The Secret To Long Life? Eat Eggs, And Stay Single.

As if you needed more reason to stay home and eat eggs.

Over the weekend, the New York Times published a delightful profile of Italy resident Emma Morano, who, at 115 years old, is sitting comfortably at the oldest person in Europe, and the fifth oldest person in the world. In it, she discussed what it’s like to span three centuries (“115 years are a lot,” she said), and discussed how she outlived her two sisters – who passed away at 99 and 102. Her secret weapon? Three eggs a day, and no husband.

Morano began eating her raw eggs when a doctor advised it would help her avoid anaemia. If the maths is right, that’s around 100,000 eggs. Which is like 50,000 cakes. Or 33,333.3333 triple-egg omelettes.

It is a whole bunch of eggs.

 

Morano, who refuses to ever go to hospital, has neighbours check in on her from time to time. Her niece, Rosemarie Santoni, brings her breakfast every day; two raw eggs ­– she cut one out of her diet – ground meat, pasta and a banana. Morano still lives alone in her house in Verbania, Italy, because of course she does.

Here’s Emma back in 2010, when she was the spritely age of 111. Having a sing and a dance, and a bit of a laugh with Italian media.

Morano has seen two world wars, and watched Italy transition from a monarchy to a republic. She had a husband once, but they separated in 1938, after the death of her infant son. Divorce wasn’t legal in Italy until 1970 (in fact, mutual agreement is still not an accepted reason). Her reason for not remarrying was simple: she “didn’t want to be dominated by anyone”. 115 and still able to shrug off patriarchy.

Australia’s own oldest citizen, meanwhile, is Alfred Date — better known as ‘Alfie’. He keeps himself occupied by knitting tiny jumpers for penguins.

Snaps to you, Emma and Alfie, you fantastic human beings.

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Feature image via YouTube.