The world’s oldest person who recently died once revealed the one food item she ate everyday which she credited for helping her live for so long.

Maria Branyas Morera, of the US and Spain, sadly passed away on Monday (19 August) aged 117 years and 168 days, ranking as the eighth-oldest person in recorded history, as reported by the Guinness World Records website.

She sadly passed away at her nursing home in Catalonia, Spain, where she has been living for the past two decades. She was survived by two children, 11 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

After the death of nun Lucile Randon in 2023, who was 118, Maria was confirmed to be the world’s oldest person.

Maria celebrated 117 birthdays in her lifetime. (X/@MariaBranyas112)

She spent her early years in America before her parents returned to their native Spain in 1915, during the first World War.

Maria went on to marry Dr Joan Moret, having three children together. She managed to outlive her eldest son August, who died at the age of 86.

This means that the Spanish woman lived through both World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish Flu pandemic and, of course, COVID-19.

Apart from being hard of hearing and having mobility issues, she stayed sharp and was still present at her 117th birthday, earlier this year.

But what was her secret?

It turns out she attributed her long life to a number of things, which she shared on social media two years ago.

There are a number of factors behind her long life. (X/@MariaBranyas112)

Maria wrote in a post on X back in December 2022: “I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”

She also shared the diet behind her long life, and what you can do to give yourself the chance to live as long as her.

Translated from Spanish, she wrote: “Many people ask me what diet I follow to live [for] so many years. I have always eaten little, but everything, and I have never followed any regime. I have not suffered from any illness or been through an operating room.”

Maria highlighted the importance of good nutrition, lifestyle, adding that ‘connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and [staying] away from toxic people’ is essential.

She then revealed the one food item that she believed helped her live as long as she did: “In an age where diets and miraculous foods for well-being and health are constantly emerging, it is necessary to rescue yogurt, a lifelong food with an infinite number of positive properties for the body.”

That’s right, the secret to a long and prosperous life can be achieved through the consumption of yogurt.

Yogurt might be the answer to living a long life. (X/@MariaBranyas112)

She then goes on to cite a Bulgarian study that revealed that regular consumption can extend life, while stating in Persian tradition that Abraham’s longevity was due to the consumption of yogurt.

Explaining that she has La Fageda yogurt everyday, she described it as a ‘natural, tasty, creamy yogurt… and with a special taste of dignity, self-esteem, confidence, tolerance, responsibility’.

Maria added: “If you delve into its history, you will discover that it is the most unique yogurt that exists, for its provenance, purpose, commitment and values.

“For 20 years, it has been my ‘heavenly manna’. The best yogurt in the world. It gives life, it is life.”

If living a long life interests you, then it might be worth eating yogurt everyday while following the other points highlighted by the late and great Maria.