{"id":312889,"date":"2025-12-12T23:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T23:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/312889\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T23:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T23:08:09","slug":"100-year-olds-reveal-longevity-tips-favorite-foods-and-healthy-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/312889\/","title":{"rendered":"100-Year-Olds Reveal Longevity Tips, Favorite Foods And Healthy Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"

After turning 100 years old, centenarians have life pretty much figured out \u2014 knowing what matters most for health and happiness.<\/p>\n

That wisdom is being achieved by more and more Americans.<\/p>\n

The number of centenarians in the U.S. grew by 50% in the most recent decade, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2025<\/a>. Most are still \u201coverwhelmingly\u201d female, with women making up almost 80% of this population.<\/p>\n

But more men are reaching the milestone, too: Actor Dick Van Dyke turns 100<\/a> on Saturday, Dec. 13.<\/p>\n

TODAY.com met several extraordinary centenarians in 2025. Some are still working, running a business, lifting weights at the gym, living on their own and getting married.<\/p>\n

Here are some of their top tips for a long healthy life:<\/p>\n

Keep Working If You Enjoy It<\/p>\n

JoCleta Wilson<\/a>, who recently turned 101, is Home Depot\u2019s oldest employee in the U.S., working two mornings a week as a cashier in a store in Louisville, Kentucky.<\/p>\n

She likes being around other people and talking with customers.<\/p>\n

\"JoCletaJoCleta Wilson keeps working.Courtesy Home Depot<\/p>\n

\u201cI retired three different times \u2014 10 years each time in retirement, and it is not what it\u2019s cracked up to be. I got so tired of myself,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to get out of the house and come back to work and see what was going on in society. \u2026 I have a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former dancer and business owner lives independently in her house, drives her car to work and cooks for herself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Never Too Late to Fall in Love<\/p>\n

In July, 100-year-old John Glomstad married his 87-year-old bride<\/a> in a waterfront ceremony in Bremerton, Washington.<\/p>\n

\"KathieKathie Harless and John “Jack” Glomstad got married on July 26. He loves to drive and has five cars, including a Mazda Miata convertible. “The top is never up,” he says.Courtesy John Glomstad<\/p>\n

They met through their church in 2019 after both became widowed. They became friends and companions. He proposed earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The couple likes to cook, go on cruises and go for drives in his Mazda Miata stick shift convertible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho knew that there would be life after 100?\u201d Glomstad said. \u201cI’m just an eternal optimist.\u201d<\/p>\n

The World War II veteran credits a positive outlook on life, having faith and his Norwegian heritage for his longevity.<\/p>\n

Dream Big and Go On Adventures<\/p>\n

Jimmy Hernandez<\/a> celebrated turning 100 by skydiving on his milestone birthday in August.<\/p>\n

He got the idea after watching the late President George H.W. Bush jump from a plane in his 80s and 90s.<\/p>\n

\"JimmyJimmy Hernandez went skydiving for his 100th birthday.Courtesy Vickey Hernandez Farley<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn’t scary,\u201d the World War II veteran, who lives independently with his 91-year-old wife in San Luis Obispo, California, recalled. \u201cIt came out pretty smooth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have a Purpose in Life<\/p>\n

For Anne Angioletti<\/a>, 101, it\u2019s her jewelry store in Cresskill, New Jersey, which she\u2019s owned for decades and still runs full time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives me a reason to get up, to shower, to dress, to (put on) makeup, to try to look presentable, and to enjoy my business. It’s all pleasure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t have anything to do if I were at home. So that’s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AnneAnne Angioletti, 101, poses at the counter of her jewelry store. Courtesy Alison Rubach<\/p>\n

Angioletti still drives a car, lives independently in her own apartment, and goes out with friends every Saturday night for dinner and some dancing.<\/p>\n

Move Your Body<\/p>\n

Ruth Lemay<\/a>, 100, recently went viral when her workout was featured online. She goes to the gym in Virginia Beach, Virginia, three times a week, riding a stationary bike for an hour, then walking more than a mile on the track.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve always exercised,\u201d said Lemay, who once worked as a model. \u201cI feel fine. I might be a little bit tired after riding the bicycle and the walk, but that’s OK. I don’t expect not to feel tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RuthRuth Lemay at the gym.Courtesy Alexandra Joy<\/p>\n

Mary Coroneos<\/a>, 100, does a full-body resistance workout three times a week with her trainers at a gym in Norwalk, Connecticut.<\/p>\n

The exercises, designed to strengthen her arms, legs and core, and improve her balance, are a challenge, \u201cbut then you feel good afterwards,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to exercise. You\u2019ve got to keep going. You\u2019ve got to keep moving,\u201d said Joseph Caminiti<\/a>, 100, who does cardio and weightlifting five days a week at a gym in Bristol, Connecticut.<\/p>\n

Exercise is even more important than nutrition, said Dr. John Scharffenberg<\/a>, 101. The physician gives lectures about living longer with simple lifestyle changes. He urges everyone to walk and be active, especially in middle age when people tend to sit around more and eat more.<\/p>\n

Eat Healthy Food<\/p>\n

Scharffenberg follows a plant-based diet that includes milk and eggs. He advises skipping alcohol and eating less sugar.<\/p>\n

Other centenarians pay attention to their diet, too.<\/p>\n

Glomstad focuses on eating fresh, whole foods \u2014 including two or more vegetables at every meal \u2014 and a variety of meats, such as beef, chicken, pork and lamb. He also eats lots of fruit, including blueberries, strawberries or a banana for breakfast with his cereal.<\/p>\n

Angioletti eats an egg every day and likes oatmeal \u2014 a cardiologist\u2019s favorite breakfast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lemay said she loves vegetables. \u201cI grew up in the country, and my dad grew all kinds of vegetables, and they were wonderful for you,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n

Treat Yourself<\/p>\n

Every Friday, after Lemay gets her hair done, she enjoys two hot dogs with chili, mustard and lots of onions at a local eatery. \u201cThat’s my one treat a week,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Wilson keeps a chocolate cake in her freezer and takes a slice about once a week. Coroneos loves tiramisu.<\/p>\n

Such treats make life sweeter, the centenarians said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDessert, I\u2019ve got to have that,\u201d Hernandez noted. \u201cWe always have coffee and pie. I like peach pie and apple pie. A donut once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After turning 100 years old, centenarians have life pretty much figured out \u2014 knowing what matters most for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":312890,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-312889","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}