A British woman aged 101 has shared her secret to a long and healthy life – and it’s all down to her diet. She looks incredibly young for her age too, as a video shared on TikTok shows
A British centenarian has revealed her secret to a long and healthy life, attributing it to her diet. The 101-year-old shared details about her diet and lifestyle in a chat with her grandson James Marsh, who is a fitness coach. He captured the conversation in an uplifting video which he subsequently shared on his TikTok page.
In discussing her dietary habits she places significant credit on a vegetable-laden diet, echoing her mother’s staunch conviction in the power of vegetables for well-being. “I always ate plenty of vegetables. I was brought up by my mother and she was a great believer in vegetables so we always had them,” she says.
She elaborated on her love for vegetables and how they have been a staple from her wartime upbringing. “My father grew them, especially during the war of course, and I always ate them and I always loved them.” For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Born in 1924, she also mentioned her inclination towards fruit over anything “particularly sweet”, the Mirror reports.
And when questioned about alcohol intake, she clearly stated: “No, not at all – I never liked it. I’m sure that it’s bad for you, I’m just sure.”
As for meat and fish, she noted: “We were rationed of course.
“So we never had that much when I was young. Today I like a bit of meat. I’m not keen on fish but I eat a bit of it.”
Concluding her discussion on eating habits, the 101-year old, who appears remarkably youthful for her years, said: “I’m very careful with what I eat. Not many sweet things – really just lots of veggies, lots of fruit, which I’ve always eaten.”
Amazed by her youthful appearance, a TikTok user voiced their appreciation and hope for her future: “101, incredible. Wish her many more years ahead of her.”
Other users shared their family longevity tips, with one commenting on TikTok: “My grandparents lived until 95 and 96 and they grew their own vegetables.”
Another individual elaborated: “In my opinion the perfect diet is just wholefoods, small amount of meat/fish fibre, fruit for sweetness, no smoking no alcohol. My mum is 84 my dad is 90 and both still going strong, and their exercise: walking and gardening.”
A different person reminisced warmly: “She reminds me of my granny. She lived to 101 and said many of the same things.”
James later posted another video reflecting on his grandmother’s lifestyle and attributing her robust health to the structure of her home. “She lives in a very tall, thin house and she’s always going up and down the stairs,” he said.
He touched upon health risks associated with ageing. “When we get past a certain age, the risk of death and illness from a heart attack and cancer kind of reduces and it’s much more about the risk of falling over and breaking a hip or something.”
The fitness expert went on to say: “Whereas if you can maintain good strength that will also carry over to balance and mean that you are less likely to fall over – so I think part of the reason she has remained very healthy is that she’s stayed in this tall house which is always training her legs indirectly.”
Everyday habits and healthy ageing
According to the NHS and studies published in The Lancet Public Health diets high in fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains, and low in processed foods, are consistently associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases, including type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.
You might also have heard of the so-called “Blue Zones” which are regions where people frequently live past 100.
In these areas, such as Okinawa (Japan) and Sardinia (Italy), common features include plant-based diets, daily movement, limited alcohol intake, and strong social connections.
While genetics play a role lifestyle factors are understood to have a significant influence on healthy ageing, according to research from the University of Exeter and the National Institute on Ageing.
The UK’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recommends regular movement and strength-building activity in older age to maintain mobility and reduce fall risk as data from Age UK shows that falls are one of the leading causes of injury-related hospital admissions in people over 65 in the UK.
You can read more about longevity and what kind of habits people build who have exceptionally long lives here.