By Matt Davies
Copyright walesonline
A supermarket food might hold the key to the remarkable lifespan of a 117-year-old woman who lived through conflicts, global health crises, and even contracted Covid during her later years, experts have suggested. Supercentenarian Maria Branyas Morera held the title of the world’s oldest person when she passed away in 2024, achieving the extraordinary age of 117 and a half years, but prior to her death, she requested that medical professionals study her in an effort to “help others” . This led to an examination of her biological makeup by physicians in Spain , the country Maria relocated to at age eight after being born in San Francisco in 1907. The research was carried out by a group of scientists , including experts from the University of Barcelona and Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, who collected specimens from Maria and examined her cellular structure and genetic material. Dr Manel Esteller, the lead researcher on the study, informed the Times : “The common rule is that as we age we become sicker but she was an exception and we wanted to understand why. For the first time, we’ve been able to separate being old from being sick.” Dr Esteller continued: “We can develop drugs to reproduce the effects of good genes. Maria’s parents gave her very good genes, but we cannot choose our parents.” Although Maria maintained an undeniably healthy lifestyle —avoiding alcohol and tobacco, keeping a healthy weight, and enjoying an active social life—the scientists also showed interest in a certain food item she consumed three times daily. Maria was particularly fond of yoghurt , especially the Spanish probiotic variety La Fageda, which is said to contain inflammation-fighting bacteria. Additionally, she consumed a cereal-rich smoothie each morning, featuring eight different varieties. A PhD student from the institute, Eloy Santos, explained to The Daily Telegraph that her high-fibre intake served as food for beneficial gut bacteria, helping them thrive. Over the course of the study, researchers discovered that Maria had low inflammation levels and genetic variants related to cholesterol and lipid metabolism, which are associated with a longer lifespan. The possible health advantages of yoghurt are widely recognised. Brimming with protein and essential nutrients, including calcium and B vitamins, certain varieties might even provide a boost to digestive health. One possible advantage of consuming yoghurt is its potential to bolster our immune defences. Healthline references research suggesting that probiotics might help address the “incidence, duration, or severity” of five ailments. These include: Covid-19 , influenza, rotavirus, gastroenteritis, and the common cold. The publication noted that probiotics could assist in reducing inflammation, which is connected to health issues including viral infections. Yoghurt also provides trace minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and selenium, which might bolster immune function. Furthermore, vitamin D-fortified yoghurt could provide additional immune support, assisting the body in fighting off illnesses like influenza and common colds.
