Live Past 110: Advice from Super Centenarians

Most everyone can turn to a family member who defied all the actuary tables and lived a long life. It might be the great-uncle who lived to 90 or the grandmother who made it to 102, chances are good that someone in your family tree has beat the odds and serves as an inspiration to what it means to live a long and fulfilling life.

There is still an even smaller group who have overcome all the odds and achieved the honor of being a super centenarian, or someone who has lived to, or passed, the age of 110. This is a very rare accomplishment and the odds of a centenarian (person who lived past their 100th birthday) becoming a super centenarian is on average 1 in 1,000.

In yet another interesting twist of the odds, it just so happens that the majority of super centenarians come from a few specific areas of the globe, often referred to as blue zones. The United States and Japan hold the record for being the birthplace and home of the highest number of verified super centenarians. That means that there are at least three documents that verify and support their age, and this has been thoroughly investigated by an independent, international body of researchers called the Gerontology Research Group.

Living to the incredible age of 110 or beyond gives someone a fantastic perspective of life. They have seen world wars, advances in technology and medicine that have changed the world. It also provides us a unique opportunity to learn the factors they credit with their longevity.

The Keys to Longevity from Super centenarians

Mamie Rearden was born on September 7, 1898, in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Her secret to longevity is to “Always treat others as you want to be treated." Tend to your own business and live a good, clean life and the Lord will bless you."

Misao Okawa, born on March 5, 1898, and passed away shortly after her 117th birthday on April 1, 2015. She is quoted as saying, “Eat and sleep and you will live a long time. You have to learn to relax.” At the time of her death, she was the world’s oldest living person and remains on record as being the oldest Japanese person in history, as well as the oldest person from Asia and the last living Japanese citizen to be born in the 1800s.

Jeanne Louise Calment, a French citizen, was born on February 21, 1875, and passed away on August 4, 1997. She is the record holder for the longest verified human lifespan on record. While many other super centenarians credit a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol or tobacco and other factors, Jeanne Louise Calment went a different path. She credits her long life to consuming two pounds of chocolate a week, smoking two cigarettes a day and a diet rich in olive oil and port wine.

While there are many differing opinions on how to achieve the incredible status of super centenarian, the central point of their advice indicates that one should maintain a positive outlook and relish the little joys in life.