Emma Morano of Italy turned 117 on Tuesday and she’s believed to be the last person alive who was born in the 1800s.
To celebrate Emma blew out the candles on her cake –thankfully, just three numbers representing her age – and received a greeting from Italy’s president, read by an official, wishing her “serenity and good healthy.”
The centenarian, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment in northern town of Verbania, also made a brief appearance on TV.
Born on November 29, 1899, Emma says her consumption of raw eggs is partly responsible for her longevity, that and being single.
While Italy is known for its centenarians but it’s believed that the world’s largest population of healthy older adults lives on the small island of Okinawa, Japan.
American gerontologist, Dr Craig Willcox believes the Okinawan diet, which is high in tofu and fresh vegetables, could be a contributing factor in the island’s people living for so long.
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