Maria Branyas Morera was the oldest living person on the planet until she died aged 117 last August. The US-born Spanish supercentenarian (those over 110 years old) had previously told the media she ate three yoghurts a day, avoided smoking, alcohol, and ‘toxic’ people, went on daily walks, and followed a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
Beating the average life expectancy of the average Catalonian woman (86 years) by a good 30 years, Morera, unsurprisingly, had become the subject of great interest to longevity experts. Now, researchers in Barcelona have published a paper about her gut microbiome, which they began studying before she died. While not yet peer-reviewed, the researchers’ insight provides us with a unique insight into how Morera’s lifestyle and dietary choices may have helped her live so long (she even survived Covid aged 113).
The results of this study, the researchers say, suggest that extremely old age and poor health don’t necessarily have to be intrinsically linked.
What did the study find?
Based on their analysis, the researchers suggest that Morera’s cells functioned as if they were 17 years younger than her actual age, thanks to her genetics, and the paper also highlights the extremely healthy and anti-inflammatory condition of her gut.
‘Intriguingly, our healthy supercentenarian ingested around three yoghurts every day containing Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, known to favour the growth of the described bacteria in the gut,’ they said. ‘Thus, this could be an example of a dietary intervention that, acting in the gut microbiota, is associated with healthy ageing and long lifespan.’
So, can yoghurt help us live longer?
Healthy ageing comes down to many factors, says Dr Caitlin Hall, a gut health dietitian and head of research at myota health. ‘There’s no one single ingredient or food that will let us live to 117 – healthy ageing comes down to many factors, like genetics, exercise, lifestyle, diet, where they live, and social connections,’ explains Dr Hall. In many ways, this mirrors Morera’s life – she was active, social, and consistently adhered to a Mediterranean diet, which the researchers also say might have contributed to her unique microbiome composition.
However, Dr Hall adds that there may be some truth to Morera’s yoghurt-specific longevity secret. ‘There is growing evidence that a healthy gut microbiome plays a big role in ageing well, supporting everything from immune function to inflammation and even mood. So it makes sense that yoghurt, which is rich in live bacteria, can be part of that story,’ she says. ‘It’s also a great source of protein, calcium and B12, which are all important as we get older.’
Dr Hall warns, however, that not all yoghurts are equal. ‘Look for ones that list “live cultures” on the pack, as that’s what makes it probiotic, and keep it simple when it comes to ingredients,’ she advises. ‘Ideally, it should just contain milk and live cultures, with no added sugar, flavourings, stabilisers or starches. A high-protein yoghurt, around 10 grams per 100 grams, is a great choice too.’
Researchers found that Morera’s microbiome contained high levels of bifidobacteria (also called gut microbiota). ‘Studies looking at the impact of higher levels of bifidobacteria suggest that in addition to the impact on the gut microbiome and inflammation, there may also be beneficial effects on the nervous and endocrine (hormonal) systems, potentially playing a role in extending lifespan,’ says nutritionist and gut specialist Deborah Grayson.
Grayson, who runs health platform Digestion With Confidence, says that although all yoghurt is thought to benefit bifidobacteria levels, yoghurts containing bifidobacteria can have the greatest effect. ‘Try to choose natural live yoghurts without any added sugar or sweeteners such as a full fat Greek yoghurt or natural variants of Icelandic Skyr,’ she says, echoing Dr Hall. ‘Artificial sweeteners can have a detrimental impact on the microbiome and reduce the benefit of the yoghurt.’
While we might not all live to the grand old age of 117, it’s reassuring to know there are small, everyday things we can implement into our diets to support longevity.