 122 years old. Advice from a French woman? She would enjoy chocolate and port. However, she did a lot of sports. Although chocolate is high in sugar, high in calories and saturated fat, it may have been the exercise that kept Jeanne Louise going.

The NHS considers exercise a 'miracle drug' that we have access to for free.

Regular exercise minimizes the risk of life-limiting conditions:

• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke

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• Certain cancers

Exercise is also linked to improved self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, and lowers the risk of depression and dementia. It has been “medically proven” that moving the body can reduce the risk of early death.

What exactly is considered exercise?

People should aim for some form of physical activity every day, and the more you do, the better. At a minimum, people should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

For exercise to be considered moderate-intensity, you should feel warmer, breathe a little faster, and have a faster heart rate. Another long-lived person was Kana Tanaka, who lived to the ripe old age of 119.

The Japanese long-lived woman said that studying maths and drinking fizzy drinks were part of her daily routine.

Although the NHS did not recommends sodas because they are also high in sugar (thereby increasing the risk of disease), learning math is a key way to keep the brain active.

The National Institute on Aging noted that intellectual stimulation benefits the brain in terms of mental ability and memory.

Many activities can engage the brain, for example:

• Reading books and magazines
• Playing games in board games
• Teaching
• Acquiring a new skill or hobby
• Work or volunteering