The secret to longevity of a 104-year-old woman

María Segunda Pérez, known by her nickname La Nonita, recently celebrated her 104th birthday at a nursing home in Córdoba, Argentina. The ceremony was attended by four generations of her family, including her children and grandchildren.

María's granddaughter, Marisa, revealed that her grandmother's secret to longevity was "always thinking positively." María always advised people to focus on improving their own lives rather than comparing themselves to others. She also advised avoiding controversial topics such as politics and religion, and instead talking about lighter things.

Besides staying positive, María maintains a healthy diet and an active lifestyle by moving and exercising regularly.

These good habits seem to play a big role in María's longevity. Marisa said her grandmother even jokingly said "she will live to be 200".

Many people believe that longevity depends entirely on genes, but medical experts say lifestyle, including diet and exercise, also plays an important role.

Health website Healthline has identified 13 habits linked to longevity, including: not overeating, prioritizing nuts, taking turmeric supplements, increasing healthy plant foods, not smoking, and exercising regularly.

There is no diet that guarantees longevity, but certain foods can help boost your health in a variety of ways. According to Eating Well, research shows that the Mediterranean diet is often linked to a longer life. This diet includes a variety of healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beans, and nuts.

Berries have also long been studied for their health benefits, from reducing the risk of heart disease to boosting brain health to reducing inflammation. Additionally, nutritionist Beth Stark says salmon and other fatty fish provide omega-3s, lean protein, B vitamins, selenium, and iron, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by 80-90%.

Similar to María’s lifestyle, Healthline suggests that prioritizing happiness can also extend your lifespan. A review of 35 different studies found that happier people live 18% longer.

Another study led by Professor Andrew Steptoe found that happiness can improve health and longevity. The study analyzed the responses of 9,050 British people, with an average age of 65, to a “happiness” questionnaire. Over the next eight and a half years, 9% of those in the happiest group died, while the figure for those in the least happy group was 29%.

He said that while it was not yet certain whether happiness directly reduced the risk of death, the study opened up the possibility that increased happiness could improve physical health, for example through hormonal changes or lower blood pressure.