Eat like Italians, live like centenarians

Rome: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Italy has the maximum number of people who are above 65 years of age. Italy is the second country in the world and first in European Union to have this record.

As per the report of Chinese news agency Xinhua, WHO has also a record of people who are above 100 years of age and are still alive in Italy. At present, there are 24 people in Italy who are above 110 years of age and 116 years old Emma Morano is the oldest citizen of Italy. Emma was born in Civiasco, Italy and she still live here.

Morano is the oldest native of Europe certified to have been born in the Nineteenth century. This information was given by Gerontology research society which studies about old age people, the process of ageing, and the particular problems of old people. Susannah Mushatt Jones is the world's oldest living person and American super centenarian who is, at the age of 116 years, 202 days and she was born on July 6, 1899.

In an interview with a newspaper, Morano attributed her longevity to having left a violent husband in 1938, shortly after the death of her only child at seven months, and to eating three eggs a day for much longer period of her life.

Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health said that there can be several reasons for having a long and healthy life. According to Bustreo, countries in which the survival rate of infants is higher as they are given proper and timely vaccination. She also added that the Italians eat food items like fruits, vegetables and fish which contain high amount of protein due to which people live longer.