Your whiskey-swilling, fried-foods-loving grandpa might just be onto something. Sure, he's not a medical professional, and no doctor would approve of that diet per se, but after one sassy 100-year-old credited her long life to "lots of booze," we decided to take a look at other members of the triple-digit club to see what foods and drinks they attributed to living 20+ years longer than the national average.
You might be surprised—and delighted, and at times, a little creeped out—by what made the cut:
Yogurt
The secret to avoiding a cold or flu may be much easier than we ever thought. Take it from 94-year-old Dr. Murray Grossan. Dr. Grossan thinks that eating yogurt every day might have contributed to him avoiding catching the common cold and flu. According to Steve Bowers, DO, yogurt can also fight bad bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella. You should find a yogurt that says it has live and active cultures, which are usually located in the refrigerated section.
Hot Dogs
According to Helen Diekman, the ball park fave is her secret to staying alive. This definitely comes as a surprise, especially considering some recent intel on processed meats, but Diekman swears by them. In fact, she eats a dog with everything three times a week at her favorite restaurant Portillo's in Elgin, Illinois. Oh, and did we mention she has them with a side of fries and Diet Coke? Now that's our kinda girl.
Alcohol
When Nancy Lamperti turned 101 back in 2013, she told the Staten Island Advance that she drinks two glasses of Paisano wine with lunch, a small glass of Southern Comfort around 4 p.m., and a can of Budweiser at 6.
And then there's New Jersey local Agnes Fenton, 110, who explained to ABC World News that she drinks three bottles of Miller High Life and a slug of Jonnie Walker everyday for 70 years.
And let's not forget about Mario "Pops" Rotelli, who told the Newnan Times-HeraldNewnan Times-Herald that he adds a shot of whiskey to his coffee. Every. Single. Morning. Seriously, this 107-year-old is a champ.
Bacon
When asked about the key to longevity, 105-year-old Pearl Cantrell summed it up simply: "Hard work and bacon," she told Today.com. Her three-slices-a-day routine was so renowned that the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile made a special stop in her Texas hometown for her birthday in 2013.
Dr. Pepper
Specifically, three glasses of Dr. Pepper a day. When Elizabeth Sullivan, 104, told her doctor about her soda habit, he warned her she'd die if she kept drinking it so much. "But 10 years later he died and I had to change doctors," she told Good Morning America. "So I'm still drinking three Dr. Peppers a day, and people said that's bad for me, but you know, not very many people live to be 104."
Garlic, Honey, Cinnamon, Olive Oil and Chocolate
No, not all together! Bernando LaPallo, 110, recommended these five pantry staples as cooking must-haves—along with eating plenty of organic fruits and vegetables—when he spoke to Arizona's ABC15 back in 2011.
Raw Eggs
Emma Moreno, the fifth oldest person in the world at 115 years young, shares the same breakfast routine as Beauty and the Beast's Gaston: She downs raw eggs—three of them—every morning, which she's done since she was a teenager, reports the New York Times. That's roughly 100,000 eggs in her lifetime, by the newspaper's estimate.
Porridge
Scotland's oldest living woman, 109-year-old Jessie Gallan, says eating "a nice warm bowl of porridge every morning" (and avoiding men) are the secrets to living longer, according to Huffington Post.
Sushi
Misao Okawa, who lived to 117, ate sushi at least once a month, reported the Telegraph. Her personal favorite? Mackerel on vinegar-steamed rice.
Head Cheese
Jeralean Talley, the world's oldest living woman at 116, recommends indulging from time to time. Her specialty? Head cheese, a jellied loaf made from various parts of the pig (particularly its head, but occasionally its feet and heart as well). It can be served cold or at room temperature.
