DNA study reveals 117-year-old's longevity secret: daily yogurt and fiber

TL;DR

Scientists studying the DNA of Maria Branyas Morera, who lived to 117, discovered her extraordinary longevity came from a powerful combination of good genetics and simple daily habits—particularly eating yogurt up to three times daily and consuming a fiber-rich multi-grain smoothie each morning. Her biological age was 10-15 years younger than her chronological age, revealing how targeted nutrition can literally slow the aging process at the cellular level.

Why This Matters

This groundbreaking longevity research provides the first comprehensive genetic and lifestyle analysis of a supercentenarian, revealing that exceptional lifespan isn't just about winning the genetic lottery. The 50/50 split between inherited factors and daily choices means you have significant control over your aging trajectory. More importantly, Maria's simple dietary habits—focused on gut health optimization through probiotics and fiber—offer immediately actionable strategies that anyone can implement. Understanding how these basic nutritional choices support cellular health, immune function, and biological age reversal gives you evidence-based tools for extending both lifespan and healthspan.

Key Facts

Maria's remarkable profile:

• Lived to 117 years and 168 days, holding the title of world's oldest verified person
• Biological age was 10-15 years below her chronological age at death
• Survived COVID-19 at age 113, demonstrating exceptional immune resilience
• Maintained active lifestyle, healthy weight, and strong social connections throughout life
• Never smoked or drank alcohol

The research approach:

• Scientists collected blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples to create comprehensive biological profile
• DNA analysis compared her genetics and cellular structures to other elderly individuals
• Study led by Dr. Manel Esteller examined both genetic inheritance and lifestyle factors
• Research conducted at Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Spain

Daily nutrition habits:

• Consumed Spanish yogurt brand La Fageda up to three times daily
• Drank morning smoothie containing eight different cereal varieties
• Maintained consistent eating patterns throughout her extended lifespan

What the Science Shows

The gut-longevity connection:
Maria's daily yogurt consumption wasn't just a preference—it was inadvertently optimizing her microbiome for longevity. Research shows that probiotics, the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt, play crucial roles in immune function, inflammation control, and nutrient absorption. These factors directly impact aging at the cellular level.

Fiber feeds longevity:
Her multi-grain smoothie provided diverse dietary fibers that act as prebiotics—food for beneficial gut bacteria. PhD student Eloy Santos noted that these "high amounts of healthy bacteria and fibre were beneficial populations in the gut, making them thrive." This creates a positive feedback loop where good bacteria multiply, crowd out harmful microbes, and produce compounds that support healthy aging.

The 50/50 principle:
Lead researcher Dr. Manel Esteller's conclusion that longevity results from roughly equal parts genetics and lifestyle choices represents a paradigm shift in aging science. "Maria's parents gave her very good genes but we cannot choose our parents," Esteller explained, "but the conclusion is that the clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherited from our parents and what we do in our lives."

The Wellness Angle

This research reveals four critical insights for optimizing your longevity potential:

1. Your Microbiome Is Your Longevity Engine: Maria's daily yogurt habit demonstrates how consistent probiotic intake can support immune resilience and healthy aging. The gut microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids, regulates inflammation, and influences everything from mood to immune function. A healthy gut literally helps you age more slowly.

2. Dietary Diversity Drives Longevity: Her eight-grain smoothie provided microbiome diversity that most people lack. Different fibers feed different beneficial bacteria, creating a robust ecosystem that supports multiple aspects of health. This explains why dietary variety, not restriction, often correlates with longevity.

3. Consistency Trumps Perfection: Maria didn't follow complex protocols or expensive interventions. She simply ate yogurt and her grain smoothie consistently for decades. This suggests that sustainable, long-term habits matter more than short-term optimization strategies.

4. Biological Age Is Modifiable: The 10-15 year gap between Maria's biological and chronological age proves that cellular aging can be slowed through lifestyle choices. This means the strategies that worked for her could help you maintain younger biological function regardless of your chronological age.

What You Can Do

Start with gut health fundamentals: Incorporate high-quality yogurt or kefir into your daily routine, aiming for varieties with multiple live probiotic strains. Look for products with at least 10 billion CFUs and minimal added sugars.

Diversify your fiber intake: Create your own longevity smoothie using a variety of whole grains, seeds, and fiber sources. Consider rotating between oats, quinoa, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and other nutrient-dense options to feed different beneficial bacteria.

Consider targeted probiotic supplementation: While whole foods are ideal, high-quality probiotic supplements can provide specific strains linked to longevity, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species.

Adopt Maria's lifestyle principles: Maintain regular physical activity, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, cultivate strong social connections, and prioritize consistent sleep patterns.

Track your biological age: Consider biological age testing through companies that analyze DNA methylation patterns or other biomarkers to monitor how your lifestyle choices affect cellular aging.

What to Watch

Personalized longevity protocols: As researchers analyze more supercentenarians' genetic profiles, expect customized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations based on individual genetic variations in aging pathways.

Microbiome longevity research: Ongoing studies are identifying specific bacterial strains and metabolites that promote healthy aging, potentially leading to targeted probiotic formulations for longevity.

Biological age monitoring: Advances in epigenetic testing may make biological age assessment more accessible and affordable, allowing people to track the effectiveness of their longevity interventions.

Centenarian studies expansion: Research teams worldwide are studying exceptional agers to identify common patterns in genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors that promote extreme longevity.

Bottom Line

Maria Branyas Morera's remarkable 117-year lifespan wasn't just genetic luck—it was the result of simple, consistent daily habits that optimized her gut health and cellular function. Her story proves that longevity is roughly half genetics and half lifestyle choices, meaning you have significant control over how you age. By incorporating daily probiotics, diverse fiber sources, and her other lifestyle principles, you can begin optimizing your own biological age and longevity potential starting today.