The search for diverse flavors
For many people, enjoying a varied diet is essential; The desire to explore new flavors and experiment with different dishes is present in daily meals. However, there is a small number of people who find a form of stability in repeating their eating habits. Emma Morano, previously recognized as the oldest person on the planet, maintained that a fixed food intake had provided her with benefits since times as far back as the First World War.
The story of Emma Morano
Emma Morano was born on November 29, 1899 in Civiasco, Italy, and passed away in April 2017 at the age of 117, having long worn the crown of longevity. In her final years of life, she shared information about a diet that, at first glance, might seem surprising to many: for nearly ninety years, her diet consisted of three eggs a day, of which she ate two raw. This habit dates back to the time when she was diagnosed with anemia in the years following the First World War.
The doctor’s opinion
Morano’s doctor, Carlo Bava, revealed in an interview that his patient was notable for his eating routine. “His main characteristic was consistency in what he ate; always the same thing every day, week and month,” Bava said in 2016, reinforcing the fact that his fruit and vegetable consumption was minimal. He reportedly ate two raw eggs in the morning, an omelet at lunchtime and chicken for dinner. Over time, Morano added cookies to his diet, but in his later years, he lost the ability to eat solids due to tooth loss.
The role of genetics in longevity
Recently, there have been studies that provide varying conclusions about the effect of eggs on longevity, with some indicating that their consumption could reduce mortality, while others suggesting the opposite. However, analysis of genetics has provided clearer insight into the connection between family inheritance and long life. Emma Morano came from a family with a history of longevity; Of her seven siblings, one died shortly before reaching the age of 100, while another lived to be 102, as mentioned in a New York Times article in 2015.
Vision on longevity
Valter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, stressed the importance of the genetic component. He noted that there is a significant increase in the chances of reaching 110 years of age if one has a family history that favors such longevity. Morano attributed her long life not only to her peculiar diet, but also to lifestyle choices that, according to her, influenced her longevity.
